The Newtown bee., 1878-12-31

| " hHI lltHut WILD WilS hS fuucu HsloH-
 lshed at the aspect of affairs as Percy
 himself.
 This went on for dnys. till Percy. who.
 In spite of all, loved her deyotedly. was
 driven almost wild with jealousy. and
 openly accusedshls friends Of having pur-
 posely deceived hlm with regard to her
 fortune-hunting propensitles and of making up the story to further his own ends.
 Meanwhile Mrs. Carlyon regarded with dlsmay the evident failure of her darling project; and, moreover. feeling very sore at Maud's victim being her fayorlte cousin, determined to take the girl to task so one night, on returning to their several rooms, she followed Maud Into
 hers. and shutting the door, placed her hands on the girls shoulder, and looked earnestly into her face.
 Maud, what is the reason of your b
 havlor to Percy2 Why are you changed toward him? I did hope tha you and he were learning to love each other, but since Harry Liston came you have scarcely noticed him."
 Perhaps l prefer Mir. Liston to your cousin;I suppose there's no harm in my doing so?" said Maud, in a half defiant tone, and longing to escape from the sparphiup pVaS baDt On her ..s
 "HarmY No, certainly no harm in your doing so but must confess don't understand your choice flor although Per- cy is my own cousin, must say he is in- linitely superior in every respect to Mir. Liston. Besides, Percy has a handsome fortune, while the other has not penny 10 bless himself with"
 "And so you, with all the rest of the world, think am incapable of disinter. ested affection? l thank you for your good opinion of me, Mary" and with flashing eyes and burning cheeks she turned away. 'sr
 T don't understand you Maud" said her friend, with a sigh; "but it is very evident that my interference only angers you, so I will say goodnight; but I sincerely wish Harry Liston was at the bottom of the sea-"
 When quite certain she was alone, Mauds oyerwrought feelings gave way Very bravely had she acted her part, but if she had succeeded in making Percy miserable, ten thousand times more wretched was she herself. Only one llt- tic bit of consolation was there for her throughout it all, and that was that all her flirting with Harry Liston was doing him no harm, for. though meeting her more than half way, she saw that beyond the filtration there was no deeper feeling in the matter. Still, how was 1t all to end2 Her visit was fast drawing to . close, and the farewell ball Mrs. Carlyon was giving in her honor was to come of that night.
 Maud and her hostess were lingering over their five o'clock tea, after superin- tending the last finishing touches to the ball room, when the door opened and Percy Herbert entered the room, looking very pale and with an open letter in his hand. s&
 "Good gracious, Percy! what is the matter?" exclaimed his cousin. "You are white as a sheet"
 For answer he threw the letter on to her knee.
 Eagerly she took it up, but before she had read more than few lines she let 1t drop from her hands, and turning to her cousin with face almost as white as his own, she said in an agitated voice:
 "Oh! Percy, it cannot surely be true S-- bank gone? Why, that is the one nearly all your money is in."
 1t is" he replied; "so, according to that letter, I am a ruined mani"
 "Oh? no, no; it cannot be as bad as that; there may be something saved. Oh Percy, if not, it would be too dread full r and the good-hearted little womans eyes filled with tears. But you will not leave us tonight; it is too late for you to do anything this evening!"
 "NoIas you say, it is too late to do anything now; but must leave by the first train tomorrow morning. But, Mary dear, keep all thisquiet for tonight. you know" he said with q poor attempt lta laugh. "I might not getany partners if it became known was penniless;" and turning from bis cousin he looked toward Maud, but her chair was empty-she had flown.
 Maud had escaped to her room, feeling utterly bewildered at the news she had just heard and though deeply grieved at Percys misfortune. still she individually felt happier than she had felt for weeks.
 Harry Liston, your reign is oveF." cried the girl ioyously; "and all want now is an opportunity of proving posi- lively to Percy that Maud Hesketh is not the little fortune-hunter his friend de- scribed her to be"
 As she stood in her ball dress few hours later pleasant smile passcd over her face as she looked at herself in the glass. Her dress was perfect-a present from Mrs. Carlyon-and very lovely did  Maud look in it.
 Il wonder if he win like 1t. she mur- mured; and if she only eoad have seen the expression on his faeeas she enterel the room she could not have had many ioubts on the subject. Maud had no aek of partners. foE slss was quite the 1slle of the ball; bat shs only one she ,ared for had not evea spoken to her, 9nd ,he was beginning to feel utterly weary md sick of the vg.sole thing when a famiI- ar voice at heF elbow asked her tor the lext dance
 '.Yoa shalt have is with pleasure. Mr. aesbegt. she said turning to him with ! bright smile on her faees but beforeshe aadtime tor another word her Fartncr rhirie.I her away. The few bars of the n .Nt dance had harily begun before