The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-09-23

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"Or, rather, for each in its turn; and
you must remember, George, that it
would be very painful for me if any mis-
management or ill-luck of my fathers
should impair the fortune you have 50
generously placed in his power"
81 do not think there is any fear OF
that"
81 think not, too; and yet it is better
to be on the safe SIDE"
"Very we'll, them" he said, with lit
tie sigh.
81 suppose l shall have to 60. lex
pected to find you against the plan, and
gain encouragement for my own wishes; /;
but dare say you are right, after all.
So, my love, will start tomorrow after
noon, if nothing occurs; and now, l
think, l had better get through my let
ters, if Pm to be in time for the post"
Euphemia went to her own room, then,
and drawing couch up to the window,
flung herself upon it, with book in her
hand in case she should feel inclined to
read. 1t was close upon six o'clock now,
but as they did not dine until eight as a
rule, there was plenty of time to indulge
her reflections, if it could be called an in
dulgence which brought with it so much
misery and pain.
The agitation of the day had wearied
Euphemia, and as the light began to pale
a little, her eyes dropped, and she felt an
odd drowsiness stealing over her. She
did not resist the feeling, and would GER
tainly have been asleep in another min
ute, only that she was aroused by the
sound of door next to hers being quietly
and cautiously opened.
This was Mr.. Ropers dressing-room,
and as it was not likely that he would
come up SO early, Euphemia began to
wonder who could be there. If it had
been one of the servants, there would
have been no need for this secrecy.
| She pushed the hair back from her
ears, and listened.
1t seemed as if the theft it were a
thief-had found nothing to satisfy him
here, for the creeping, stealthy step came
on again, and paused at her door.
Euphemia, fairly startled now, was sit
ting up, with her dry lips apart, and her
eyes distended with fear.
The handle turned. She gave a wild
cry, and sprang towards the bell, which
she pulled with all her might. She could
hear nothing now but the dull leaden
throbs of her own heart, as she stood with
her terrified glance fixed upon the door;
but she knew that the thief had been
startled by her cry, and had fled.
Her maid came rushing up, breathless,
fancying her mistress must be ill; and
Euphemia, who knew that her nerves
were painfully disordered, and might
have led her into delusion, would not
speak of what had occurred.
Mr.. Roper and all the servants were SC
evidently impressed with the conviction
that they had searched the house for an
imaginary robber, that she was ashamed
to order them to do it second time, and
simply said, when Jennie questioned her
that she had felt little faint, and wanted
a glass of water. Jennie brought one
Immediately, and then she inquired il
madame would be dressed.
This Euphemia consented to gladly
thankful for the girls company; anc
Jennie was 50 ready of wit, and bright O.
nature, that she soon made her mistress
forget the little incident that had troubled
: her SO much in the early part of. the even
ing.
Euphemia had never looked more
, beautiful than tonight, and Mr.. Roper
watched her with kind of wonder. Hel
cheeks were as richly tinted as damasl
, rose, and she laughed loud and often. Il
never struck Mr.. Roper that the laugh
, was forced and unnatural, and belize
oddly by the sad, passionate eyes.
She tested and talked and talked anC
, tested, as Mr.. Roper had never know
her to be before. Still, this new phase o
her character was very attractive one
and, coming asa sudden revelation, addec
t astonishment to pleasure.
: Mr.. Roper was no great wine-drinker
and, in about twenty minutes after Eu
phemia left him, he rose to join her. IL
: his surprise, as he opened the door ther'
was Euphemia, pacing up and down thu
| hall, looking like a ghost in her white
misty dress.
/ "Why," he said, smiling, Chow is this?'
} "1t is 50 lonely up in the great draw
t ing-room all by ones self"
4 II thought you were so bravew
: II used to be, but it seems as if hat
lost all my nerve since last night"
e "The moon is shining beautifully
l Let us stroll round the garden, m.
!. love-"
S "Won't it be too coldY' she asked, an,
shivered almost convulsively.
e He took his cape off the hat-tree, an'
flung it round her shoulders.
|. "That will keep you warm" he said
e although / dare say it will crush you
q dress somewhat. However, my exper
ience teaches me that your maid cal
: remedy that; and you ought to be gla'
n to make little sacrifice to walk with M
y this evening, considering how obdurat
you were this afternoon"
t "Have you not forgiven me yet
# George?
e "Yes," he replied, with sudden gravity
d II can always forgive, but can not fol
It get. That is the misfortune of havin