Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1877-12-01
LOVED AND LOST.

Than nrHcT to h ave I,rv-.i a. iil'--Icnny-or
! \ November storm OF wind and rain
WAS raging turI"usly, twisting the bare.
! gaumt branches of the trees in Thornton
, Park. and hurting tho>" which stood
near il against the sides OF the great
stone-hou>c. Il il wrcaking mad spite
upon ii and all within The rain that
tell in sheets. and that cam" driving on
| the plate glass window-pancs in great
angry gusts was plainly audible with
in the brilliantly lighted room where
Roland Wc>tcrton was sitting. tor all
the double barriers Of inside, tight
closed shutters. and heavy, sweeping
curtains of rich dark crimson damask.
that depended from walnut and gilt
corniccS 10 the Aubusson carpet on the
floor, OF warm. glowing crimsonS, that
merged into pink aud creamy yellow
hues
II was a noble apartment, long. we'll
proportional. with dozen windows al
ternating with mirrors set ia the walls
with rare and magnificent furniture.
from which the new" look was SO com
pictelv worn Oft that everything sug-
gested delightfully."- cosi!y comfortable
condition
Before the fire. in 4 low, deep chair,
with his hands cIaspcd Il the back OF
his head, and his feet stretched out to
the genial warmth. Roland Westerton
WAS sitting. hearing the s"boing shrek
of the storm that was powerleSs to hurt
him physically. but every drop which
seemed falling like paralyzing Ice-drops
on his heart rt-cvery wall q! which was
a personal voice that reminded him of
a night similar 10 this twenty Years
ago. when hope. and faith. and JOY.
aud love had tlcd from his heart al Brryl
Deans bidding.
\ vision OF 4 face came before HIM,
pure As blossom. fair As 4 ilv-pctal,
sweet as L rose, modest and unasSumiug
As a violet.
He remembered 1t so distinctly. even
after twenty years when he was gray
haired man of fifty grayhaired man as
much from the trouble and pangs OF
memory OF all those Years as from the
course of nature.
He remembered with a pain that thrill
ed his heart over all the distance of
gloomy. lonely ycars-vears he had
been so sturdilv loyal to the one love OF
his life Years during which no woman
had been able 10 tempt him into sharing
his wealth or heart with them; wears
when he had learned that in this world
there was never more the happiness tor
him that tell to other men.
II She had only died, Mr.. Westerton.
knew he would have had Il submissive
satisfaction, compared to which the sui
icring he had undergone would have
been almost happy content. But to
know she had lived and PLAYED him SO
cruelty false: to know she had not died.
but was more than dead to hint had
been an awful trouble to hlm, and the
traces of it We're on his grave, fine face
tonight rs he sat immersed in the past,
rs Il dreary rain and wind tempest Al
ways had power to lmmersc HIM. Iust as
the odor OF flower. or the chords IN 4
song, will recall painful memories.
1t had been Just such Il night as this
when his brother Herbert had come to
him. amid the gaicty and briiliancv, and
music and dancing at Mrs. Grantham's
reception. and linked his arm through
ROland's. and led him OFT to the deserted /
silence OF the library, and then confront |
ed him. pale with pity.
Roland, you may or may not forgive |
me Tor bringing you here to almost |
break your heart, but il is my duty. Ro |
land have not time and again warned |
you that Miss Dean was only consenting
to marry you because YOU are rich? p |
Roland looked at him in unteigned |
And what If you have? |
| am sure Beryl loves me, and that is |
sufficient
1t would be sufficient if it were true.
a I Ill
the time has come when can prove,
beyond the shadow of a doubt, that Miss
Dean has another lover. saw her in
his arms not five minutes ago"
Roland was on his feet in second, o |