Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-01-02
Maud Heskc!h.

eff any one but you had told me
This 1 would not have believed n word
of it." said Percy Herbert to his friend,
Harry Liston, as they smo ked their CT
gars outside the library window of the
house they were staying at. at seems
perfectly Incredible that girl like
Maud Hesketh could be what you de-
scribe her."
1t is a fact, nevertheless, Percy /;
she is complete fortune hunter, and !,
far from Disgusting the fact, rather
boasts of it than otherwise ; it is not
much more than month since saw
her, and then she certainly did not hes
itate to speak her sentiments on the
subject. am glad l have arrived in
time, old fellow, as I verify believe you
are on the eve of falling in love with
her"
~ do love her." said his friend,
slowly, and with sigh and was vain
and foolish enough to think she cared
something for me. However, the
charm is now broken, for if there is one
thing have contempt for more than
another it is mercenary woman. The
woman l marry must love me for my
self alone, and not for what possess. +"
The above conversation was over.
heard by Maud Hesketh herself, who
had retired to the library for an hour
or two's quiet reading, and who, hear.
ing her name uttered by Percy Her
bert. in her curiosity to hear what he
had TO say about her, crept to the open
window, where, screened from observa-
ton by the heavy curtains, she listened
eagerly to all that was said. Never was
the old adage-" Listeners hear no good
of themselves so thoroughly verified
IS in this instance and, overwhelmed
with shame and dismay, she fled to her
own room, where, locking her door, she
gave way to a passionate burst of tears,
none the less bitter for knowing that
the accusation brought against her was
true one, for, in thougbtless mood,
she had uttered the words which were
now to part her from the man she
loved better than life.
Maud Hesketh was the eldest of q
large family, as poor as they were
proud: for. until the last two or three
years, their father had been man of
large landed property, but, owing to
the loss of Chancery suit, was com.
pletely ruined-nothing remaining of
his great wealth but few thousands,
The crash had been sudden and most
unexpected. for not only themselves
but all their friends had regarded the
winning of the suit as certain Iand
great, indeed, had been the consterna-
tion when their loss became known.
The old home was given up, and they
retired to secluded country town.
where, unknown and unsought, except
by a few. they could live quietly and
cheaply. 1t was q great and sad
change for all, but for Maud especially
who, not having been long introduced,
and having always been made much OF,
not only for her beauty and brightness.
but also for her supposed wealth. the
sudden reverse of fortune was almost
more than she could bear and she had
often been heard to say that never would
she marry any man who could not re-
store to her all the luxuries and pleas
ures she had lost. But, unfortunately.
she had made that remark to Mr.. Lis
ton, an utter stranger to her, who,
while staying with lady friend in the
neighborhood, had come with her to
call on the Heskeths, and who, hearing
ayoung girl make such q remark. and
not knowing the circumstances of the
case, had very naturally drawn his own
conclusions.
One of Maud's greatest friends was
an old school companion, who was now
married, and it was at her house that
she met Percy Herbert, a favorite cousin
of Mrs. Canyons, who was very anx.
ious to bring about match between
the two.
Mr.. Herbert was possessed of con
siderable wealth, and was considered a
great catch, SO that when Maud first ar.
rived she congratulated herself upon
good luck, and endeavored to be as
fascinating as possible ;but,before many
weeks had passed over her head she
made two discoveries-irst, that her
heart was irretrievably gone, and Sec
ondly, that money had nothing to do
with it; for it was the man himself she
was in love with, so that it was doubly
Calling to her to hear her former mer-
cenary views brought to light, and to
feel that not only had she forfeited
Percy Herberts love, but his respect,
also.
"Oh, what must he think of me ?
How hek must despise me ~ said the
wretched girl and, burying her face
in her hands, she thought long and
earnestly as to the best way of proving
the falsity of Harry Listens opinion.
81 know what 1 will do" she ex.
claimed I will play Mr.. Liston off
against him, and let him See that I can
firt with poor man as we'll as rich
one." ~. -,