Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1877-07-19

| She did not kow, this girlish, guile
less innocent, how surprisingly love
ly she was, with her thoughtful, in
tellectual eyes, of tender gray, that
Mr.. Chestwick's glances could turn
to liquid darkness--as dark as the
ebon black hair that waved so be-
comingly off low, broad, white fore
head, or the heavy straight brows
that gave to her face an expression OF
ineXpressible charmingness, with her
fair regular features, as pure as if
carved from ivory, and the exquisite
mouth with the twin rosebud lips
that parted in dimpling smiles and
displayed tiny pearls of teeth.
A womanly, loving, yet childish
girl, whose trust and affection SEEM
ed to Howard Chestwick more than
the whole world, and who had sworn
in his heart never to cause her to
regret the hour she had given that
trust and love into his keeping.
= -'ffxs~was4i.ing it all over again. in
speechless happiness. Then, remem-
bering that it was time for Mr.. Chest
wick to go into his room to dress for
dinner, gave a little flush and a little
start of pleasure as she asked herself
what he would think of her ifshe were
to break the silence that had inter-
vened since his partial offer to her,
by sending him Titled basket of
truit-some luscious peaches and
white grapes, and perhaps some ten
der, lemon-hued iessamine, creamy
hearted r0sehuds, and pink carnations
scattered among. Her dainty hands
trembled as she arranged the little
offering, mingling the hucs of fruit
and now T, of leaf and bud, with ar
tistic eyes. Then she tied her card to
the handle of the basket with n white
silkcn cord, and rang for one Of the
| servants to leave it i'll Mr.. Chestwick' S
room before he came in; and then
made her toilet for dinner and even
ing-a pale gray silk with coral orna
ments, that made her perfectly be-
Hitching in her Ialr beauty.
Then, there remaining an hour
before dinner, Viva took her work
Il fcecy zephyr shawl she was crochet
ing for Mrs. Sidney-and went dowon
into the parlors, where Miss Sidney,
Miss Grandelynd, Fthelynd Harleth,
and halI:a-dozen gentlemen, were
chatting, and took the low hassock Of
fpred her, and hid her sweet confusion
and slightly-hushed cheeks by bow
| ING her head over her work, and only
pouHersing in low m0nosyilablca ans
were to direct questions; conscious
only OF mild happiness at Mr..
Chestwick' 5 presence, and wondering
if he had seen the little mute love
message vet; and all unconscious of
the bewildercd, displeased sternness
with which Mr.. Chestwick was watch
ing her white. flying fingers, or the
bitter pain and misery at his heart as
he finally LETT the room to retire to
his own.
"She seemed so purely sweet and
ignorant of the ways of the world
how can it be possible that | was mis-
taken in supposing she loved me,
when. in reality, she was coquetting,
Ii, women seem to enjoy so thorough
| iIy|
lie asked himself the question as
hc opened his room door, and then
his attention was intantly attracted
by the dainty little gift that stood
conspicuously on his dIessing-hureau.
He read the penciled card with
frightening face; then leaned over the
fragrant flowers and caressed them
tcnderly, touchingly WAS name with
his lips.
4" My little love. After all, was
mistaken-shc does love me-and
l.
His thought froze in his heart, for
there, nesting like dewdrop among
the rosebuds and glossy ivy leaves,
lay the diamond ring he had placed
on WAS finger. and that he had
missed the moment he saw her in the
parlor below.
a white anguish spread over his
handsome face rs he took it from the
little basket,
And at the very moment when he
put the cleaning jewel i'll the dark
ness of his vest pocket, Viva sudden
ly gave an exclamation of surprise
and dismay that made Miss Sidney
look up from her silk embroidery,
questioning,t to meet the girls flushed,
startled face.
"I-l have something, l am
afraid. "
And she hurried away, dismayed
and alarmed, because she haze sudden
ly discovered that Howard Chest
wick's ring was not on her finger.
There were tears in her sweet eyes as
she went over every step of the ground
she had been upon in those two days.
But in vain. The diamonds answer
inc glimmer did not reward her anx-
ious eyes.
9 What will Mr.. Chestwick think ?
What will he think? IF he should be
angry with me. ! will not tell him
now, | don't dare-to-morrow may
be-
AID then Viva erept up to her room
as miserable as she had been happy,
and cut to the very heart to see Mr..
Chestwick and Miss Sidney promena-
ding below her window-Una leaning
so confidentially upon his arm, and
Howard bending his head so tenderly
to he upturned piquant face.
- She is like the lest Of them-as
false as fair. She had the good sense,
however, to give me my congo very
gracefully. l will endeavor to accept
it as we'll"
Il won't be jealous" she thought,
almost fiercely II won't be jealous.
Of course he adnsires Miss Sidney,
How could he help it, when she IS so
beautiful"
But Notwithstanding her brave de-
termination, she sat and cried all the
evening at the thought of the horrible
possibility of Howard Chestwick Civ
ing her up.
The next morning poor little Viva
found her resolution easier to make
than to keep for Mr.. Chestwicks