The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-03-01

choice. rich fruit, waiting for her on her
own window-edge in the morning.
Susie had vast respect and consider
able liking for her eccentric neighber,
but, nevertheless, she scarcely appre-
ciated his last manifestion of devotion.
A baby bewailing broken toy might be
comforted by pclting OF flowers, but a
young lady humiliated by the conduct of
a renegate lover desires very different
exhibition of sympathy.
"The disagreeable creature" she NUT
tered. Il dare say he heard every word,
and Is laughing at my folly"
In her girlish resentment Susie forgot
to grieve for the faithlessness of Dion
DeVere, and she was quite calm when
presently her sister came back to the
room.
81 suppose that it has happened just
as | Predicted" said Pamela, in her
harsh unsympathetic tones.
Hardly that, DEAR" replied the girl,
choking back sob that she might speak
lightly; ''but we have decided to delay
our marriage for another year."
"Ah, just as thought" croaked Pa
melia; "and Susie, that marriage will
never be. At least" she supplemented,
81 shall never live 20 see it,"
PAMELA Aldrich prophesied truly
then, for before the year had gone she
died, and Susie was left alone.
1t was sad time for the girl. Her
betrothed husband came to her once, and
the few words he meant for comfort
seemed to her like mockery. And yet
she knew he was fond of her as he could
be of anything except himself and the
fortune that had come to him. And
when he spoke to her of his affection and
their delayed marriage she half believed
him still.
But it was Susie's eccentric neighbor
who came to her with the real practical
aid and solace that only a friend can
give.
1t was the tall and handsome Mr..
Searles who went about the rooms, serv-
ing her in all things as thoughtful
brother might have done. And when it
was all over, it was he who spoke to her
anxiously and tcnderly of her future.
"You are very young, Susie, to be left
alone like this" he said to her one dav.
"I should ask you to be my wife," he
went on in his whimsical, half-earnest
half-trifing way, "but | know you do
not love me, and | know, too, you would
never marry for any other motive than
love, propose to adopt you, Susie, as
my sister or daughter, that | may pro-
tect you and care for you until some
body else comes to claim you"
And in his masterful way he per-
suaded her to acquiesce. The name of
Dion DeVere he never mentioned.
Better than Susie he knew that the man
was thoroughly false, and this he meant
to prove to her after his own considerate
and whimsical fashion.
One delightful morning he took her
out for drive, and surprised her by
stopping at a wharf beside which an
ocean steamer was lying just ready to
sail.
"A bridal party is going aboard,
SUSIE" he said. "Do you see the car
riage, yonderw
The girl started and grew slightly pale
as she saw Dion DeVere and dazzling
creature walking arm in arm away from
the stylish coach they had just left.
"They were married yesterday" ex-
planned Mr.. Searles, "and they will
spend their honeymoon in Europe"
Susie was not entirely unprepared for
this denouement, and her pretty lip
curled the least bit contemptuously as
her companion turned his horses head
toward home.
A year passed and Susie had another
suitor--a noble fellow who offered her
wealth oflove and handsome home,
but these considerations did not tempt
the young lady, who sweetly declined
the honor with which she was favored.
"My child you might 60 farther and
fare worse" observed her neighbor SEN
tentiously.
The alley was between them then, and
Susie could afford to be audacious.
"Did you not tell me once that could
only marry for lovew she asked, smiling
into the face among the oleanders oppo-
site.
II have told you that" he returned,
his eyes growing bright as the sun above
their windows. "And quite we'll indeed
| remember something else l said. Shall
| say it again, Susie"
mo, oh no" she laughed, shaking her
pretty head in a manner not discourag-
ing.
He fixed one searching look upon her
bright, young face, then vanished from
his window, and five minutes later en-
tered her room.
81 shall allow you to tantalize me no
longer" he declared, clasping both her
hands. You have learned as last to
love me, have you notg'
II could not help it," was the simple
answer, as if apologizing for something
very foolish and wicked. .
81 am glad of that, my wife-to-be," he
replied, smiling.
But Susie had been Mrs. Searles for
some days before. she learned that the
house in which she had lived SO long, as
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