Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-11-06
NO. 263.
Gales ano Skettbes.
MAUD HESkETH.


would not have believed word of it,"
said Percy Herbert TO his friend. Harry
l.iston. as they smoked their cigars outside
the library window of the house they
were stopping at. lit seems perfectly in
credible that girl like Maud Hesketh
could he what YOU describe her"
1T is a fact, nevertheless, Percy: she
is complete fortune hunter. and far
from Disgusting the fact. rather boasts of
il than otherwise; it is not much more
than a month since saw her. and then
she certainly did not hesitate to speak her
sentiments on the subject. | am glad
have arrived in time. old fellow. as veri-
ly believe You are on the eve OF falling in
love with her"
Il do love her." said his friend, slowly
and with n sigh. land was vain and foolish
enough to think she cared something for
me. However. the charm is now broken,
for il there is one thing have Il contempt
for more than another it is a mercenarv
woman. The woman marry must love
me for myself alone, and not for what
possess
The above conversation was overheard
by Maud llesketh herself. who had re-
tired TO the library for an hour or two's
quiet reading. and who. hearing her own
name uttered by Percy Herbert. in her Gu
riosity to hear what he had to say about
her, crept to the open window, where,
screened from observation, by the heavy
curtains, she listened eagerly to all that
| was said.
Never was the old adage-"Listeners
hear no good of themselves so thor
oughlv verified as in this instance; and.
overwhelmed with shame and dsmay. she
fled to her own room, where. locking her
door, she gave way to n passionate burst
of tears. none the less bitter tor knowing
the accusation brought against her was a
true one, for. in thoughtless mood, she
| had uttered the words which were now to
part her from the man she loved better
| than life.
! Maud lIcsketh was the eldest of a large
family, rs poor rs they were proud; fpr.
until the last two or three years. their
father had been man OF large landed
property, hut owing to the loss of
Chancery suit, was completely ruined
nothing remaining of his great wealth but
a 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; and great. indeed,
had been the CONSERVATION when their loss
became known. The old home was given
up. and they retired to secluded coun-
try town, where unknown and unsought,
except by few, they could live quietly
and chcaply.
1t was a great and sad change for all.
but for Maud especially. who, not having
been long introduced. and having always
been much made of, not only for her
/ II. Il.
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 restore to her all the luxuries
and pleasures she had lost. But, unfortu-
nately, she had made that remark to Mr..
Liston, an utter stranger to her, who,
while staying with lady friend in the
neighborhood had come with her To call
on the Eeskeths, and who, hearing
young girl make such IA remark. and not
/ knowing the circumstances of the case,
had very naturally drawn his own conclu-
sons.
One of Maud's greatest friends was an
old school companion. who was now mar
red, and it was at her house that she met
Percy Herbert, n favorite cousin of Mrs.
about match between the two.
Mr.. Herbert was possessed of consider
able wealth. and was considered a great
catch so when Maud first arrived she
congratulated herself upon her good luck,
aud endeavored to he rs fascinat-
ing rs possible; but before many
weeks had passed over her head she made
two discoverics-first. that her heart was
irretrievably gone, and secondly. that
money had nothing to do with It for it
was the man himself she was in love with,
so it was doubly CALLING to her to hear her
former mercinary views brought TO light.
and to feel that not only had she forfeited
Percy IIerbert's love but his respect, also.
"Oh, what must he think of me ? How
he most dcspise met said the wretched
girl ard. burying her face in her hands,
she thought long and earnestly rs to the
best way of proving the falsity of Harry
Liston's opinion.
II know what / will do" she ex-
claimed; 'I will play Mr.. Liston off
against him, and let him see that can
flirt with poor man as well as a rich
ONE
So, removing all traces of tears, she
dressed herself for dinner with unusual
care Never were tables so completely
turned on any one as they were on poor
Percy Herbert that evening; for, ever
since his friend had opened his eyes to
Maud's apparent deceit, he had been won
dering how he could best give her TO un-
derstind that she need not, for the future,
shower any of her facinatons upon him,
and now, without giving him an oppor-
tunity Of snubbng her, she entirely ig-
nored his presence, and devoted herself to
his friend. who was as much astonishcd at
the aspect Of affairs as Percy himself.
This went on for days, till Percy. who
in spite of all, loved her devotedly, was
driven almost wild with jealousy, and
openly accused his friend of having pur-
posely deceived him in regard to her for.
tune hunting propensities, and making up
the story to further his own ends.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Carlyon regarded witt
dismay the evident failure of her darling
project; and, moreover, feeling very sore
that Maud's victim should be her favoritl