The Russellville Democrat., 1881-01-27

told her f1ankjy wa$ pledged 10 bex. 8,sd vet whose fs 5'{fy lQQ]s and Aet s{Qk6 o{ I admiration for h1rSelf
 AHd the <laS atter hcr refurn | 6ofSc- i 1kan dashed ]D f<, \ erne h4z1Ybsfa<6 <6 &u3
 froln her window Felice eaU thAt il xa1 { isI{0r3ce Graves.
 %HCh! this nusf stop, and I w w;1I sIo{ es,4
 co5traAe him, for 1t Is wr9i{e to BiIth '. 5 sllo said. as she descended t< fII4 parlors: but once in the fascination of hIs pxea@ enco she forRot her rc8olxc arad sf,o. 1 invited him to rcmain tQ tuA 61ld meet her guardian an invitation he gladly acceptcd
 "tiuardie. what do you think Of Lieu tenant drayes2' she asked, as the two sat in the library thai night after his de- parture.
 An exceedingly handsome rnan, q 1 brilliant talker, and one who haa i,o-. bility stamped upon his face; in fact. I 1 like him exceedfngly.n
 He is enpaped t0 Ruth Raynor. I bc-a lieve," said Felice, with q choking voice.
 Then she will get good husband, while he will not find her the woman he should marry; for though I like Ruth, my child, she has not the heart and soul 1 that you have"
 Felice sighed and retired to her room, but not to rest, for the germ of sorrow was taking root in her heart. And the next day Horace Graves ap- 1 peared at Verne Homestead, and the next; and as they sat in the parlor to- e4her, up dashed Ruth Raynor on horseback, and with easy courtesy the young officer went out and aided her to alight, while Felice met her with flushed | face, for she had determined that very day to tell the lieutenant4lis visits to her must cease.
 Lieutenant Graves, wrote you a note, asking you to ride out here with me, and finding you gone determines d to come alone; but, of course. you will be my escort home?"
 Willingly, Miss Ruth"
 And an hour after the two departed | from Verne Homestead and rode slowly back to the city.
 And in that ride Horace Graves heard from the false yet beautiful lips of the! jealous girl story which cast suspicion upon the percentage of Felice, and her heart was wild with passion when he cooly replied:
 T am not one, Miss Raynor, who holds the child responsible for the sins of the parents; and I am somewhat surprised that, looking upon Miss Verne as you do, you should still call her friend.'
 Ruth felt that she had gone too far; but determined not yet to give up the man she had determined to entrap-for her father had told her that she must marry him, as his money would tide the firm of Reynor < Co over financial diff culties-she tried to retract what she had said; but succeeding lilly, she arrived at home out of humor with herself and the world in general.
 But her insinuations did not check the visits of Horace Graves st0 Verne Home stead, and atlast, at the request of Felice, Dr. Verne spoke to him about them.
 If my society is distasteful to you and Miss Verne, Doctor, will cease my wis its; but had fondly hoped to the con trary; in truth, it was my intention to ask your permission to offer my hand and heart to your beautiful daughter" he said, in hurt tone.
 But, Graves, how about your engage ment to Miss RaynorP"
 "An idle rumor, sir. pledge you, for never had thought of more than friend ship for Miss Raynor."
 And yet she told Felice to the con trary."
 "She said that which was false, sir. Why, in confidence, will tell you that the night of my arrival in town over heard, unintentionally, a conversation in room that adjoined mine at the ho- tel, at which Mir, Raynor was talking to one of his New York creditors, and told him that his daughter would soon marry very wealthy man, and that then his bills would be paid; and inquiry proved to me that Miss Raynor was yet to find the man, while, without vanity, as I am rich, may say 1 was the victim se- lected."
 Lieutenant Graves, pardon me for misunderstanding your motives, and be- lieve me, you shall ever be welcome visitor in my house."
 Then have your consent, sir, to offer myself to Miss Verne?"
 "You have; but first let me tell you that she is not my child. am bache- Tor, and eighteen years ago she was left at my door, with note asking me to care for the little waif 1 have done all in my power to do so; but who were her parents I have not the remotest idea, and yet I love her as dearly as though she were my own daughter"
 Dr. Verne, have heard before this story, and it was told to place Miss Verne in a bad light in my eyes; but it failed, for love her devotedly, and care not whether her parents were rich or poor, honest or otherwise; for Felice, not them, do love-"
 Dr. Verne led Horace Graves into the family sitting-room, where Felice sat, nervous and miserable; but from that moment she became happy, for, without intending it, she had become Ruth Ray- nor's successful rival.
 And six months after there was we'd ding at Verne Homestead, and among the guests was one who had not been invited--a stately handsome woman who in few words told her story of how, in the long ago, she had loved Lu- elan Verne, but had been forced by her parents to marry an older man of vast wealth, who had failed in business few years after, and taking his own life in despair, had thrown her and her child penniless upon the world.
 Then it was she went back to her old love, and left upon his doorstep her baby girl, while she went forth to struggle for her daily bread; and, though successful, she had never had the heart to take the little waif away from the man who had so nobly reared and cared for it; but now that her daughter was to become wife, she came forward to prove that no stain rested upon her parentage.
 The scene that followed, kind reader, pen cannot portray; but it was merry gathering that night in Verne Home