The Magnolia gazette., 1883-11-08
CHAPTER XXI.
~ oLnER sronY.

Miss Braxton consented to see him,
and made her appearance, very icy,
very constrained. very much inclined to
visit his past dereliction most severely
upon his Offending head, but relenting
after she had booked into his haggard,
miserable face, and heard the iustiiiea-
tion which she did not in the least
understand. a secret had separated
them, which was cleared away now,
and if she could and would direct him
to Dana. he would be grateful all his
life Miss Braxton could whether she
would ah that was a question.
"You see, said Lex. Dana mightn't
like ii. And ii She don't care, why,
he mightn't like it. | wouldn't in his
place.
Gle? Who?n asked Launt, with
sudden pang
"Gordon Marquis TO be sure. Be
cause you went OF and left her is no
reason why all The rest OF the world
should do the same believe he thinks
all the more of her since she has been
in trouble; and he befriended Aunt
Rose or 10 YOU know about thatP'
81 know nothing replied Launt, q
BLUSH pallor coming about his lips
g BE kind enough TO tell me, will you
not2n
Lex did. She dwelt upon Gordon's
faithful friendship, and upon the sery-
ices he had rendered Mrs Oliphant,
upon his devotion to Dana and the lat
ter's gratitude.
"Any one with half an eye can see
what it's AL coming to.n concluded
Lex, ..and as to letting you so and
raise a muss between them, don't
know that ! have any right
II will not ask il of you," Launt an
swered, rising. I" win go TO him my
self
Go TO the rival who had won orwould
win what he had lost There were Bit
terness and humiliation in the thought,
but it would be easier TO learn the truth
/ from him than from Dana herself.
On the following day he presented
! himself at the New York studio. Mr..
| Marquis was not there, His pictures
were, suggested the art-student who
/ had been left in charge of the rooms,
and who fancied possible patron in the
caller "There's his Modern Gree
/ lust done, which he has entered for the
!
/ to look at, and here's In u Eeg' which
4 Is sold, and a companion piece ordered.
II you are wanting anything in this line,
sir, | don't think Marquis can be sur
| passed" /"
. am not wanting anything" Mr..
| Harrington explained, and the olicious-
ness Of the student very naturally sub
sided. II was rather grievance to
him that the visitor should avail him
self of the permission given to examine
the pictures "A Modern Gree. .
Launt caught his breath at that II
was the picture Of Acknowledgment
girl standing on the sea-shore with the
soft light Of evening falling over her
upon the dimpling water and yellow
sands, and touching more family the
masculine figure which was stridine
away in the distance, with head bent
down. You knew instinetively that he
had put the all-important question, and
had for his answer, .,Noh There was
no shadow Of sorrow or regret upon the
face of the modern Gree, The bright
eyes were full of cxultant light, a soft
smile fingered on the perfect lips; YOU
knew ut once that she was thinking o.
some one else who filled her whole
heart some one who had driven away
every remembrance of the disap
pointed individual who had pu
his fate to the touch and los
all. No lovely monster, this twill
face Seraphic fair and heart of stone
but bright and pretty girl, who il
careless OF the love which is offered her
because she already has what she prize,
more. And the girl is Dana Dana ~
he has seen her a hundred times witt
that very love-light shining up at hin
from her matchless eyes. She hat
looked like this at Shoreden, before sor
row touched her. Could it be that sh,
looked like it still, and that the lool
was for anotherP The mans face wa
turned away, but the figure lool1ec
strongly like his own.
"Can you tell me where MIR. Marqui
may be foundPh
The student threw streak of car
, mine into an amber cloud, and thel
looked up.
"He might be found at Riverton, per
haps. He takes the one o'clock trail
there, =
AT Riverton! Launt knew the name
His mind instantly connected that trag
edy of the past which had occmre,
there with possibility of the present
He glanced at his watch. It was quar-
} ter to one. hardly time to catch tn
train, but he left the studiowith rush
hailed a passing cab, and was driven t,
the depot, reaching it Just in time.
II was five o'clock of the same day
and a dismal Marcn afternoon. Their
had been drizzling rain falling unit
an hour ago, and the leaden sky prom
ised more TO come; the straight roat
which led into the little town was in
horrible state to contemplate. A thin
yellow ooze of mud and water filled tn,
roadway, and the foot-path was scarcel,
better.
Not creature was visible as far a
she could see, when Miss French cam,
J out of the school-houSe and locked tn,
door behind her She had staid L
make out her monthly report after dis
missing her pupils, and the early shade!
/ ". n