Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1878-03-30
II + ID Il NJ MPTIoN :
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WOMAN'S POWER.
WRITTEN FOR THE INIELLIGEScER
CHAPTER XVII,

CHAPTER XVII.
1t was IN Brook street, London, III an |
comfortable apartment that a |
delicate, thn-faced woman reclined in |
an indolent manner IN a soit-cushloned |
easy chair. In her hand she held an open |
letter. post marked New York, the con-
tents of which were as follows:
My DARLING ETHELIND Pray tell |
me what ON the living earth you have
been doing with yourself tor these three
long mortal months. during which time |
| have not had so much as a line from
you' Now that does not look as though
you ole very n.uoh inter oetvL III the wei
fare OF your Old friend. Well, so far as
business is concerned I am progressing
more rapidly than had hoped for. The
old codger is easier duped than thought
sistence from you can bring matters
rapidly to close. will pay you well
for your trouble when once am with
you. You know that used to call you
aunt in the olden time. Now, what l
wish you to do is this let me call you
that still, and you pretend that you are
sick and are in dreadful health. Write
tor me to come to you at once, offer the
peEniless woman home in your hard old
heart and affections. and OF course
will show your letter to my devoted,
and say that must start at once. This will
open his eyes and he vii, propose i'm
mediately, then | will accept and marry
him, and come to you without delay,
NV presence will act as 4 charm on you
and in few weeks after my arrival you
will be sufficiently we'll for my husband
to remove ME to his elegant mansion in
Picadilly, where you may visit me, dear
| aunt. and we can renew our pleasure as
in days past. Do not disappoint me
| for it Is specially expedient for my good
| that | leave America at once. Remem-
| Der me to the count. Yours, &c,
FLORENCE SHELLY.
So my pretty lady you are asking after
my nephew. You have not forgotten
him, see, but it is rather late to be
manifesting any interest in that gentle,
man. think. But pshaw. what does il
matter with 4 woman of her principles
She can marry one man for his money
| NIL NAtu ~ doLCa vi wv aASSA val u
and beside love one or two others il she
chooses. And, Miss Florence, you viii
1 give Yourself to this old man, who, il
return. gives you wealth and position
while your heart will still be in the pos
session of Count Loring. But then thi
is his third wife, the man must be get
ting old. probably he will not live long
then there will still be chance for thu
count Here she was compelled to re
strain for q time these thoughts. for jus
at this juncture Count Loring bowee
his handsome self into the presence @
his aunt By way Of salutation. he raise
his hat very high, then kissing one c
that lady's small, white hands he aske
cheertully:
What news to day auntie?'
In reply, she held up the letter tha
she had just finished reading. Instant
the count recognized the familiar, del
cate traces of the same handwriting b
loved SO we'll.
"My precious aunt, will you not te
me what this lady has to say for hel
self; how she likes America, and whethe
she ever speaks OF returning to he
native home?"
At first his aunt withheld from hil
the probability OF Florence's marriage
Her motive tor doing so was to aScertal
il possible whether he still felt an inte
est IN her She told him Florence wisl
} ed ia her letter to be remembered
him. This message she noticed brougt
, the color to his tace, and 4 glad light
his ewes She was satisfied, and pre-
emily told him that Florence would
y in London ere long, but she thoug
/ from the character OF her letter that 81
, would be married very soon.
..Are YOU sure OF this2" said h
nephew hurriedy.
d ..Well, no. said the lady. "IIer cor
ing. | suppose, depends on circun
II stances"
Here the count threw himself on b
knees before his aunt. and begged h
II not to torture him by this suspense, b
tell him everything in connection wi
d Florence.
-. "Well,' she replied" :" Florence sts
!. ell or rather intimated that she wou
d marry Sir Henry Maynard
E. The count sprang to his feet as
thunder bolt had fallen upon hiI
His aunt quickly added: ''Sir Henry
;" ar old man and immensely wealthy. a
/ have no doubt that he will ma
d the poor girl most excellent husban
| do think she is very fortunate in ma
:, ing this match"
," But" said the count, ''what right h
such a young and beautiful woman
- throw away her life on an old man j.
,g for his money, when she could mar
q any day. it seems to me, for happines
'' and have that cursedly valued artit
thrown in."
e, But" SAID his aunt, looking at h
% searchingly, "perhaps the one that S
loved does not love her; or. still. p
haps he has been too slow, and thus
T. lost her
at Here the count picked up his hat q
ed rushed from the room, jumped in
light chaise that conveyed him there y
drove off in frantic manner. nor did
r draw rein until he found himself
ne HYDE Park, and ielt that his reckle
ness was attracting the attention OF eve
., one. He drove until dinner. then
returned to his aunt ; but the meal v
lnSpatCueu alfuost AL pclNSt slou
his uncle. Mr.. Loring, being abse
. The meal over Mrs. Loring retired
'e her room, and answered Florence's
OF ter. The count repaired to his roc
nd gloomy enough. Later in the evenil
,r- when his friend, Ernest Hammer, ca
,, in to spend an hour or two in sot
wav, he found the count laboring un
Ell the effects of some trouble. He. supp
nd ing it was of business character.
,p deavored to divert his attention iron
by giving him IN account of ball
had attended the evening before at NJ
st Clarenden's.
nd Il saw, count, you should hs
been there; it was certainly the m
brilliant affair of the kind that have
I'D the happiness to enjoy since l attent
to one there six years ago-that night,
YOU remember. Miss Shelley was
belle OF the evcning-the most radiar
n beautiful girl ever met, ,and have s.
IT. many handsome women. By the W
~ do YOU know where she is, and why
~ has never made her appearance agaiI
I'll society? Her husband has been d'
n three years--it is pity that she MARI
he such worthless scamp. Why, con
what's the matter-are you sick? w
one would think, to look at you. J
now, that you were going to FAINT
IN 81 have not been well for seve
at davs, but you need not be alarmed;
~. nothing serious" replied the count.