The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1881-04-26
Till DEATH DO Us PART,

IAH-AI DEATH DO rs PART"
eve were dear friends once ate-do
not mind telling You my troubles" \
"Once? always" replied the lady.
Then there is silence for awhile and her
thoughts go back for a year or two to the
time when, on her side, though not on his,
the tie between them was more than
friendship. She is Lady Derwentwater
now, c0urted and fiattered as little Kate
Morrison of the old days never was. She
is very happy in her married life, the
world says. The world is right enough.
Still it is with a half sigh she recalls the
time when a word from this man, poor as
he was, had more weight than one
from the peer she had married. She
looks up at the broad, white brow,
at the rugged, powerful features, at the
deep-set, flashing eyes, just now per-
picked and anxious A girish fancy
comes back to her that they might have
belonged to one of the old demigods,
towering in mind and will as in stature
and strength, above the men around
him. #
care you SO hopelessly involved ~ she
asked at length.
HOpelessly. Ny uncle, as you well
know, while making me one of the most
niggardly of allowances, proclaimed me
to all the world heir to his immense for
tune. Naturally, orevery pound of my
income | spent ten"
Are you in Immediate danger from
your creditors :"
"Nol My first acceptance does not
fall due for clear month but by that
time ev cry creditor will know that am
cut off with shilling"
There is another pause. The lights of
the theater grow dim; music begins to
play softly When Kate again looks up
there is world of regrets in her com
panions' Is eyes.
OF what are you thinking ?"
Thinking" he answers, "what life
mine might have been without the ex-
pectation of the accursed wealth"
"Thih ok, rather" she rejoins earnestly,
"what life it may be, once freed from
present membranes"
FREE ed How 2"
"By marriage. With your advantages,
Harold Raisbeck, you might win any
woman heart"
"But have never cared for any wo-
man yet, save as friend"
The better fortune yours" she SAYS
sadly " If your heart be your own, you
will wrong no one by bartering it for the
heiress' gold"
Harold looked at her fxedly, bitter
smile on his lips.
ais thy servant dog, that he should
do this thing?'"
{" 1t is thing hundreds do without a
word of censure. After all, it is only to
set yourself and bachelor liberty against
a woman's thousands. You may be the
loser" He is silent, absorbed in thought.
a" 1t is your only chance; you have no
option. Only say you will try it, and
leave the rest to me. and Lord Derwent-
water go out of town tomorrow, and the
two richest heiresses of the season have
promised to join us at the Hall within a
week 1t wi il be an asy matter to invite
half dozen more, and equally easy for
you to secure prize during your months
respite. Will you come %
There is longer silence and then Har-
old extends his hand
Kate" he says, yon are very good
to me. will spend my month with you.
For the rest | promise nothing Now,
for a week, goodbye
Goodbye" she answers, and for the
next half hour is absorbed apparently in
the opera but, while grand music throbs
and swells, her mind is busy with dead
love of hers Dead-and buried. But
while life lasts she must go to it's grave
sometimes to whisper once more, as she
whispers now, Good-bye-good-bye."
1t is week later. Lady Derwentwa-
ter's magnificent drawing-room is ablaze
with light The ladies have just repaired
thither, and are indulging in the languid
chit-chat which invariably precedes the
dropping In of the gentlemen. The roll
of a carriage announces some arrival, and
excites faint curiosity. for one Of the
girls asks:
"Whp is it ?"
Another guest, probably" the hostess
replies. 81 am expecting Harold Rais-
beck"
There IL a slight futter. Harold is well
known and liked. Few men, in their In
tercourse 3 with the fair sex, display man
ners 90 snaye and winning: fewer still
command from their fellow-men so much
deferende. One by one gentlemen leave
their wine and present themselves. Con
versation grows more animated. Pres
emily there i stir in the doorway, and
. man who has been leaning listlessiy
against the mapteLpiece rashes forward
with ou4stretched hand.
"Why, Harold, old boy, | thought you
abomin1ted country seats What in the
world brings .yeu TO Derwsnswster r
Such undisguised astonishment i IN the
tone shat everybody listens for a answsr.
sTbe| state OF ny fnanceA I.eame
d0Wn ID via my heiFess."