The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-02-10
Herbert and Leda.


isfactory piece of work unless we tear down
the whole mantle-piece. You see, it has
been loose for years. There is wide
crack at the back that must have been
there for some time"
Herbert Payne looked ruefully at his ta-
BILE of papers, his largo bookcase, his pic
lures, busts and gimcracks, that made his
handsome library the one room in the house
that truly seemed like home to him.
Every well, he said, ''only be sure you
put it up this time SO that there will be no
further annoyance"
Then Herbest Payne fled from the con-
fusion to come, and took trip for two
weeks, absolutely without end or aim,
except to escape from his disordered Ii
brary.
Mrs. Beach, his housekeeper, took care
that none of his treasures were injured, and
when he returned there was no trace of the
invaders, save that the falling mantle-p piece
was carefully and firmly reset.
But upon his table lay sealed envelope,
yellow with age, and directed in pretty
ladylike hand to "Mr Herbert Payne.
Every vestiga of color left the middle
| aged bachelors face as he saw this epistle.
The hand stretched out to grasp it trembled
| so violently that he drew it back.
Mrs Beach was within call, and he con.
trolled his emotion to ask
GLOW came this letter here?"
"The men found it behind the mantle
piece, sir. 1t must have slipped down the
big crack"
He shut the door and bolted it, No care
less curious eyes should watch him while
he read that letter-the letter which had
been hidden for thirteen years behind the
mantle piece.
Before he touched it he unlocked writ
ing desk, evidently seldom used, and tool
from it miniature picture of lovely girl
of eighteen or nineteen, with large browr
eyes and waving golden hair.
A face full of sweetness looked out from
the cold ivory, and the eyes of the strong
man grew full of tears as he gazet
upon it.
For he had loved her. Not with the wild
unstable love of youth, but when he was
man past th'-ty, who had faced trouble ant
temptation and conquer red both.
He had met her first when she was tn
comfort of an invalid father, and he hat
been first won to love her by watching he
sweet patience with the irritable old man
who kept her constantly busy in his ser
vice
Later, when they were friends, Herber
learned that Mr. Morrison, the fretfu
sufferer was very wealthy man and tina
Leda was his only child. Being himself
man of fortune, Herbert Payne needed bu
little the fact that Leda was an heiress, bu
he found his whole heart going out to he
as they grew better friends.
Every day he loved her better, till h
was assured of her love in return, when b
! sought her fathers consent to his taking he
to his heart d home, his loved an
e honored wife. And Mr.. Morrison's pie
was this.
q II cannot spare her yet When tel
! you her story, you may not care to MARI
'>r but if you still love her, spare her
me few months longer. may not-car
not live over another spring, even in th
soft climate, but when I die Leda will il
: herit all my fortune, though she is not m
= child. I told you she had history
q When we had been married but two yea
t our first child was born, and died in q
hour.
'Leda-my wife, teda was deliriou
a constantly calling for her babe, and IL
: doctor said it was life and death with her
. have child. So we took the babe, WI
I. has grown to be the comfort of my hf
from an asylum. / have no idea who 81
is or what was her parentage, but from Il
e hour she lay in my wife's arms and the pre-
;, sure of her tiny fingers calmed the wild e.
1 citement of the brain, she was to us o,
0 child.
u u "We were never blessed with babe
IS our own again, and all the love that was
a OUT hearts for children was lavished upC
y Leda. She was ten years old when h
/, adopted mother died, but she knew nothir
II then, and knows nothing now, Of Il
e secret of her birth. Only two other pc
sons beside myself know of it, my broth
" and my nephew, who will be my heirs if
'r leave no will. But promise you to NAL
will before I die, and leave Lei