Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1883-12-10
Her Last Filtration.
BY HELEN LAPoRGR.


"And you don't care ?"
There vas flash, half anger, half
surprise In Bruce Wilmsrth's dark
eyes. ,.B.
:" No, I don't think I dor
Wilful, tantslixing creature - how
beautiful she was, Queenie Vane |!
Standing . little above her lover ON the
terrace, she coolly pulled on her glove
while the summer morning sunshine
fell aslsnt tho color perfection Of her
blonde face-and came leisurely down
the board steps upon the lawn. Her
little spaniel, B,jou, frisked around her.
1t struck Bruce that she paid ~ much
attention to the dog Is she did 70 him.
He had been telling her, In y very
manly fashion, that b. loved her, uu-
encourage certainly, by blush or
smile. And when he had taken her
hand and looked for response 70 his
story, she had Withdrawn herself
Then came bis exclamation, bitterly
wrupg from his heart.
You have been flirting with me ?"
eff l have" replied Queenie. coolly
!" have only followed your example.
Would you like Mary Amberley TO hear
what you have been saying to me ?"
Mary Anbsriey," said Bruce, very
promptly, sis engaged to my cousin"
Qusenie's blue eyes opened widely
for minute. Did she change color,
too, or was 1t the shifting OF the locust
shadows ACROSS her face p
I" The ply sician ordered Mary down
here for her health. Her mother, too, IL
An invalid. She would be lonely II It
were not Tor me. Les Is not coming
down until bis vacation In August.
Then he stopped and looked ut the
girl fully. She had seated herself upon
the law q, and how exasperatingiy cool
she look Is she played with her brace
let
81 forgot what 6irt you are,
Queenie, I ought to have known how II
would be-
She could see that lie did not mean
the words for taunt. He spoke more
In sorrow than in anger. But the vel
vet cheek burned with little deeper
color "a she rose and shook the spaniel
OF her silken skirts.
Just then voices were heard ap.
preaching. Bruce turned.
"You will excuse me from being your
escort in your stroll. Your friends are
coming, See. Qutenie, you will he
sorry p
So he left her.
The Vanes--tather and son-comipg
up, saw Mr.. Wilmarth lift his hat to
Oueenie, and pass Oh. There was moth
ing In her air to tell the secret.
But she looked abstractedly 1t the
sea a. she strolled on the beach-tbe
sea which was her passion. 1t came In
upon the shorein great, lazy. swells,
breaking almost noiselcssly upon the
sand. The white gulls cried in the
ether overhead.
1--WE ar. going to have a tempest,
Queenis,' said DR.. Vane.
" At this time of year p
!. "The summer storms Of this locality
are note. would not be on the water
for anything"
Queenie stood listening to faint, hol.
low sound which seemed to CONE from
the water. The noon sunlight cast u
strange, bronze tint upon the waves,
The sudden sui rness oppressed her.
"Come up To the house and play
jackstraws with me, Queenie, said hel
Twelve y.ar-od brother, Leonce. II
IL too hot t. be GU. OF doors or do any
thing"
For once, Queenie was willing to
leave the Boa hut she deserted Leonce
and went 10 her room.
There Was hammock swung across
A. IL. arr ,hs,V nd fnl ~ ~
her hat ami scarf, she tiung herself into
II. IL WA, rare, but beautiful. Queenie
seemed weary.
She lay hong time, with her pink
cheek upon hes arm, her eyes heavy
and dreamy Was Queenie sleepy
Little Bijou, whom she had accident
ally shut outside the door, whiued to
come In, bnt she paid no attention.
By-and-by, when shu arose to dress
for tea, note was handed her. She
Immediately recognized the bold Chi
rography.
QUEENIE.-I do not know what an
cry words may have said in my last
interview with you, but | love you too
dearly TO leave you without begging
you TO forgive them. l have no longer
any reason 10 remain at the Heron
House, and shall leave at once. If We
never meet again, Coo bless you for.
ever BRUCE"
Why did the jewels on Queenie's
white fingers shin mer 10 rs she laid
the note down? Did her hand trem-
BILE !?
She went down and mingled with
the gay guests Of the summer hotel.
Some one said tn s'orm was coming
but within doors the scene WAS gay
enough. ..t.I..I
They had hung the walls with ban.
ners and oak garlands, and the music
was sounding for the dance The merry
couples whirIed round ard round, but
(lueenie was not waltzing.
"Ars you not dancing, Miss Vsne,"
asked Mary Alnbtrley. 81 thought
you always danced, always enjoyed
every thing. Now with me 1t is differ
emit. do not care for general society,
and cant say that like the SEA. 1t
always makes Inc think OF being drown |
Ell. They say there IL gong to be a |
storm. DO you suppose Mr.. Wilmarth
will 70 in such unpleasant weather
The Lady Lucy sails tonight, you