Daily Kennebec journal., 1882-04-26

ful destiny had never wholly left it. Now
| a new and forcible stimulus had been
Given. and it had felt stirred with deep
DELICIOUS tremors.
The dream lasted few weeks longer.
thea it was rudely and suddenly broken.
One evening Mrs. De Peyster and Lindley
sal together at dessert. The dining-room
had been brilliantly lighted. and the table
wore that fesiai sort of sparkle which had
of late constantly marked it. Lindley had
been unusually silent throughout
dinner; his ordinary buoysncy had
8 ,mehow departed. He and Mrs. De
Pevster were quite alone now the but
| Ter had left the room few moments ago.
Morris. - said the old lady, breaking a
little silence, something has depressed
you. What is it ?'
Lindley started. "Oh, am all right,
he said. in a quick, off-handed way Then
he looked steadily at Mrs. De Peyster.
whose ewes were filled with anxious
warmth. ..Shall tell you the truth s'
he asked. in changed voice.
YES" she said. in a rapid undertone !;
tell me-
We'll. have been making great fool
of myself" said Lindley, beginning reck-
lessly to splash drops of water from his
| finger-bowl. Il have been falling in love
with woman whom the world would
think throwing herself away if she mar
ried me. And the worst OF it is that she
cares for me in return
The worst of it, Morris? ?''
"Why. yes. | might fight the thing
down and get over it if this were not so.'
Mrs. DE Peyster rose. Her wrinkled
face wore a new expression; it was one
OF proud defiance. She came near Lind
ley and laid her hand on the back Of his
chair What should separate YOU from
of money shall not do it. Morris. Mind.
/ say shall not Ifthis is the trouble
will halve my fortune tomorrow. Her
hand had begnn to caress the dark, curl
ing locks about Lindley's temples. 'You
shall have one-half and the other. |
shall still have ten times enough for my
self Then we shall see how these gran
dees will treat you, Then we shall see
the tables turned, Morris-be sure of
tn; t!''
No, no." Lindley said: "a thousand
thanks. hut will take nothing from you,
Mrs De Peyster." There was great de-
cision in his voice. His hearers hands
dropped at her side.
"Oh. Norris" she faltered, THAT is too
bad! But tell me-do know this girls
family?'
Yes; you know it very we'll, believe.
there is only her grandmother, Mrs.
GrosvenOr'
rs it Pauline GrosvenorP"
Yes"
Mrs. De Peyster had grown livid.
Lindlev's eyes were still averted from
her face us she stood at his side, so he did
not see The change that a few instants had
wrought in her.
Both were silent for some little while.
IT seemed to Mrs. De Peyster that there
was no such interval she had lost all
power of calculating the lapse of time.
ave will speak of this hereafter" she
presently said. in n very low voice. Then
she quietly passed from the room.
She went 10 her own chamber and
locked herself within it. All the old grim
hardness had come back to her face. She
seated herself on the edge of a lounge. her
fr;.il. feeble shape looking insecure enough
ofposture to slip at any moment toward the
floor. Gradually an agonized look over
spread her withered face, and her lips
tremulously moved.
1T has come" she whispered, and her
eyes fixed Il CLASSY stare upon the opposite
wall. 1T has come ut last, while | was
unmindful of it; when | had almost for
gotten it. Pauline Grosvenor. :.
he loves her. 1t has come at
last; yes. feel that it is here
and yet hOW?''
She sat perfectly rigid, with eyes fixed
on the wall. Tor longer period than she
dreamed of. Then at length she rose
from the lounge with shudder, and
crossed the room in a slow, tottering
way.
Three weeks passed. During this time
the change in Mrs. De Peyster had been
fearful. Her form was shrunken to almost
a skeleton; her dark eyes burned fever
ishly from face hollow. iurrowed. and
haggard. Since the evening of Lindley's
revelation fierce conflict had ragged within
her miserable breast. At one moment
she saw her vengeance slipping away at
another she hueged it to herself with an
almost tigerish greed. But at length her
decision was taken.
Continued Tomorrow