Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1878-10-03

Tightening sround him.
She replied, with grave dignity
81 suppose, Mr. Lang, they profit
kby experience. .s.'
'sThey are wise race finally, il
they do. that" he said.
"I don't SUPPOSE" she answered,
gently, "that some experience in fol-
ly hurts man--not in a woman's
eyes, any way. They are stronger
afterwards, and 1 guess happier.
They get the right guage Of things"
1t was a new philosopy to Victor.
He looked at the woman who uttered
it with grateful admiration. Young,
1 clever, beautiful as she was, his lifeI
had not hurt him in her estimation.
she returned his glance. Her hand
some eyes softened seductively. She
came forward and land her ungloved
hand on the young mans arm.
''Dear Mr.. Lang, papa has told me
how much Won lost. 1t is very dread
ful; it makes me very unhappy. Butt
do not give up to such low spirits.
Let me divert you; let me somehow
make araends- for for my father. l
cannot bear to have you curse the
day you knew u.s."
She wept softly, growing very pale
and lovely in her emotion.
Victor took the dainty hand; he
did not mark its likeness to the one
which had dealt the fatal CARTS the
night before. ''It is quite impossible
that can regard any event as mis-
fortune which has made me acquaint-
ed with you," he said.
| She did not withdraw her hand for
a moment, and they stood looking into
each Others eyes. x.ft -
Come and see my flowers" she
said, softly, her lids dropping; and
Tsne red him to small conservatory,
amid masses of pink azaleas and pur-
pie hyaclnths, wreaths of heliotrope,
delecatest tea-roses and callas. ''rhey
! are my own charge; no one hel ps
me-" she said, with pretty eagerness
Sometimes, when | am lonelier than
usual, it seems to me that these bios
SONS have absorbed something from
me, and restore it in kind of SYM
pathy."
Lonely? Are you ever lOnely?"
: Victor asked, rather wonderin2ly.
, 81 am never otherwise" she re-
sponded, with sigh. "Do you sup
pose, MIR. Lang, that I ever loose the
consciousness that | am Pariah? l
e have money and beauty, but it is as
nothing in this foul moral atmosphere.
= Sometimes think | would sell my
r soul 70 escape from it."
Victor was silent. The girl be-
3 side him was powerless. But he
3 he, of his own free will, dweIt in the
E charnel house, and bore the brand.
q Miss Lucas rallied her spirits.
I "One's private woes are inevitably
bore" she said. IL promised to
divert you, but l am not succeeding.
, Let me give you a rosebud and ge-
/. ranium leaf for your buttonhole, and
q while we lunch will tell you about
i. my musicale this evening. You will
4 meet some nice people-artists, com
posers, orchestral-players-"
n Victor WINGED slightly at being thu;
4 aanate in4 without s,sssnaay, as ans
4 Of Miss Lucas, set.
J. 81 fear my engagements will rem
: der it impossible for me to accept
If your kind invitation" he said, stiiiiy
e Sin fact,-I had no idea it was 81
r late,--lt will be necessary for me u
/. bid you good morning at once"
" The sad pathGs shadowed her darl
l. eyes again.
II "When you are prosperous ant
10 happy once more, will resign my
a self to lose sight of you, but till the
" let me give you such small consols
W tons as lie within my power" sh
Of pleaded. ''If you must go now
ne promise to come back this evening
You do not meet papa this evening
\ you know" she added, with an e
m fort.
= "Very weli," Mr.. Lang agreed
a 81 will come back this evening,
ia you desire it.
60 Miss Lucas fastened the tesrose
ut his buttonhole with her soft, sill
hands. "Good-by," she said. in h,
J.. dulet voice and with her caressin
~ eyes. "Come early-at eight {
=" nine.
:: Victor Lang did not return TO Mi:
!" Lucas musical. Once away from Il
as magnetism of her presence, the sens
e' of his situation came back in fu
n force. Among the letters he four
' awaiting his attention was little Til
Vanderlyn's school-bills for the tern
Ai0 A cold sweat broke out upon hin
,, Her little fortune-fye thousand dc
> lars only-was swamped in the vo
tex. And not q human being
l whom he could appeal for the palt
'ed amount required; not human bein
la- unless-and then his blood grew h
Id, again-unless it was Celia Lucu
- He put that perplexity aside
face many others. Debts press
to upon him heavy, sleepless night
in hopeless, tagging days. He ma
!? vain search and inquiry for stu
are ton. He said he was willing to
ing anything, but there was nothing
could do.
ir- So week went by: Another Il
for ter had come from Tina's school. I
ers delay would soon react to her d
ca, comfort. He must have the amou
d she needed before night, he said,
se, any cost. He was in this mood o
hit morning, when John Lucas was sho
the in. ....
eal 81 do not expect you to say y
are glad to see me, Lang" said Il
you gentleman, seating himselfin cha
,to- shut have not come without q p
pose. Perhaps it may secure mt
ices welcome when explain it,
81 know of only one way in VIII
you you could make yourself welcome
Victor answered, blunt, 'sand tina
at by telling me how L can pay
my tdebts."
s'That is precisely the errand
Vant which have Gomez was Lacas'
ovei ply.
The young man looked up quic
arch and suspiciously.
ksAv n