Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1882-11-02
Y A w6MANssl AEsEHOoD.
The afternoon post, If you please,
a'arnlss -.w-~ s.zz~ =.
Mrs. 64fSfnnfaf s{5rshfchsa .JSnt ono

y
ma a.as~- s, =
Mrs EafJIngtsn styetchsd Ut ON
languid, jeweled hand for the letters
Then she leaned back in the depth.
lofa greal, easy chair a petite ffguf,
in her azure, satin-lined neglige, ant
read hesAdafssson eaclFviasdswsy
envied eyes. A.psetty llittIs piecs D
nink and white humanity, with eyel
bhie and innocent as q baby,s.
Ah!"
She caught her breath with quicl
gasp as she turned the last letter up
hpermost. A harmless looking lettel
enough, square, thick, white, ad
dressed in 9 firm, masculine hand tt
"Miss Vivian Grantley. ''a But Mrs
Caryington recognized the handwrit
ing with sudden, sharp pain at he
heart. - F..
She sat there, quite motionless
holding that fatal letter in one jew
elled hand, blind to the chill Marcl
sunshine that erept in through tn.
windows in long, shining lances-
blind to the wealth and luxury arount
her-7blind to all save the superscrip
ton on the envelope she sheld.s Thi,
she turned over and, over in her whit
sparkling hands.
+ She started suddenly, and looked
at the bright fire in the CRATE; thel
back again to the letter she held
shrank, paused, and then opened, it
and with "a face from which ever,
traeeof color had faded, read:
~, ssMY DARLING Il have heard, witt
such sorrow for you, how things hav
changed. But only for little while
love. Such 9 princess as mine mus
not live longer in. Disguise. i ca1
but send this, asking you to meet m
ION Thursday at the old trysting place
After that-after that-oh, nv dear
est, how exultant / feel as write tn
words IL will never. leave my wifi
again! .'sS 81 s5C1 LszS&~1 3EIs
And the letter was signed "Philli
Deane.
Mrs. Caryngton's hand fell nerve
less and trembling, but she read an
re-read the earnest words. Then sh
laughed, the low, bitter laugh of
desperate woman.
Is "Her lover, and I love him so op'
4 A moment more and the lette,
which swayed the destiny of two lives
drifted up the chimney a shrivelled
blackened shred. 1f
Then snatching up the rest of he
correspondence, she passed from til
room. gE@ q
| Alta doorsin an upper corridor sh
tpaused, turned the handle rapid
and passed in.
j At q table in the centre of Il
schoolroom sat a slender. black-eye
figure, with weary head bowed Q
Tired, outstretched arms. -.s-.-
ga letter for you, Miss Grantley!
Vivian Grantley sprang to her fee
a great hunger. in her wistful, girls
eyes. She eaught the missive eagerl,
locked at the pretty, womanly supe
scription of an old school-frlend, an
that quick fash of hope died out liz
summer lightning.
sis this-all? ?''--~- =--
"All!' in dignified surprise. Gee
tainly, Miss Grantley.'' r.4E g..
~ beg your pardon, Mrs. Carrying
ton Of course it was ALL"
/ Then, as the door closed tlehin
the employer of the fatherless CIR
Vivian Grantleyi sank back with
ow moan.
"Loyal in prosperity, faithless
adversely"
/ Could she have known Of the lett,
that had. lain on Mrs. Carnygton
boudoir fire!
Il Next day, by the statue of Archill'
in Hyde park, q stalwart, fair-hairt
man passed up and down with a quicl
, nervous tread. kE}Hta
4 Would she never come this bea'
tiful, dark-eyed love of his, Mr.
, Caryngton's goyerness-this gir
whose sndden transition from cor
parative luxury to bitter poverty hs
: only awakened the dauntless DARN,
the answering resolution underlyir
, her lighter, happier nature. +.
J, Hark! was that her step? Il
He leaned forward eagerly, the
though he raised his hat with gentl
{ manly Difference, drew back disa
pointedly as be caught sight of Il
3 elegantly attired young figure Of b
| widowed neighbor, Mrs. Caryngto
"Mr. Deane!" in sudden surpris
with one Of the coy bushes that prs
l tice had made perfect, and holdil
r out a Titania-like hand, exquisite
gloved, "you here?''
| "Yes, though / scarcely expect
to have the pleasure Of meeting NJ
Caryngton. Ihad made an ] appoii
/. ment-'
e ~ Indeed with charming symr
n My. @aGeatlemen are 10 frightfu
e. opposed to punctuality!''
al "But my appointment was not vi
}. a gentleman. II may as well t
y you how it is, Mra. Garypgtola, a.
r are such old friends. = s {
't Mrs. Caryngton slightly WINGED.
. eAs Miss 6 Grantleys is Q resident
y your booze 4. t.pfyse1k you 81 cou'
know how sudden and totally unt
4 pected was the death of her faith