National Republican., 1877-03-11

| could only gaEo at him bewildcrcd. what could
| have so changed him from the ardent, impas-
stoned lover to this man, who might be carved
from marble for all the warmth he seemed to
| pOsscssi
| He did not seem to notice that she had not re.
| piled to him, hut walked slowly past her, and
throw himself into n low CHAIR at the other side
| Of tho room.
She turned slowly, following him with her
| eyes, half wondering, half Shtened look on
her lovely face. what could be the matter with
himT Was he ILL., or In troubloH The iattcr
thought startled her. and, forgetting hts cool
greeting, thin king of nothing but that she might
comfort him, she hastoned across the room to his
/ side.
"Arc you III, Herbcr,s" sho asked. hcr voice
| tender and earnest.
| He r-ised his head, the stern look upon his
| face deepening; 1t soitcncd somewhat as ho
| caught the ptying look upon hers; Il this was
acting, 1t was certainly the perfection OF that art
| Gould woman bostOw such look upon man
| whom she did not love, IL did not seem posi-.
bio to Herbert Thayer; but had he not
almost proof positive that she was trInlng with
him-that sho loved another, and only fciguod
| tho love sbo expressed for him in order to win
| him for his wealth. For, although she lived
here in luxury, she hal no fortune Of her own;
the amount left her by her father would no but a
| more pittance to woman reared as she had been.
| SO It was quite natural, Herbert thought, that
| che SHOULD wish TO wed some one who could give
| her al the luXuros to which she had been accus
| toned.
But until to-day he had never doubted tho love
that she SO freely expressed Tor him; he had mover
| thought that she In the least favored any other
| gent eman Of her acquan anco; so he had trusted
| and loved her and the time since their engage.
ment, three weeks before, had passed us in a
Nv here is your turquoise iockct ?" ho asked,
abruptly, turning hi. eyes away from the face he
trance cooler man than Bert Thaycr.
Mays hand went instantly to her throat, and y
tailed to hud the trinket. She sprang TO her
feet AID crossed the room 20 the mirror; no, Il
was not there, and tho hne gold chain by which II
| had been supended was gone, too. Ia vain she
searched; II was not there.
turning towards him. Il was sure that It was
On my neck until you asked me. never take IL
| "NhCn do you remember s"ring It last?"
Last evening; know thit had It then. for
lulis Forrest amt her cousin, Mr. Maynard, were
here, and Julia wished tn hers was like It, bo.
cause It was too large towcur at her throat; and,
/, sdes, she preferred turquoise gems 10 rublcs.
sec that am positive that / had the iOcket, and
how IL could have been lO.t am sure uon't
know. lIrzcd It 20 much, too
| And the coral lip qulv0rrd, and the bluo cyos
filled with iearr in spite Of their owner.
| No person IN his senses could for moment
doubt what she said, or mistake her sorrow for
aclinE.
she came slowly back and sat down upon \ low
| fuOI.stOUl ncnr her lover. He wheeled his chair
around, anu tcnt over her
You seem sorry, May" he said.
| She rai,cd her head quickly.
"Why should not be-" she asked, surprise In
| her yUce. at was yOur giit."
You really priyed my gift, thenH" he asked
why. Of courfo ! did, Herbert! why do you
ask me such n question:"
| For u good rehsOn, as you will see. And
now wish to asa you ssiil another one; do you
You know that do. Have not told you so
"Are you iure that you have not made mis-
take, nIo inll,n IN love with the wealth and not
| wit a an lp al
She could only Look nt him bcwildcrcd. was
he trying 70 tense her: surely he could not
face at tho thought. Gould no think 30 mcanlv
Of her? lihc could, surely, then he did not love
"You 90 not either love or respect me" shc
sa d, at length. "or you could never wrong INC So
cruelty as 70 ask nc that"
to VIII MaynardT saw 1t upon his watch.chsin
to-day, and made some jesiiI'g remark concern.
ing II; he told mo that It was n present from a
lady. l examined the trinkot purposely, and saw
your monogram uton II; so you SEQ there could
know that be has always admired you
Countless expressions passed over Mays face
while he was speaking, and as he ceased She said
81 Will not no angry with you, Herbert, NJ.
though your words hurt me more than can tell
you. know how should feel II doubted your
love for me. should want TO die. But woman'f q
faith is stronger than q mans. and IN spite Of
you still love mo. That love you with my whole
heart and soul am equally suro, and could
to noner While en,eraS lie ssme feelSx o1
you that do now. 1cannot blame you as ought,
Tor Jealousy makes you unreasonable, and you are
not really accountable for what you say. think
now that understand he whole matter, and how
my loeket came 10 be whero 1t is. More than two
, months ago MIR. Maynard asked mo to be his
wife and 1 refused him, because did not, and
could not love him. Nay, hear ne out" as Her
"He made some unscntlemanly threats at The
time. /! have never thought OF II since until now
and as he has been very pleasant and friendly
IA
/ not mean what he said. But see now that he
did; he thought that by possessing himself Of my
, then telling you IL was present from lady, tha
you would naturally suppose had given 1t tt
. care 10 see me again, and 50 there would 6o NJ
chance for an explanation, and we would b'
; .."Rut how did he obtain possession of It q
Herbert interrupted.
~ think that can tell you; Julia Forrest love-
"I.Cves me - agaln interrupted Herbcr'.
j.. YES! do You think that am the only ono wh'
! ''l don't know, l Rm sure; but do know thai
you are the only onc whose love care 10 pos
; "Ihank you; but whether you care to possess I
orntt, Julia has given you hers. and win May
nafd is aware off. They must have plotted to
J., iScket, she unclasped the chain, so that wien
arose It fell to the floor lremcmber, now tha
iIa:scd him last night; io probably dropps,
d them purpGssly to hide the loekot, which h
= picked up win thcm Arc you salished with III.
explanation, licrboTt?"
h Il ain perfectly satisfied, my darling. But cai
you forgive mc tor all the cruol things nat hay
|. fad to you tonight? wak nearly beside mysel
with doubt and Jealousy, or should never hav'
spoken Rs have donc.'
d 81 forgive you freely, but cannot help think
ing that the faith which Is so easily shaken cannU
l. DO founded upon very deep Affection"
al admit that II may seem SO, May: but d.
a love you deeply and truly, and could not reall
dopbt you. ] did not Know what TO think;
?, could not greet you AS usual with any doubt upo
}. my mind. l came determined to know the truth
: for would be no vomnn's dupc. When loOke
into your sweet iaco could not believe you falst
y But must have wounded you deeply, and, ten
II der, loving little soul that you are, you do no
j. even show any anger toHnrds mo.
~ feel none, Herbert. will try and regal
. my lVcket tomorrow, by telling Julia FOrres
/ that understand the whole plot"
NO, May, don't reclaim the locket; shoul
been In that Villains possession. l will Civ
10 you another one, and you will decline tho a,
i. qualntance Of the potters In future, May
n "Certainly, Herbert"
@ "But do you knOwr-smlllng down into tn
70 beautiful, upturned face-"that have not ha
,f one kiss all the evening ~
Whose fault 4: that" laughed May,
u When Julia Forrest called the next day, hoI
" ing to ind that the plot had worked, she wa
!. told that May was not at home, and she kne
II then that II had hiled. NC
IA The iUUHg Lddies' Journal
y A pariaian ladv lpayea her hushan MI nm