Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1881-10-26
of his friend and his tragic death. Mrs,

and the little hand which held a sprig of
the obnoxious rose geranium was icy
cold and trembled.
She threw the flower away.
Sim sorry / offended you with my
geranium," she said, humbly, "it is no
favorite of mine i' rt-...
It was deliberate falsehood, but no
matter "The end justifes the means, y
at least she thought 30.
AS soon as she was alone in her own
chamber she paced the room like a
Gagged tigress. ..r-. .:+s
"My God ~ she painted, breathlessly,
'what would he say-how he would
scorn me, if he knew that / am Ethel
Delorme, the woman who Tilted Gerald
Brookes But he never shall know. [
love him / love him And / shall win
him if I die for it," She fell into pro-
found reverie. All at once her dark,
beautiful face lightad up strangely. 81
have it p she exclaimed. ct believe I
can see my way"
That night Mrs. Warburton stood be-
fore the mirror in her room, arrayed for
the hop which wac to take place below
stairs. She was regal In cream satin and
lace, with white roses in her magnificent
black hair. She moved slowly toward a
window where a pot of rose geranium
was sitting, and stopping over it, broke
off mass of scarlet bloom. Then hum
ming softly to herself, she left the room,
crossed the wide corridor, and tapped at
door. .wcs.a .Hga1a Da
"Come in p cried a sweet voice, and
Mrs. Warburton turned the knob and
entered Lily Moreton's room. l"a
Chow lovely you are!" she cried, rap
turously, a jealous pang at her heart,
meanwhile, as her eye fell on the slender
figure in white lace and pearls. But
oh, Lily, my love" she added, with a
gush of apparent sincerity, "why do
you wear pearls ? See Ihave brought
you some of my favorite flowers. [
raised them myself. / cannot wear them
with this costume; red and yellow would
be too gorgeous for me, and / do think
this dash of scarlet with your lovely
white lace would be too pretty for any,
thing. VIII you wear them, ma che,'e 2"
The young girl look pleased. She was
sweet, tender-hearted little thing, in
capable of deceit, and, therefore, unsus-
pecting.
"You are very kind, Mrs. Warbur-
ton," she replied; "indeed l will wear
them"
So the willy widow fastened the red
blossoms in Lily's golden hair and at her
throat and waist as conspicuously as
possible; then, her work accomplished,
she fitted away.
When Lily descended to the grand
salon below she was joined at once by
Harry Penryth, who offered her his arm
for a promenade. A pair of flashing
black eyes followed the two as they moved
slowly through the rooms, and pair of
rosy lips curled up with a strange smile
as they saw Henry Penryth gaze fxedly
at his companion, and turn pale to the
very lips. The subtle instinct which SO
strangely affected the young man was
slowly but surely entering his heart.
After time Mrs. Warburton observed
MIR. Penryth making his way through
the crowd to her side. He looked pale
and troubled.
"Come out and walk, Mrs. Warbur-
ton, will you not ?" he said, offering her
his arm. With triumphant look in her
eyes she arose, and they strolled out into
the moonlight.
"Where is Miss Moreton ?'' queried
the widow, archly.
F'I do not know" he replied, trihe
coldly. "Let us sit b ere," he added,
pointing to rustic seat .-.-....
1t was lovely night; his companion
was beautiful and fascinating. Heaven
only knows of what foolishness Harry
might have been guilty, but jest then
voice fell on their ears from the shrub
berry near.
ssAh, Dupont" cried mans voice,
and a Whit of cigar smoke hoated by;
"why didn't you tell me the Delorme
was here"
"Delorme ?" returned his companion,
1" [ don't know of whom you are speak
ing"
The first speaker laughed lightly.
"You remember the woman that
Tilted Brookes, don't you? Poor Ger
aid he was noble fellow Well, she
afterward married old Warburton, the
millionaire, and worried him into the
grave within year. She's fascinating
widow, and the young men (who do not
know herr flock round her like moths in
candlel I hear Penryth is the last
victim %
Indeed % laughed the other; and
the two passed on.
Harry Penryth turned on his COM
panion face of marble whiteness.
What does this mean ?" he gasped.
" ANSWER me; are you Ethel Delorme?"
She laughed rechlessly.
SO Is it fair to place me forever under a
ban % she asked, "just because man
whom I never could love was foolish
enough to care for me? Mr.. Penryth.
was not to blame, listen p
Hush r he said, sternly. "Don't
attempt any palliation. Shall take you
back to the house, Mrs. Warburton ?"
And Ethel Warburton. knew that it
was all over, that the game was played,
the die thrown and lost
X 4E X ~. X
Alone on the. moonlit veranda, Lily
Moreton sat, pale and sad. Harry Pen
ryth came to her side and bent tenderly
over her. ~.
"Lily," he whispered, "where did
Il.