The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1882-11-24


also to have her card taken, and his
name written against several dances.
As the evening wore on gratified
flush heightened her beauty. Lord
Carwardine seemed to take so much
pleasure in her society, surely her
hopes were about to be crowned with
success
Only once when she saw Roland and
him in close converse she felt little
uneasy, but then she reflected that
Roland could not in honor say any
thing likely to spoil her dances, for he
had not the slightest claim on her.
kathleen, l am so sorry to shorten
your pleasure, but there is important |
State business to be attended to, and
have promised Lord Carwardine to |
catch the night mail. Will you mind |
me taking you home now 7" asked |
Roland, Immediately after supper.
''Oh, / could not possibly leave yet
Just look at my card" answered Kath-
leen, hastily "Don't let me keep you,
Roland, 60 by all means. Lady Mount
Heriot will chaperon me, / know, and
l could not go now"
"But, Kathleen, l may not see you
again for some time, and I want my
answer. Come in here for moment"
and he drew her gently into small
conservatory unoccupied just then. 81
shall leave you if you wish it, of course,
but l am very much disappointed to
lose the lovely starlit drive | had pro-
missed myself with you. However,
hope and bliss will 60 with me if you
will only give me your promise"
81 cannot, indeed cannot, Mr. Har-
grove" interrupted Kathleen in great
agitation, dreading lest Lord Carwar-
dine, whose name was on her card for
the next dance, should appear and in
terrupt their tete-a-tete. spray, do not
ask me again. lido not love you
i can never marry YOU
Shocked and startled by the decision
of her tone, which was unmi,takable,
Roland released her hand and said in
voice hoarse with grief and disappoint-
ment:
: "Niss Macdermott, l cannot sue
twice; is that your final answer?"
For one instant Kathleen hesitated.
What if, after all, Lord Carwardines
attentions were only friendly. But no,
she could not bear the thought, she
must win the prize.
81 am sorry it is the only answer /
can give you. l hope you will be
happy and"
"Hush, hush, Kathleen; such words
from you are a mockery. Good byO I;
may you never know like grief to
, that you have caused me"
, And hastily wringing her hand
Roland left her standing there, forget
: ting in his desperate grief the common
: politeness which would have caused
. him to take her back to the ball room
= But Kathleen willingly forgave his
y u want of gallantry in the relief she felt
. at his departure, and ten minutes hence
!, she was waltzing with Lord Carwar.
:. dine, gay and sparkling as ever, with
y out single regretful thought for the
: man who had just gone from her pres
- ence, crushed and broken-hearted.
= Meanwhile, Roland had FASTENED
. home, and, packing small portman
~ teau, wrote a hurried note to the
" Colonel, who had long since retired
= and was leaving the house when he
y noticed light in the little room off the
. . library where Maggie and Kathleen
7 often sat
l He looked in. The former, still
Il keeping up the role of Cinderella, wa,
l. waiting up for her gay cousin.
!, She started and pushed away tn,
. book she lad been reading, blushins
" crimson at Roland's sudden appear
ance
y "What, Maggie, not gone to res
T. yet? Well, have some one to sa,
g, good bye to me, then, / am off TO
n Mondon."
q "How sudden! And how i'll yo,
IL look, Mr. Hargrove! Where is Kath
N leen! / did not hear you come home.
ID "Your cousin is still in fairy-land
n you had better not wait for her, sh
Il, will not be home yet. Oh, Maggie
OF little Maggie, l have had a cruel bloy
n. since l left this house a few hour
10 ago."
And then, though he had not intend
IN ed it, he told her all, and Maggie
IN sweet, unselfsh girl-sympathized wit
Fd and consoled him, and spoke sue
ID glowing words OF hope for the futur,
and of high aims in life, that Rolan
Rs EIargrove felt able to rise superior t
l his grief
l "God bless you, Maggie" he said fe
~ vently, as he left her. "If ever wi
1t name or fame, or fortune, l shall ow
! it to you. shall feel / have one tru
ID friend while you live"
as Some hours afterward the prouc
r. ambitious beauty arrived at home, ma
~ with rage and shame. Lord Carwa
se dine had spoken of Roland with higl
er est commendation and believing, 6
er did most in their circle, that they wei
engaged, and commenced to congratl
sr- late her on his success, when Kathlee
no hastily disclaimed any but feelings {
er friendship toward him.
nd 81 am truly sorry for poor Mr.. Ha
wv grove, then; l feel certain he Low,
you, and ! hope yet to see you chang
'rs your mind, said Lord Carwardne.
re Down went the fairy palace Kat
ut leen had built, and a little later Il
ne rum was complied, for one of her par
ners, delighted to spread what was N,
to yet public; Informed her that Lord Ca
nc wardnc was to marry the Duke of
r., Maurice's eldest daughter next autum
ke
se "You will see the lion of the seasc
nt to night, Kathleen. All! by the wa
ed think you told me he was an o
re, flame of yours Take my advice ar
m try and fan it into life again. He
SIX not married yet, or was not at the clio
lie of the season; he has been abrof
mostly since
en- So spoke Lady Burnett, who, haviu
90 successfully married her own girls, W
N, trying to secure a husband for Kat
ad leen, now in her 27th year
10 For five years the naughty girl he
asaVa