The Osceola times., 1881-05-07

w ultoS iiti anu httD III Et'itANs
But she is very eXtravagant. IL would
require fortune TO support her. Luck
ily, she has q wealthy lover, now in Eu-
rope; and ! am hoping, when hereturns,
she will marry him. But she is sad
coquette-foreyer making victims to her
beauty"
"Ahw was Mrs McChesney's onlycom-
ment. She knew her friend well, and
made due allowance for her statements;
and, after this, she looked at Lisle Gray
with renewed interest.
"If she has wealth." she said, ment-
ally, "she is FAR more desirable wife for
Hugh than Carrie. All the McChesney's
for generations have married handsome
women"
A day later she was alone with Carrie,
Mrs. Hildreth was taking her siesta; Lisle
writing letters, and Hugh smoking his
cigar.
THow beautiful your cousin is" she
remarked. "Like rare picture"
"Yes," responded Carrie, with sigh.
~ sometimes think would give all the
remainder of my life TO be only for one
year as beautiful as she is."
"That is extravagant language" said
Mrs. McChesney. "One cannot expect
to have everything. Some have beauty,
some mental gifts, some wealth, some
position, few have all"
"But Lisle has" responded Carrie.
"She is bright and good, and beautiful,
and her husband added wealth when he
died. She has seventy-fve thousand in
her own right, free of membranes.
But do not mention it. She does not
like to have il known"
Strive as he would Hugh McChesney
found himself unable to control his real
emotion. He was barely courteous to
Lisle, and quite attentive to Carrie. Yet
Carrie was not deceived.
One night she went 10 her room and
threw herself on her bed in passion of
tears
at is no use, no use" she cried. "lie
loves her. But he is trying 10 hide it
trying-oh, my God, he is trying 10 love
me. Such a useless effort for any man."
While she wept there Hugh McChes-
ney was in the shrubbery, with Lisle
Gray's hands, for the first time, clasped
in his. Lislc's face was lifted, wonder
ingly, as she listened 10 his impassioned
words.
81 am perhaps mad,' he said. 81 have
no IlBIi W lONt 4 wv. 'ui q
am tied--hand and foot-more helpless
ly, more horribly bound than ever man
was before. And now, to have this come
upon me. This passion, so mighty, that
it takes hold of nerve. and soul, and
brain, and will not let me rest night or
day. could almost kill myself, when !
think of il. have no right TO talk to
you like this-to talk at all-only that
these few words save me from instant
insanity. Looking at you here, in the
moonlight, | knew my brain would go
mad if | did not speak, Then he turn
ed away and left her.
Within, a woman. near the open win
dow had sat, and heard all. 1t was his
mother. She smiled, and said to her
self: at is time he knew"
Outside, another woman had heard
aso and had crept OIL, in the shadows
of the shrubbery, like wounded deer
Mrs. McChesney tapped on Hugh's
door, but no answer came. She entered.
He was lying prone upon his face, on
couch, the picture of despair.
"Hugh," she said, tenderly. II have
bit of news for you, which may surprise
you. | would far rather have Lisle
Gray for my daughter than Carrie Hill
dreth. DO not fear my displeasure."
He turned and looked at her.
"Then you must have discovered that
she, too, has money" he said, with
touch of scorn in his voice
swell, yes, she has money" answered
the mother, coolly, and you love her.
She will be an honor TO us all, and keep
up the reputation for good taste in
female beauty, which the McChesneys
have always had. hope you will not
delay long. End Carries suspense, and
make Lisle happy"
God help me" he cried.
What do you mean"
"Nothingl Only that ] would bless
the hand that would put bullet through
my BRAIN" he said and rushed out of
the room.
For week Hugh looked like an in
sane man. He ate nothing slept little,
and was pale as a corpse.
The ladies pitied him and petted him,
and Lisle lost flesh and bloom. She
loved him with all her heart, and the
of his words and behavior fright
ened her
At night she sat by her window and
heard the thud of his horses hoofs. as
he rode off into the darkness alone. He
would ride half the night, till his weary
horse could not longer keep pace with
his mad thoughts, and then come home
to toss the remainder of the night in
wild dreams.
"Ah, it was wretched HOUSEHOLD there
at McChesney place, At last, Mrs Me
Chesney grew to believe that some mad
ness had come upon her son.
One night they were all startled by the
sudden appearance of the old gardener.
He was pale and trembling, and could
barely gasp out his errand.
"Flossie is ill-dying" he said "and
she asks for the young master-for Mr..
Hugh. Where is he?"
Hugh was summoned and he fastened
away with the old gardener, TO the lat
ter's little cottage, Just outside the
grounds.
"Ilow strange" said Mrs McChesney,
"and vet not strange. Hugh was always
so kind to her when she was child.
have no doubt she feels thathe can help
her Her childish faith in him was SO
great"
But the night went by and Hugh did
not return. Mrs. McChesney could not
sleep In the gray dawn Hugh came in,
pale, haggard, looking years older.
"How is Flossie?" his mother asked.
dead" he answered. "And | am 60
ing away for few days. Make my eX-
cuses to the guests. Imperative business
calls me-"
Two days later he came back. With
him came Il woman, evidently a servant,
and child-a beautiful, laughing boy, a
year and Il half old.