The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1881-01-28

was fond Of the young girl ia II wav
and proud of her beauty and accom-
|" plishments, but she never failed TO i'm
;. press upon her that If she did not pla,
n her cards well sho would be homeless
4 in the event Of her-Miss Ryders-
death, MS she had already chosen hcI
heir. SO at last the girl, tired Of tn,
| ceaseless song, determined to obey the
= oftrepcatcd instructions, and plunged
' recklessly into fashionable dissipation
only sometimes, in tho soclusion Of hel
own room, confessing her truo senti
: ments TO little gold ring.
/ On this particular night slo had fin.
ishsd tho conquest she had begun a,
the morning. She wore some artistic
combination Of pale Bca-grcen silk and
fimy lace, with creamy white rogebuds
nesting at her bosom and in her dusky
hair. The major was the first person
who met her eyes whes she entered
tho ballroom. He came eagerly for
ward.
81 have not joined in the rnerriinent
you see, mademoiselle," be said, II have
been awaiting your entrance
"iou are very good, said madern
oiselle, her red lips curyin1.
"You will reward mo with the frat
danceP no inquired, audaciously, and
Madaline amilingly assented, and 10 her
fashionable sanLs delight, swept down
tho long room on tho military lions
arm.
II was not many days after when
the major asked Mabaline TO be his
wife.
Il have richor," he saii "anl !
adore you. You would have no wish
ungfatiGed"
And Madaline asked hcrseIf:
"Why notg"
She could never be happy, nov, aa &
poor mans wife. Why should she not
conscntl
"You will at least give TIC come
hopel' urged the major.
81 will answer you," srid Madaline.
"in week"
And she nc longer wore the gold
ring. But before the week ended
circumstance occurred which entirely
altered her plans for the future. Miss
Ryder's frequently spoken Of chosen
heir" WAS on his return 10 his native
land. Ho wns nephew, Miss RYDER
explained % Hadaline, who bad gone
abroad sometime ago with lis invalid
mother. Ths latter was dead. now,
and her son was coming home.
at ~oald be ~ excellent thing for
y"n, II he should fa,l in love with
! y9i.,' declared Mias Ryder, shrswdly.
AMI though Madaline did not put her
thoughts into wnr,is, the una jor received
a coal rei'ly IN the negative when he
otIna fur h.a answer.
Oie day, not long after the last
msntianed fact, Msdalinc Was walking
ieisurciy along the beach in IA bcwitch
ing red and gray walking costume,
when she was startled by an eager,
strangely familiar voice.
\ tall travel-stainei figure FASTENED
np % her, and, rs be stood Jofjre her
with all the oil manly earuc-tress Ia
voice and force, she recognized her oil
lover aud playmate, To whom she had
plighted her troth under the fir trees
h,csler Ashley.
lie would have caught, her in his
arms, but she drew her slender figure
up TO its full height, and gave him the
tips Of her icy fingers.
This is an unexpected meeting, MIR.
Ashley" she said, frigidly.
For a moment he looked at her in a
stunned manner, and then hrok into
merry laugh.
"You are jesting, Madaline," he said,
"hut you cannot play the fine lady with
your old friend. You cannot forget
your old home with its stately trees
and desolate spots. Oh, Madalino! YOU
cannot forget that you promised to be
true"
She averted her face that he might
not see tho emotion caused by his hon
est eloquence.
ave were foolish in these days." she
replied, coldly. at is best that we
should forget"
His face grew suddenly white and
stern. There was II contemptaous OK,
preston in his earnest eyes.
"po you mean this, MalAlinel" ht
asked
81 do" sho answered, her bosom
heaving, her voice tremulous in spit,
of her efforts at control.
zone word mere" he said-"do you
love me-"
, She turned toward him, her fac,
white and fearful, her hands tightly
clasped. He read her answer in he
: eyes.
: "You refuse to marry me because
: am poorl" he asked bitterly.
"Yes," returned the girl, desperate
ly, "and now that you know the truth
leave me. wish TO be alone"
> "You will never reconsider your de
cisionl" he asked again, imploringly.
: "Never," she said firmly, and, with
! out another word, he turned on hi
= heels and strobe away.
. Madaline smiled bitterly, and re
|" traced her footsteps toward the hotel.
"It is all over" she said, despairins
. ly
= Later, when she appeared in tn
70 drawing her dress of shimmerin
: brocade floating in rich folds about he
graceful figure, Lo one would hav
guessed from her beautiful, smilin
= :. face that she had known aught of pai
:, or heart-ache. But who was this whor
- old Miss Ryder was introducing wit
:. such pride and complacencyl
- "Madaline," she said, "my nephe'
- and chosen heir, Mr.. Ashley"
- At the name Madaline looked u
% with start, and the smile faded fror