The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1875-05-13

OhTry IL DIaNciy. VIC Ihuse hoe hCot
again-not at present." she repeated, in
terrupting his expOstulation. "Egbert,
listen to me. shall never marry. Your
error overshadows me, but it shall not
tempt me to sin. Our paths must be
separate. Egbert, never come to The
Walnuts again unless send for you. /
am going from here in few weeks. And
now let me say good-by."
Her young face was white as marble,
and as firm. He groaned.
81 am goingon to the village. DO not
accompany me any further. Good-by."
"Good.by," he said in despair.
She rode from him.
In her chamber of the stately white
mansion of Rose]ands, Mrs. Meredith
stood before the miaror, while maid
pinned around her shoulders white lace
shawl.
"That will do Phebe. And now
in my skirt. Orly roses Mrs. Hya-
cinthe has ruby clasps. Mr.. Meredith
loop the white founce little higher;
the underdress is little paler rose-cOlor
than ordered-Mr. Meredith will not be
home to dinnerW
"No, 'm," said Phebe, demurely.
"As soon as Mr.. Greycourt comes, show
him into the blue room."
eyes, 'm," with downcast eyes.
erich folks is no better than poor
ones," thought Phebe in her heart.
Mr.. Greycourt came, and others. Mrs.
Meredith's little dinner was success.
Downstairs the servants gossiped.
Mr.. Egbert Meredith, approaching his
gate at ten o'clock that evening, met a
gentleman riding out, but achom, it was
too dark to see.
He went to his chamber. His wife
started as he entered the room.
"Who has been here, VivienneY
"A few people to dinner. Very tire
some. Don't talk to me, please; have
a headache"
Oppressed by his own thoughts, Mere
dith did not seek to know hers.
Months passed on. There was much
entertainment at Roselands. Whom
Mrs. Meredith entertained the master
did not seek to know.
The lady was very extravagant. AT
first he had sought to regulate their
household expenses, but strife and misery
was the only result, and now he paid
bills in silence, with grim satisfaction
in his own impending ruin. If he were
poor, he should be rid of her; that he
very we'll knew. She had married him
for his money.
He became more generally absent from
Roselands, and Mr.. Greycourt's visits be-
came more frequent.
But time came when Mrs. Meredith s
bills could not be settled. There was to
be meeting Of her husbands creditors.
He arrived at Roselands with this news
in the evening. The windows of the
house were dark. A maid fitted
through the hall, looking at him with a
scared face.
He entered his wife's chamber. The
room was disordered her jewel-case
empty. He looked about the unoccupied
apartment with vague surprise.
He rang the bell. Phebe came.
"Where is your mistressT
"I-I do not know, sir. She went in
to the garden few moments ago."
He descended the stair, and went out
through glass door among the roses.
Did he hear low voices? Hark What
was under his feet? A faded white
camellia, knotted in pink ribbon. A
few steps further something glittered at
the edge of the walk.
He picked up a jeweled bracelet, yet
warm from the wrist whence it had
dropped. The walk led to the gates. He
found them open. There were steps be-
yond. He looked down the road. A
spark-the spark of a cigar-lessening in
the distance. The dog at his feet sent up
a painful howl. 1t was Vivienne's dog,
which had been sent back.
Why should he pursue them Did he
want her to come back? No. He re-
entered his deserted house. Valuables
gone, unreceipted bills everywhere. He
walked the lonely drawing-room till
dawn. For this he had forgotten Cicely
Rane
Two years later, gentlemen ap-
preached gray old house, set under
Spreading walnut-trees. He asked for
Miss Rane, and was shown into the
parlors. The rooms were cool with violet
sweet air blown from the woodlands, and
graceful with climbing iviesand hanging
ferns.
A light step--a soft-eyed woman with
brow of light stood before him.
"CicelyW
"Egbertp
You bade me not come here, Cicely,
but the law has freed me from an unfaith-
full and unloving wife. am poor and
lonely man, who has survived his punish
ment. have longed to hear your voice
until I could bear it no longer; but
will not stay unless you wish it,"
"Stay, Egbert."
He was much broken-little like the
gallant hero of her girlish dreams, but
her woman's heart yearned over him.
"Stay, Egbertp and the heiress OF
The Walnuts clasped him forever in her