Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1878-07-25

'Ii l understand you Alright, you
wish me TO ignore your nephew. I,
is nSt so easy as he is in your house
so ] bad better leave it,
Goodness l'cried the widow aghast
at this interpretation of her words.
Il never meant that. Whore can
you find another boarding place near
here p
Il can return to London
I've put my foot in it. John will
never forgive me- said Mrs. Tollman
disconsolately. m
Bnt there was no sympathy in
Leonie's face, and she turned away
at LIST. perplexed ard more anxious
tbaa ever. And Lecnie, sinking
bacs in her chair again, looked at
the sunset clouds and variegated fol-
iags and thought perhaps it was
time to return 30 London.
sac had come to S., weary
wita round OF fashionable life, tired
of fattery, dancing, flirting and she
d:found rest aud quiet under Mrs.
TolEman's motherly care. She was
richsricher far than the landlady had
| any; idea of but she had no near rel
atives only second cousin to keep
her lonely homo, and play propriety.
Society constituted itself her ANA
teuf gurdian, and lying back in her
cushioned chair, in the sunset glow,
she wondered indolently what socie-
ty you'd say about John Furber. It
wohid grant him u rare perfection
of manly beauty of face and form,
and forgive the evident traces Of dis
sipation, if it were only known that
he was the son of a rich man, and
had been educated an idler by pro-
fession. But 10 what holy horror it
woald turn away, with uplifted
har de- when it! was known be was
dis:nherited, with no homo but a
room in the house of widowed aunt
Elk ~ out her narrow income by TAX
ine, boarders. 1t would smile at his
bilxsg sarcasms, his brilliant CONVEX
sat- 3ns, his cynical sneors, If he was
reisstated in his fathor's favor, but
hog rude these would DO in q poor
m,S,.
Aeonie, from thinking of society's
op4.ion, quite unconsciously glided
ints considering her own. This
da]sk drowned man had made q fair
potsion of her summer pleasure for
thrse months, had been her cavalier
in ahany country walks, drives, sails,
had quoted poetry under trees, sunk
in superb baritone upon the MUIR
musing waters, look ed in her eyes on
m5oonlit porch, and whispered DEL
icately worded fattery. No more
than many another man had done.
A beauty and rich, Miss Cameron
had looked upon moro than one LAM
gushing sutton, and forgotten him
when his amusement wearied her.
Scarcely firt-for she encouraged
no downright love-makiog, but a
beautiful, fascinating woman who
wounded hearts with merely careless
grace.
Musing 10 the sunset it was im~
pressed upon the proud heart that
anconsclously she had poisoned a
life that was already sinking. There
were capabilities for better things
than dissipation and suicide in John
Furber, and she shIvered as che
thoaght he might be upon some dan.
gerous pricipice waiting for the clasp
of the hand to draw him back, or it's
repalse to thrust him over. She
passed in review her host of male
friends, and found none who bad
weakened her heart to hours Of such
keen pleasures as John Furber had
given her. She tried to recall one
mind whose grasp of intellect had
dwarfed her own as his had done,
who had met her fairly in so many
arguments and worsted her, and she
could only remem Der soft flattery o.
her wonderful mind e
Finally, lifting her eyes with soft
sigh, she saw him leaning against a
tree opposite the low window,
looking at her. A vivid flush stained
her cheek as be said:
what can you have been thinking?
You have not stirred for half an ou-
and only that your eyes were open,
| should have thought you asleep
Your powers Of observation are
marvellous, she answered lightly. Il
was dreaming
sOf whatY
The world 10 general, my world
in particular. 1t 10 almost time |
returned there
she was prepared for some polite
show of regret, but not for the ghast-
ly change in his face.
5 She shuddered, remembering his
aunt's words.
Going away? Why, of course you
would be soon,' he said, trying to
speak carelessly, while his eyes hun
grily devoured her face, and his
white parched lips were drawn as if
in sharp physical pain.
Il have been here three months
she said. feeling her own heart ache
at his misery. AN1 Il. 4
Yes. yesl You will 60 certainly
And YOU she said, very gently.
you will be in the city presume. l
should be glad to welcome you to my
house,
No. he said, harshly ; Il will no:
take such advantage of your kind
ness, | am man your friends would
tell you to shuE, Mis- Cameron--a
man who has wasted his life till it is
too late to take up the threads again
You do not know perhaps. that my
aunt keeps me here from charity r
Il know you have offended your
father she answered, but you are q
man scarcely thirty, and it is cow
ardly TO talk of despair at your age.
Her words cut him like whip
lash. The dark blood mounted to
his forehead as he repeated
Coward | might ight the whole
world yet, but and here his tone
was bitter and strangely pathetic,
.sthe tattle is scarcely worth VIM