The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-07-01

Tn The midst OF pleasant conversation
with his hostess. Harold Arleigh absuptly
nsussd. a sudden flush on his fine face, a
strange, startled look In his handsome DARK
eyes.
What he had been about TO say ne never
anew: OF his uagraciousness he was MOI
conscious until he saw Mrs. 6oidspy ;
.aute OF politely surprised inquiry.
"lar,lon me." he said. turning toward
her witt a @;nning snt apologize sml'e'
"I saw a LADY amoag :cL. gues 'n '''s
so like dear friend knew ara 'ot 1s
ago that the resemblance qu"e .A'''eo
me- ,,,,.
:. An. YOU mean the young lady In white
snk and onal ornaments, with curry yellow
hair and cheeks liLo pesch-blossoms. sne
.s very beau,jful-- there IL none ike her.
On. "a ErmenRarue Burroughs. Gear
sriend. who is staying with me for few
xeeks' Shall introduce your" returned
ali YOU wish-if you will be so kind as
IN honor me-" falterea the young man,
yisibly embarrassed.
His hostess gave him one keen bot covert
look.
uuest,v she thought. al dafeu suou,u
warn him-I should tell him that TINS iair
woman, with her alluring, smiling eyes
,,er sweet voice and exquisite grace, mas no
heart TO be won.
rSive minutes later her two friends were
xhirling through a waltz together, and she
wondered somewhat Why Harold had grown
On male Sand why Ermengarde seemed so
naughty and cold.
Zone would think they were lovers VINO
had quarreIled," was her mental criticism.
she was not wrong, for years before
those two had loved each other dearly.
They had been betrothed and the marriage
day fixed. when the trial came that parted
them. Harold Arleigh suddenly found
himself fatherless and utterly pennies !;
but idleness and luxuary had not spoiled
his high and noble spirit. He could cheer.
fully accept years OF toll and study ana
struggling. but he felt he could not happily
aud conscientiously wed his wealthy En-
mengarde until he might regain his worldly
equality with her.
"Tbe world says unpleasant things OF
Door men who marty rich womeD," he had
told her.
"Wby should we care for what the world
has said or NAV say!" the girl returned im-
yatiently. "All | have belongs 10 you,
Harold. Do not leave me-"
Even in that trying moment, with her
Gear hands clinging upon his arm, her
pieading eyes upon him, be never wayered.
II must, my darling" he mad answered
her firmly. though his heart was heavy with
regret and pain. land remember, though
leave YOU free shall remain loyal TO you
in heart and deed rs the only woman l
will ever make my wife. / am not selfish
enough to ask you TO walt Tor me a rev
years. my Ermengarde."
What the girl replied she could never
N,nr knew
words were cruelty reprOachful, for she
was half mad with the agony Of losing him
FOR even few brief years.
And be left her with look on his white.
beloved face she would never forget until
her dying day.
She felt that he bad wrouged her gener-
Gus affection, insuted her womanIy pride
and left her with pitileSs indifference 10 be
acorned and Knocked as a bride deserted by
her bridegroom. She had heard OF sweet
Ieuts who lad waited for lovers who bad
never come: OF women who had
wasted the best years Of their lives upon
lovers that were false; and her whole soul
cried out In bitter, unforgiving anger
against him. Neither pardon nor trust
would she give him. And yet she accepted
the freedom he had given her with that sort
of defiant misery all women feel when
slaves Of love that neither time nor anguish
cor humiliation, nor inhuman cruelty even,
can ever lessen.
And that night at Mrs. Goldsby's SOirSe
they had met again-met after long years
as strangers.
And during those years Harold Arleigh
had won that for which he had toiled 50
faithfully. he had won an honorable po-
sitiop among the most honorable OF men (;
he was esteemed as one OF the most brilliant
members OF the legal fraternity; and by
travel and study he had acquired that
slegance'and dignity OF manner that COM
nGnds the homage OF society. III Harold
Arleipb chose to wed an h1iress the world
could not say he married for money and
social distinction. nor would he feel that he
would barter the noble independence OF
rs manhood by such union.
But for him the wide world held only one
woman, sweet and dear, and she, it seemed,
was no longer attaiGable.
SIS this the Ermengarde j have loved all
my life?" be asked himself, as be gazed
upon her fair, passionless face; the Ermen-
garde in whose affection and faithfu!ness
trusted despite her unreasonable anger
against me"
And he sighed heavily as he led her to q
seat after the waltz was over.
81 did not think TO meet you here" he
faltered, as the gay groups swept by, leay
Ing them alone.
1--WE meet many people UNEXPECTEDLY
Sir. Arleigh," she answered in cold, Sc
rene voice.
Her cool tranquility almost maddene(
hitn. The years that had passed seemed tt
him but the dreary dream Of an hour, ant
their sorrowful parting but OF yesterday.
He bent over her until his hot breatl
burned her check.
Ermengarde," be whispered in hoarse
agita,ed tones, care YOU so changed! Have
you really forgotten, or do you quite ignore
what we were once 10 each other? | have
been faithful. have made myself worthy
to ask YOU to be my wife. Give me ont
word. Ermengarde-one word to send me
from you again, or to keep me by your side
for the remainder Of our lives"
Her stony calmness was all gone now
She trembled perceptibly and arose before
bin pale as death.
Her lips moved with little gasp, bu
what she meant 10 say she did not utter
for at that moment gentleman came TO he
side and with word OF apology to Harolt
claimed her for the next dance.
And Just then his hostess touched bis arm
wlth her fan.
"My husband is asking for You, Mr.. Ar
selgh," she said, adding lightly, "Did yoI
not lind my dear EImeugarde charming
She Is a lovely creature. Just the least bi
OF coquette, perhaps. l believe she i
engaged to the gentleman who is dancln!
The german with her,"
Harold Arleigh despised gossip and re
garded all rumors as unreliable, but in hi
present mood CT suspense the words Of hi
hostess grieyed him as the most bite
proven truth could do.
UrmaoOar6e had nipdOed herself IN an