Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1882-02-22

side by side with him, yet separated as
if by eternlties-went to her room, and
kpelt to pray God to help her bear it,
to help him to bear it.
Down in the parlors the music was
still crashing in loud sweet strains, and
Mordaunt Leslie walked away from the
hideous mockery Of gaiety and hap
piness-away to the furthest end of the
long verandah. where the moonlight
came only dimly, and where, in one OF
dozen vacant chairs. he threw him.
sell, in sheer prostration of spirit, In
utter horror at the prospect that stretch
ed endlessly before him, in apguished
dismay at what he had left behind him.
Into the alm' st uncomfortable pain OF
that vigil, q woman's voice, low, in
tense, earnest, broke with sudden voice
IA woman'E voice, from Just Oh the
other side of him-of whose presence
Leslie had no knowledge until he heard
her speak-until, with start almost as
keenly sharp as If he had taken an
electric shock, he recognized Olympia
Osmond and Mr.. Helvernon as the
speakers.
4 4hClS ID ho ust vi ouI u
HarOld-no possible use. I told you
then-that was four yems sgo-thst,
although l loved you as L never should
love another man, l should not marry
except for fortune. 1 tell you tonight,
Harry, as frankly rs then, l shall marry
Mordaunt Leslie, because he can give
me the wealth my soul Graves and will
have"
Mr.. Helvernon's quick, eager answer
came:
"You are too cruel, too heartless,
Olympial The woman never lived who
could deliberately act and talk as you do;
and by the heavens above us, have a
mind to go to Leslie with the story,
and make him give YOU upI"
Leslie Strengthened in his chair, and
listened to Miss Osmond's low, cold
laugh.
mo, you wouldn't Harry, and if YOU
did it would be of no avail He believes
in me implicitly. Why, for months l
succeeding in convincing him l would
not look at a man who had money
poor dupe-when all the while was in
agonies lest l should let him slip. So
you see, Harry, that l shall be all de-
sired-rich. courted, envied, humored
Mordaunt suddenly stepped in front
of tie two, a perfect glory of thankful
relief on his face, a perfectly crushing
contempt and disgust In his words.
''Permit me to add, Miss Osmond, as
one who is only too Jubilant at his mar
row escape. that not as the wife of Nor
,daunt Leslie, will you leap your reward.
From this moment l consider myself
well released from my engagement to
you. Be SO kind as to return to me the
visible form of our late betrothal.
He stood there like prince in his
glad, stern authority, and Miss Osmond's
face blanched to the hue of the ivory
silk she wore. as she returned his calm
glance i'll speechless confusion and
rage.
1.-The ring if you please, Miss Osmond.
Thanks very much. Good-by. Good
night, sir.
He tossed ihe glittering toy clear off
the lawn, the avenue, the bluff, the
sands, into the ocean, and walked away,
almost staggering under the weight of
the glory of happiness suddenly opened
to him.
He was free-free as the air; and Vio-
let loved him-Violet his darling, his
treasure, his dear one.
He looked at his watch, it was not
late, half-past eleven, not too late to
claim his love for his own before that
fated day ended. So he rushed into his
room and penciIed short imploring
note, half-explaining. baE2entreating
her to come to him for only one mo-
ment, to tell him she would take him for
all and forever.
Then he waited for her, in the hush
of the midnight that was coming
ed for just one glance of her eyes to
think of till the morrow aited while
the servant delivered the message andwas
gone oh, so long, so long, and then came
back white-faced and trembling-voiced,
to say that the doctor was there, but
said Miss Verne was dead. They had
found her kneeling by her bed, fifteen
minutes before, but nothing could be
done-heart disease, undoubtedly.
And SO was recorded the romance of
Moldaunt Leslie's lonely life-the story
of one night, whose shadow OF sunless
darkness never should lift again for
him.