The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1876-11-17

words with Miss Dunbar.
| IAN right" said he. Congratulate
me as the humble instrument Of youl
victory, Faustia."
"You have succeelcdy
81 have succeeded. When did you
ever know me to fail, mon omie : Oh
well once, perhaps. Sorry ! couldn't
oblige you by breaking Miss Shars
woods heart according to your desire
but she carried IL too well fortified.
The little vane is Of different stuff,
but very tolerable. IL she is a fool.
The game is worth the candle, at any
rate"
The game--what game' What
have those two been plot,ingf" Rose
Sherwood asked herself, as she went
by upon her escorts arm.
A sudden lull in the storm Of music
sweeping the rooms left Thrale's last
words distinctly audible to her.
Midnight.
In the suprer-room, a gay crowd had
assembled. glass and china rang, silver
flashed under the lights, hothouse-
flowers made the air heavy with their
fragrance; pates, salads, pyramids Of
rainbow ices went down before the
onslaught F; the merriment was at its
height, and in the throng two absent
ones were not missed.
"Rube ]"
Mr.. Drexel stared AT the intensity Of
the low tone-looked with wonder and
alarm into Rose Sharswood's deathly
white face suddenly presented beside
him. Something had happened-one
glance assured him Of that.
"What is it 2" he asked.
Quick (! call Clement and follow me.
This is not the place for explanations. v
Startled and wondering, he obeyed.
The two joined her in the now deserted
apartments above. and Rose made
known her tidings briefly.
"Thrale and Nettie have gone away
together, and Of their intention, !
think there can be no doubt. l over
hard something which aroused
my suspicious / watched, and dis
covered their Aigh. They have
not more than ten minutes start, and
Rube, have ordered your cutter to be
brought out as quickly as possible.
Your horse is fat and sure, Clement
and you must follow them; you may
be in time To save all exposure yet"
Clement stood as If stunned-stood
immovable and speeches., as il turned
to stone. This was the end, then
Thus was his own Inconsistency rewar-
ded by like return. A touch from
Rube, and his words reused him.
"Come, Vargray! For heavens
sake, waste no precious minutes here y
He looked up, the bitterness Of a
terrible despair upon his face, inAexi'
BILE resolve fixed there also.
"No," he said. Let them 60. II
by lifting my hand l could stop them
now, would not do it. She has made
her choice she is welcome to abide
by it."
He left them at that. His pride
had received a bitter blow; he was
wounded to his hearts core. Nets
Vane, tickle, foolish, with her pretty
face and tender. unstable heart, was
the one woman in the world who had
claimed the full strength Of his devo
ton. In all the world. through all
his future, no other could be TO him
quite what she had been in the past.
"Let me CO." said Rose. in the SAINT
quiet way che had spoken before. She
fitted away, and was back in moment
with her wraps about her. "See,
am all ready. Is that the cutter!"
'Is it best'" asked Rube anxiously
81 know something Of Thrale's morals,
or lack of them. There will be q
scene"
think Of her humiliation, and my
presence may spare her something"
He made no further remonstrance,
but in his heart he gave homage to The
girl who could SO generously consider
her successful rival in this the hour Of
that rivals downfall.
The white briliance of the stars and
the pallid reflection of the snow upon
the ground lit the night. Rube lifted
bis companion into the cutter, sprar
to her side, disposed the robes, and
with word regarding the direction
the first couple had taken. the,
were of.
OF like the wind, the crisp, keer
night-air cutting across their faces. thu
ring OF the steel-shod booE only hal
mufiled on the snow-sheeted, frozer
road.
On liks the wind, with no wore
spoken between them until Rose, as |
long stretch of open country came int
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