Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1878-07-19

disconsolately.
But there was no sympathy in Leonie'
face, and she turned away at last, per
picked and more anxious than ever
And Leonie, sinking back in her chai
again, looked at the sunset clouds anC
variegated foliage, and thought perhaps
it was time to return to London.
She had come to S, weary with Q
round of fashionable life, tired of futtcry
dancing, flirting, and she had found
rest and quiet under Mrs. Tollman's
motherly care. She was rich, richer far
than the landlady had any idea of but
she had no near relatives. only second
cousin to keep her lonely home, and
play propriety.
Society constituted itself her ametuor
guardian, and lying back in her cush-
Toned chair, in the sunset glow, she
wondered indolently what society would
say about John Furber. 1t would grant
him rare perfection of manly beauty
of face and form, and forgive the evil
dent traces of dissipation, if it was only
known that he was the son of rich
man, and had been educated an idler by
profession. But in what holy horror it
would turn away with uplifted hands
when it was known that he was disin-
hcrited, with no home but room in the
house of widowed aunt ckeing out her
narrow income by taking boarders. 1t
would smile at his bitter sarcasm, his
brilliant conversation, his cynical sneers,
if he was reinstated in his fathers favor,
but how rude these would be in a poor
man.
Lconie, from thinking of society's
opinion, quite unconsciously glidcd into
considering her own. This dark proved
man had made a fair portion of her
summer pleasure for three months, had
been her cavalier in many country walks,
drives and sails, had quoted poetry un-
der trees, sung in superb baritone
upon murmuring waters, looked into her
eyes on moonlit porch, and whispered
delicately-worded fattery. No more than
many another man had done. A beauty
and rich, Miss Cameron had looked upon
more than one languishing sutton. and
forgotten him when her amusement
wearied her. Scarcely firt-for she
, encouraged no downright love-making
but beautiful, fascinating woman who
wounded hearts with merely careless,
} grace.
7 Musing in the sunset it was impressed
5 upon the proud heart that unconsciousl,
r she had poisoned life that was alread,
sinking. There were capabilities foI
, better things than dissipation suicide il
: John Furber, and she shivered as sh,
thought he might be upon some danger
t GUS precipico, waiting for the clasp of the
hand to draw him back, or its repulse tc
thrust him over. She past in review hel
host of male friends, and found none who
] had awakened her heart to hours of sucl
keen pleasure as John Furber had given
her. She tried to recall one mind whose
grasp of intellect had dwarfed her dowr
C as his had done, who had met her fairl,
$ in so many arguments and worsted her
and she could only remember soft Aattery
e of her wonderful mind"
! Finally lifting her eyes with soft sigh
{ she saw him leaning against tree op
t positc the low window, looking at her
! A vivid flush stained her check as SD,
S said:
what can you have been thinkin.
: of| You have not stirred for an hal
! hour. Only that your eyes were open
| should have thought you asleep"
| ftVour ,,nr,ara &c -. -. :. =.
r velous," she answered, lightly. Il wa
: dreaming"
t "Of WHAT"
"The world in general, my world i
particular. 1t is almost time returned
s there"
= She was prepared for some polite SHOW
Of regret, but not for the CHASTITY change
in his face
5 She shuddcrcd, remembering his aunt,
. words.
> Going away Why of course you
, would be soon." he said, trying TO speak
; carelessly, while his eyes hungrily de-
, voured her face, and his white, parched
lips were drawn as if in sharp, phyical
pain.
IL have been here three months, 'she
| said, feeling her own heart ache at his
, misery.
} ayes, yes You will 90 certainly"
"And you" she said gently, you
will be in the city, | presume. | should
be glad to welcome you 10 my house.
mo" he said harshly; 81 will not
take such advantage Of your kindness
| am a man your friends would tell you
TO shun, Miss Cameron--a man who has
wasted life till il is too late 10 take up
the threads again. You do not know,
perhaps, that my aunt keeps me here for
charity 7"
IL know you have offended your faith.
err" she answered, "but you arc a man
scarcely thirty, and il is cowardly to
talk Of despair at your age"
Her words cut him like n uhip-Iash.
The dark blood mounted 10 his forehead
as be repeated
Coward ! ! might fight the world
yet, but" here bis tone was bitter and
strangely pathetic. "the battle is scarce
y worth winning. What would | gain &?
Money ! do not value ii. Position
have thrown il behind me. | have play
cd the fool and must take FOOLS wagcs."
II will not have you say So" she
said. reused by an earnestncss she never
bad intended 70 betray. "You shall not
usclessly throw away your life."
A hope sprang 10 bis eyes, new there,
lighting thru 10 dazzling radiance.