The south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1879-1883, 1881-02-15


She could hear tho murmur Of
voices iu the death chamber, aud
dreading she knew not what, she
listened and waited.
| And III tho room beyond Sophy
Amcs heard the confession that filed
her with cruel hope and e1ultation
alberta hss been the dearest OF
daug gh,ers TO me, and ! could not die
and know thai some unkind and
strange lips might tell hef the story
OF her birth. But you Sophy, when /
am gone, williell her gently. Her
mother was French girl--ny maid
that | had believed 10 be as good in
all things as she had been faithful a. a
servant. Sho died when Berthe was
an hour old. I loved the little name
less thing, and So adopted H. OF
course, Sophy you, as my nearest kin,
will Inherit all my wealth. But II ID
NV wish that you share II equally
with her.
And with Bertic's name last ON hei
lips. the woman gasped and died and
| Sophy Ames was an heiress, aud
Guy Wescote's beautiful promised
bride was utterly in her power.
Il will call the poor girls" she said
TO thcphysicinn, in avoice grown so
suddenly cold aud soulIcss that be
gazed at her in surprise. Z
She swept into the chamber where
BERTHE, still on her knees, listened
and waited. entr fssf~
She bent over her, her hand
clenched as IL to keep back the truth.
less hate In her naughty, flaming eyes
aud low, deceptive tones.
"Bertie, be brave, for ! have some.
thing TO tell you had better know a,
once. But you are not TO DO turned
away nsIneless and penniless; re
member that Bertie."
"Oh, sophyl can't understand
you" inoancd Bertie.
my poor aunt is dead,p continued
tho cruel girl, with deliberate accents
aud gaze oi naughty superiority,
"Shc desired me TO tell ycu the stor,
Of your birth, aud yet ] think yo,
must have suspected it. Yo are no
g Sheldon-you are not her dsught
err AN
"Then who and what am ! Z,
groaned the unhappy girl. .s.
"Your psrentagc is bad, BERTHE,
answered her tormcntor, slowly ant
pitilessly repeating the very words
that Guy Westcote had spoken al
| hour before, 1T is best TOR you I,
i know the worst now. dcar--you real
lie that Of course. Your position 4
changed, certainly butas my aunt
heir at Law, 1 shall desire you to sta,
with me, and shallstry to ill be
place."
Leave me-leave mel can bea
no morsl" was Berries passionst
appeal.
| The obsequies were over; and Il
the great dcsolate house, Bertic wep
and pined, aud fretted against he
destiny until her soul was eore.q {
With the naughty eyes of the new
helrese upon her, her position wa
: unbearably full of humiliation.
Il Cur Wescote had never come /
her In her sorrow, nor had ahe hear
from him one word OF coincidence.
She knew inslinctiYely what Soph
would have her believe about he
lover, and the girl's way aud unkin
allusiuus almost drove her mad.
And yet she longed to lay her tire
; bead on his bosom, to grow CALI
again beneath his words Of comfor
and hear him say once more that sll
''was all he could desire that b
,, would love her always"
She came into the parlor one day
! and found Sophy bending over
lovely bouquet of the tube roses sn
lilies OF the valley. sftest
"Oh, how beautiful!" cried Bert
impulsively.
"They came with Guys compl
ments," was Sophy,s significant rcpl.
"For you" murmured Bertio, he
/, white rose face full Of amaze an
! ! grief.
sDid you expect anything ditfel
: ent ?" asked the new heiress. "Ha,
: you forgotten almost tho last wore
Of my---my--friendl" !"
Beriie, heart-broken, and tried In
! measurably, answered the girl
length as shc deserved.
: ''Sophy," she said, "your mann,
and hesitation imply that Mr.. Yves
cote has become something more tbs
9 o friend TO you. If he 10 indeed
! fickle and sordid as you wish me
y believe, you need not fear any r
= monstranco from me, for ! shou
9 only dispise you BOTH"
n Without waiting for the reply, 81
J, turned to leave the room.
2 nGuy know me first, Bertie." VI
y the, answer hurled after her by Il
. sweetest, most triumphant OF voice
y Berthe did not heed, but passed in
3 the ball. n ss ~
n The door Of the reception room W
ajar, and she started back with
7 thfobbing heart as she saw Gny Wes
Z cote, hat In hand, standing within.
y "Bertie," he said.
She could not move nor speak; 8
'e only gazed at him like hunted cres
+ ure, with eyes full Of doubt snd vii
ftll sgony.
'r He took a step forward, and TAXI
Y, her hand, drew her into the roc
9, gently, and closed the door.
% "Why have yon refused 10 {
ID me ?" he asked. AZ
ri did not know you had desir
I it,' she answered trembling.
re II have asked for you every di
ID Berthe; l have sent you flowers q
or messages OF sympaihy, and have
n ways bccn told that you were out,
III, ,or Indifferent
n WHO told youf" she inquire
"a tdrawing more closely toward MIN.
40 s'Sophy." Y sSs n "a
% "She has misrepresetiied meto "
'end would hsve had ms believe u