Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1878-10-03
had gone iiown in the yotex Of bis

oAks AVf tOuCHihS iibttG L tn& money.
She was an orphan child who had
entconfided to his mother, and she,
IEith blind repose in her only so had
transferred the trust to him. How
Mad he honored it? He turned sick
at heart. He Fad not the courage to
live, to reap the fruit of his sowing
! to face the havoc wrought by his own
hands. Death? All what boon it
would be to himl Then why not die?
1t was an easy way, he remembered,
to open an artery in a bath. Only d
long, slow swoon, and then escape!
The idea intoxicated him. He re-
called the little pen-knifesin his, vesC.,
pocket; It was all he Leeded to effect
release. There came a grim humer
into his mind as he prepared to OBJ
tain it; sense of Ais abuse of John
Lucas hospitality; of the awkward
nesss of having dead man for a
guest. 1t startled him slightly to
tind his penknife gone from his pocke..
He was quite positive it was there a
few hours back. A razor, however,
| would answer no we'll But in the
dressing-case the place for the razor
was empty. The solution Of the mys-
try flashed into his mind. 1t had
been surmised that he might attempt
suicide. The welI-trained servant
had searched his pockets. John Lu-
cas- did not run the risk Of having
dead men for his guests. Victor
colored to find himself read SO well
and forestalled so completely.
Precisely at eight came the tap at
the door. ''Breakfast is waiting,
SIR the man-servanty announced,
deferentia!iy urconscians of the ah-'
stracted penknife, and Victor follow
ed him, mechanically.
| Mr.. Lucas ami daughter were alone
in the breakfast-room when Victor
Lang came in. 1t was. a charming
room. The amber satin hanginss
gave it tone rs of sunshine. A soft
coal fire burned in the CRATE. casting
q cheerful glow on the bright brass
fender. The table was laid with ap-
pertizlng simplicity, and Celia Lucas,
with her dark eyes and dainty hands
and hssome self-possession, complet-
ed the picture of luxurious cheer.
''Fhis is my daughter, Lang; sole
daughter of my house and heart, -
Mr.. Lucus said, lightly, in an affec-
tionate tone, holding the young lady
hand a moment in his own. And
then they took their places at the
table.
| Celia Lucas among her many at
fractions, had none greater than her
voice. 1t was clear and silvery, and
made even her commonplace words
sin into her listeners heart. She
chatted gaily with her father while
: she poured the coffee, and by the
time the meal was finished Lang found
himself in a rather comfortable con
dition of mind and body.
tg "Celia spares my eyes by reading
the paper to me-" Mr.. Lucas remark
ed. when they had risen from the
table. "And if it suit 8 you TO listen
stretch yourself on the couch and
listen at ease"
A coarse-knit Persian afghan
thrown over the acknowledgements
couch showed that 1t was intended
for, use. and Victor languidly sccept
: ell the invitation with apology. De
8 spite his heggary, he had feeling o
f conde c.nsiOH i'm his heart, and mad
e use of the gamblers luxurious sur
rounding as if his use honored them
I Celia Lucas read on, in her silver
e tones; straight on through the col
;. j,umns of news which seemed as du
/. and remote to the handsome youn
e spendthrift as if they were dated
hundred years before. Gradual
- his own sense of loss and shame gre
!, less keen; the delicious drowsiness {
10 youth crept over his senses, and b
fell fast asleep. -F. =..
III Itwas past noon when he awakened
= Some one had thrown u silk qui
II over him, and dsrkened the room
- All was silent; he was quite alon'
He stretched his limbs and closed b
ewes again. Life did not seem
= pitiful thing, after all, as to be let OF
II through a severed artery.
S;s S . He heard light step present
M corne through an adjoining room, ar
70 Miss Lucas stood in the doorway r.
10 garding him. She had Just come
- from the street, apparently, and WI
IN richly dressed in royal colOred ve
n vets and furs which became her e
trcmely. A little tinge of color aI
I'M the ripple of emile came OSer h
70 70 face as Victor 'sprang up from Z
n COUGH. ,,.f.ssxs. q.
~ ~ 81 owe you athousand apologies,
n he said.
T. "Rather," she returned, archly.
e. owe them to you," and she point
sv to a table covered with sketching m
o. terlals, where Victor beheld q Dol
r. rapid outline likeness Of himself
asleep.
ID sit is for friend who wants
tn study for 'Endymion,' she explai
nd ed; "will you permit me to use it
,e- "On one condition-that you Q
MS painted as DIANA" laughed you
nd Lang, in return.
gh s'rhat is easily complied with.
sd deed, my friend had selected me
sb- his Diana; any tall brunette answ'
m, for Diana. But you have no i'd
me- Mr.. Lang how difficult it is to fine
led handsome man--in the artistic sen
you know, I mean = I was as delig
ley ed when found you asleep as
nre real Diana when she found the r
ide Endymion." .
ow "Ah! but I'll venture to say y
rho did not kiss me, as did your pro
type"
our t'Of course not. Circumstan
,se. alter cases."
it. "Unhappily that is true. Are
'ur. going out!"
arm z "f have just come in, and am
ON your service. viii you look ovei
rev albums, or hear some nusicr'-
sor-l ~ think neither. Don't you "
re- some one to saw wood or she
ree- paths?'
and 'QssNot to-day. Are you in sea
~ al e