St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1878-07-13

"Oh, never fear for mep' said Guy,
for have already Gagged my bird, and
so shall not prove q dangerous rival to
your suit
"Well, then behold" replied Fred,
removing his hand, and disclosing to
view the tiny locket.
Guy turned pale as death, but mas
tering his emotion by violent effort, he
playfully Insisted upon knowing the
name of Fred's charmer.
ooh, come" said Fred, "you are
feigning innocence; for surely you must
have often seen this trinket upon the
arm of fair "Nell, the Irresistible" who
has this day bestowed it upon me as
pledge of her true love-"
GUY had stood as if turned to stone
while this flippant speech was being rat
tied out, and then, with few common
place words, passed on; but his tread
was not as free and elastic as before he
met Fred, and his head, which then had
been raised proudly, was now bent for
ward dejectedly; for dark cloud had
suddenly arisen, which threatened to
overshadow forever the bright morning
Of his happiness.
Fred watched him pass on with sar-
donic smile on his handsome yet sinister
face, and thought to himself, "Ah, my
fine fellow, there's many slip 'twixt
the cup and the lip, as you may find to
your cost; and then you will know the
consequences of standing in the way of
Fred ActonI'
That evening, in her luxurious home,
Nellie watched and listened in vain for
the familiar footsteps she had learned to
know SO WE'LL and she retired to rest at
last, sad and dispirited, and with dim
sense of impending trouble, that was
yet too vague to shape itself into con-
nected thought.
The next morning, as the family were
gathered around the breakfast table,
servant entered the room with a note ad.
dressed to "Miss Pomeroy." Grasping
it eagerly, systematically, Nellie tore it
open, and with blanched face read the
following laconic note:
NELLIE: All is over between us.
Thank God, I have discovered your per-
fdy before it was too late. had the
fullest confidence in you, Nellie; but
that is past now.
Ileave for France tomorrow, never l
trust to revisit this country, which
would now be but sad home for me.
Your once-devoted lover,
Guy HARTLEY.
Mr.. and Mrs. Pomeroy, occupied in
their own conversation, had not noticed
the sudden paling of their daughters
face, as she hurriedly scanned the IA
miliar writing, till, as she reached the
fatal termination, her eyes closed. and,
with low moan of agony, she sank to
the floor in death~like swoon.
X X x Il
For five years Guy wandered through
Europe; for five years he vainly streve
to find forgetfulness and happiness in
constant excitement and change of scene;
but, failing in this, he had at last resolved
to visit again the land of his birth, if
only to mark the ravages which tine
had made among his old friends. So he
returned to London.
Not once had a suspicion of Fred
Acton's treachery crossed his mind, for
to Guy he had always shown the better
part of his nature; besides, the proof of
Nellie's duplicity had seemed too con-
elusive to admit of any lingering doubt
his love might have suggested.
And Nellie? Thrown into nervous
fever by the cruel note from Guy, she
wavered long between life and death;
but, finally, her perfect constitution
gained the victory, and she again mingled
in the gay world of fashion; but GER
tain sadness was perceptible in her man
ner, and weary look in her blue eyes
showed that her heart was not interested
in the gay scenes by which she was sur
rounded.
Vainly had Fred Acton sued for her
hand. Feeling that he was in some
manner connected with Guys mysterious
behaviour, she had only scorn to give
him. At first, she had hoped that some
trivial act of hers had displeased Guy,
and he would soon return, but as the
weeks rolled on and no word came from
the absent one, she finally ceased to ex-
pect him.
Fred Acton, after repeated refusals
from Nellie, had at last given up all
hopes Of winning her hand; but loving
her still, as far as his selfish nature was
capable of loving, he attempted to
drown his sorrow in the wine cup; and,
with drinking and fast horses, was rap
idly eating up the handsome property
left him by his father. One day, while
riding at break-neck speed, his horse,
frightened at futtering rag, SHE'D, and
threw him. When the hastily summon
ed physician had examined his wounds,
he pronounced him fatally injured.
Knowing, then, that for him all
thoughts of revenge on Guy were USE
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