Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1877-10-18
starving. would have been le-
0oliza6 fboft -

| starving. would nave D6en le-
galized theft
at is all very sal,' observed the
sweet faced old lady ;"but you will
be happier now, for this unexpect-
ed Inheritance will bring YOU rest
after these years of worrying work
and loneliness You will have
plenty of pleasure, and many suit,
ors, for you are very beautiful"
And these words were a prophe,
CIV of the new life that came to
Maude LIE Brun.
| And in all the sweet, slow, suns
mer days that followed, she was too
resrtuuy happy to think OF the
miserable tie that tettered her tree
dom until she met Lester Ecclcs.
She saw him first at the seaside.
He was tall man, of kingly
proportions, fine head and statues
que, features, and knightly grace
of manner.
Maudc Lie Brun, wandering down
the sands cne evening in the early
dusk, met him face to face, and
looking into his dark thrilling eyes,
"Loved him with the love that was
her DOOM"
But it was many days after that
she quoted from Elaine to her own
sonl with slnothered gasp of pain.
"Mr. Eccles is becoming very
pointed in his attentions to you,
Maude," said Mrs. Kirke, whom
the heiress had taken with her as
sort of chaperon or duenna. "You
snoulJ not permit it. He is not
your social equal, and-my dear,
you must remember that you are
not free"
''But l will be free," cried the
girl passionately; 81 will wear my
iron yoke no longer. And Lester
Eccles is my equal and more-he is
my superior. He is noble in every
thing but riches, and he is fit to be
the husband of queen. All me |!
how | hate myself when | think OF
what am and then Of what he be.
lieves rue to be"
"But surely you will not tell
him"
"Everything at the proper time, !"
interrupted Maude, with resolution.
The proper and elected time
came very soon-sOoner than
Maudc intended it should, for she
had never meant to listen to words
OF iove until she could do so with
propriety, sanctioned by legal
dissolution Of that old mockery of
a marriage.
1t was rare and perfect morn
ing She came down to the beach
us usual to meet Lester Eccles.
His dark eyes kiudled as he saw
her coming toward him, SO brilliant
in her rare, proud beauty.
She wore some black, gauzy
stuff, through which her statnesqne
arms and shoulders cleaned like
snow; fle.,cy white shawl was
wrapped carelessly about her, and
there were knots of blue flowers on
her bosom and in her golden, wind
blown curls.
The sea dimpled and laughed in
the sunshine at her dainty feet, and
great purple-wingcd butterfly
floatcd and tiuttered about her
head.
''It is an hour for smiles and mu-
sic, and happy loves, and children
merry ganbolings, and yet | know
one sad heart to day." observed
Lester Ecclcs, after they had walked
on beyond the few scattered groups
on the sand.
"Not yours, surely % returned
Maude, inquiringly, seeing that he
was grave and agitated.
81 have a friend," he went on,
unheeding her question, "who is
saying to his hard tate this bright
morniug that the whole world is
dark, and
Il am sad as sad can be
For the one sweet thing that 5 not for me-
How is it Miss LIE Brun, that there
cal be no romance without sorrow?
This frriend-Hugh Chaucer," he
went on, with his eyes fixed ON the
sea, and unconscious that Maude's
checks ha,! bIauched colder and
whittier than the foam-"was mar.
ried to a child woman whom he
worshippcd. That was years ago,
and yet he has never touched her
lips, nor ever heard her sweet voice
;all him husband.'
"Perhaps ne has never tried TO
win her." said Maude, forcing her.
self to speak.
"She never gave him the oppor.
was the qnick, bitter
answer. sShe left him in silence
md secrecy, and now she petitions
or an absolute release from the
lows she made TO him"
"Werc those VOWS voluntary %
lsked Maude, struggling with con-
usion.