The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-05-26

Miss Van Duyne's eyes were fixed upon
the portrait over the mantel.
At last she broke the long silence.
Miss Suydam,' she said, may ask
question:"
Certainly, Miss Van Duyne." replied
Clarice, without lifting her head.
"You have been very kind to poor, unde-
serving me, Miss Suydam, and / do not want
to be impertlnent; but will you tell me
whose portrait that is?"
at is the portrait of my dead cousin, Miss
Van Duyne.
"Please call me Celeste" pleaded the
young woman. He was handsome" she
said-"very handsome"
"Ay, he was handsome" said Clarice,
somewhat bittery--"had he not been, he
might to-day be alive. Beauty is sometimes
curser
Miss Van Duyne withdrew her attention
from the picture and turned an astonished
look upon Miss Suydam.
"How did his features prove curse|
"a wealthy lady pretended TO fai in love
with him, but she proved false because he
was not wealthy ALSO and he
Clarice paused and resumed her work.
"And what was the RESULT"
"He diedw
"Oh, how sad" exclaimed Miss Van
Duyne. "Died of broken heart"
Again silence reigned in the room.
The beautiful Miss Van Duyno toyed idly
with the fringe on the arm of her chair.
Presently the silence was again broken by
her inquiry:
"were you ever in love, Miss Suydom?
All, excuse mel" she said, hastily, as if re-
penting the rude question.
Once" replied Clarice, with faint
smile, and then she turned her tace toward
the window.
"Once!' echoed Miss'gan Duyne. You
should never love but once. l beg your
pardon: I see I have stupldly blundered
upon a subject which gives you pain"
She directed her attention to the portrait
again.
"Do you know" she said tremulously,
| II have been longing to tell you secret,
and ask your advice as to what l shall do'
| seem to be happy, but l am unutterably
wretched."
Miss Van Duyne covered her face with hel
| hands and burst into tears
Clarice rose from her seat and walked
over to the young woman's chair. Leaning
over the back of it, she stroked the sobblng
woman's forehead and bade her confde her
| troubles to her keeping and If she could do
aught to assist her she would.
Miss Van Duyne still hiding her face In
her hands, broke out
81 am so unhappy! Your friend, Mr..
Dalton, has been very kind to me, and you
are like sister, but l cannot escape the
stigma of my former life. l am forced tc
remain indoors; but, if l were free to go into
society, should soon be frowned upon
we're my character to become known, al
though l really have not myself beer
vicious-you believe that have notT
~ have no right to disbelieve you, Ce
leste," said Clarice, gently. THE fact o
your leaving your evil companions Is evi
dence that you hate crime.
"Bless YOU for that assurance! sighed tn
lovely creature. Judge, then, she added
"of how bemoan my unfortunate love"
"Love"
"Yes, Miss Suydam am deeply enan1
ored of gentleman whose love fear l d
not possess, and who, if he did reciprocal
my affection, would not take me to his heal
should tell him the history of my life"
''Ars YOU sure he would not?" asked Clal
ice.
; Il am almost positive. From my az
, quaintance with him, l can see that he
t TOO proud 70 wed with one who has not "
| escaped the wiles of her enemies, and VIII
is in constant fear of being discovered al
q forced back to her old life
!. "Do you wish to know what his sent
ments are on that point?"
ooh, so much!" sighed Miss Van Duyne.
Then tell him your whole history-th
r is, if he should ever betray a more than o
binary interest in your welfare. Ii he is
It true man, he will not hesitate to place yc
8 in the honored position Of the wife. Othe
s wise, you will have to stife your affection
4 It is our misfortune that we sometimes lo'
II where we are not beloved, and sometim
II we imagine we are beloved and the heart
u yearning for the words which will bring
>. comfort, when an unexpected event keel
l. him upon we have fixed our hearts from u
n tering those words and custom will not 9
ir low us to break away the barrier that kee
v two loving hearts asunder. We may VIC
is ship one we'll worthy of our affection. al
vet because of our SEX we must needs I
main silent.
v Clarice's head was bowed, and she spo
e, with an effort.
~ Then you think you would test him
=, you stood in my position?" said Miss VI
= Duyne.
- ''What DO you mean Dy TEST MIN!
y "Why, ! mean TO endeavor to get him
y, acknowledge whether he loves me or not. "
n, "No," replied Ciarlce, decidedly. "Th
Ig would be unmaidenly. Let the matter ia
its course, and if the man whom you 10
should declare his regard for you then spe
lg out. There would be nothing gained
t. keeping secrets from your lover.
n. "You are prudish, Miss Suydam," mt
h. INJURED Miss Van Duyne 10 herself, as Clarl
ic bent to replenish the fire.
Shortly after this conversation, Clari
left the room.
an Miss Van Duyne sat for time looking
~ the portrait of Clarence Suydam, and the
lie as if annoyed by some unpleasant thougl
reused herself, walked to the other e
of the room, and laid herself down up
~ settee.
3D. While she reclined thus, Mr.. James D
s. ton entered the room.
e. "My benefactor" exclaimed Miss Y
Q. Duyne, rising hastily and running to b
th with outstretched hands. "How l ho
longed to see your She pushed the a
chair near the FIRE and drew low ben
up beside it. "Here is comfortable se
Miss Suydam will be in presently.
'er James Dalton sat down in a maze
its was always in maze when near this wont
Miss Van Duyne placed hsrssh on