The Russellville Democrat., 1881-01-20
OUNTY, ARKANSAS, THURSDAY, JANUARY

 voice, the acquaintance of an hour; yet it seemed to me that it was the solid hope and happiness of my whole life. told myself that was a sentimental fool, that my fancy for this unseen woman might become . silly schoolboy; but my heart cried out underneath, "This is fact. This is reality, not your drudgery, not the money you hoard. This was the true water or life, and you have lost it. It is l gone forever"
 At times, too, another torture beset me. l was an honest man. In all my | life had never wronged man of pen | n.y. Tonight 1 had assisted in felony had helped thief carry off poor Mos | sop's hardly earned thousands out of a mawkish compassion. Then told my self, passionately, that she was no thief, that this woman, whose voice I had heard, was honorable and pure.
 It was wretched, sleepless night. As for my estate, seldom remembered it. | Mossop, however, awoke full of eager ness to show me over it.
 "The money is gone, suppose" he said. q have written to Winchester to have her apprehended, if possible. In the meantime 1 should like to ride with you over to the The Pines,' if you are willing. We will call on Chester, by the way. He was your cousins attorney, and it would only be proper act of courtesy, eh?"
 assented, and we rode across the val ley. Even the heavy snow could not hide the beauty of the landscape.
 "In summer this must be bit of Ar cadia," 1 said. And is that my place yonder?" pointing to gray, gabled man. sion, on lofty slope, surrounded by gnarled oaks.
 "Yes, that is The Pines Here we are at Chester's farm. That is the old man at the door. Come in," opening the gate.
 We rode up the avenue. The lawyer, a stately, white-haired, old gentleman, in a very snuhy waistcoat, received me cor 1 dially, and overcame my prejudice and embarrassment at once, by going directly to the essential point between us.
 "Mr. Sharrard? The new owner of The Pines? An, Mir. Sharrard, the gos- sips of C. have told you, no doubt, that my little girl was to have taken that place. But yotp cousin fell into an ill., temper with her. We'll, well, the for tune of wills is as uncertain as that ot war! We will not lose the chance of a | friend, because we have lost an estate. Come in, gentlemen, come in! I'll put on my leggings and ride over with you. Marian, my dear! Marian! I must intro duce you, Mir. Sharrard, to my daughter" Hethrew open the door of a low ceiled, hospitable drawing-room as he spoke, and there, seated by the fire, stately and beautiful, her olive cheek warmed, her dark eyes lighted with expectation was my companion of the stage coachl "This is Marian, Mr. Sharrardl This is the little girl whom you have dispossess- ed" said the loquacious old gentleman, laughing. 'She came up from C. in the coach with you, last night; and felt a l good deal of embarrassment, supposing you knew her, and had natural resent ment against her. She was so nearly the mistress of The Pines you seer" I muttered an inaudible something, and going ap to her, offered her my hand. No dGabt she thought me boorish, awk. Fa ~aFFs. ~ elllee%s ellle 1T. But she laid her warm, soft fingers in mine, for moment. How young she wasl So fresh and deli cate!
 "Purvis rode past the gate, just now, and told Mir. Mossop that you came in pursuit of Ia Baronne," said Mir. Ches- | ter.
 "Yes. More's the pity, 'tis true" said Mossop
 "Why, saw her, last night" said Miss Chester, innocently. "She came up from C--- with me in the coach. 1 did not speak to her, however, as she was dis guised. l supposed shewas bent on some | strange frolic."
 "Disguised?" cried Mossop. "As young naval officer" Mossop's jaw fell. We stared blankly at each other moment and then laugh ed.
 She's clever deviln exclaimed the poor victim. Dye mind how she drank the stirrup-cup looking me in the eye, and wishing me good luck? By George, she's welcome to the money" I may as well state here that it was we'll he bore his loss philosophically, for he never saw the Baronne, or the money l again.
 With some difficulty, induced Miss | Chester to accompany us on my first visit of inspection to my new home. 1 managed, too, with fantastic whim, which did not seem unreasonable to me then, that she should cross the thres- hold as l did, and standing with herupon the hearth of the great hall, registered a VOW, silently, that, God helping me, she should be its mistress before the year was over.
 l kept my VOW. She has been my wife for more than month. It was in May that we were married, and it is now a1- most July, and the days have gone like hours.
 Harkl hear her step. She is coming in from the garden. As she passes bit of the trellis that is not yet overgrown with vines the sunlight streams through and envelopes her like halo. Her lap is full of roses. My Marianl
 She comes in bright and blooming and stoops and kisses me again.
 And you really were at the opera that night?" l say for the fiftieth time.
 "Yesl We were on our way to Europe and went with cousin Betty"
 So it was Marian's voice after all that l had dreamed of all those years, and not that of La Baronne."