Omaha daily bee., 1883-11-10
A CRUEL MISUNDERSTANDING.

- >AN NNa AN3N
when we have so few of them in Mil.
ford
"What is it, NellyF' asked Bessie
Bloomfield. Pray be more explicit
81 was telling Marion about Miss LIE.
fevre. Conrad Marcy has been playing
the gallant to her ever since she has been
here
"That is no wonder at all" answered
Bessie. odd you ever see a more beauti,
full woman? All men are attracted 10y a
handsome face"
ooh! as to that, we have as pretty girls
among us as she, if | am anything of a
judge rejoined Nelly. "But think she
must have known HIM before she came to
Milford. He visits her very often,
know, because | live next door and hear
them singing together. There is nc
installing Conrad's voice. The walls
that one can almost hear them talk.
ing"
II head yesterday-but hush!-herC
she comes;' and the last speaker, Marion
Ramsay, bent over her work lost in scru.
tinizing some false stitches in the forma.
ton of a pansy.
The foregoing conversation took place
among a coterie of girls in the corner of a
large room bright with the glow of
an open fire of anthracite, the heat of
which penetrated even to the oriel
window in which Milly Vernon, the
youngest and prettiest of the Milford
maidens had enscenced herself. The
apartment was o~vercrowded with young
l,l,nc NrhA Nn,,,inl Snfao chains otto
mans and, in fact, anything that could
be ~improvised into a seat, for Mrs.
Dumont's art school had become famous,
and her scholars increased in numbers
daily.
There was a sudden silence as Miss Lee
fevre entered and walked across the room,
greeting each of her acquaintance with a
word and a smile, until she came to the
corner where the gossips were sitting.
Her entrance caused such a sensation
that no one noticed Milly's agitation pro.
duced by the idle words Just spoken.
Milly's glance inadvertently rested on a
ruby ring that Conrad Marcy had slipped
upon her finger only two nights before,
saying it was a talisman, the color of
which would fade should he cease to love
her. Was it really loosing its crimson
hue, or did her own fears produce a fan.
cied changel No! it was a great tear that
had fallen from her eyes upon the surface
of the stone; she felt a thrill of Joy as she
wiped it away and saw the gems undim-
med brightness.
Before Miss Lefevre reached the win,
dow where she mad detected the presence
of Milly with the curtain partially drawn
before her, the girl had summoned up
courage enough to exchange s~alutations
with her and even looked smilingly
into her face as she took q
seat beside her and began to speak
of the sociable that was to take place at
her house that evening.
81 count on you, Miss Milly," she
said, "to help me to entertain u young
gentleman from New York, Mr.. Chester,
the son of a millionaire who has come
here in search of a new sensation and,
with that end in view, will come to ourso.
ciable. l hope one of our bellies will get
up a sensation to crafty him; indeed,
do not know of any n better fitted fol
the purpose than the little lady before me,
if she so wills IT,"
ullllg lClp q SliohlllS oSiiSdIlOil ~ llGl
throat, but mastered it and answered with
some asperity:
"For my part, l do not know of any
one better versed in the management o.
hearts than Miss Lefevre herself; she
should try her arts on the gentleman"
sob, no." Miss Lefevre replied. 81
have other business on hand" She stop
ped suddenly, while a blush tinged her
handsome face, but it was only for a mo.
ment, when she resumed with a smile, 81
shall certainly bring him to you first
Then, rising from her chair, she went
over to Mrs. Dumont for her assistance
in the construction of thedelicate stamens
of a white lily.
Milly thought over Miss Lefevre's
words. Yes, they were sufficient to con-
firm all she had heard, and a feeling of
jealousy and hate took possession of that
innocent young heart that never before
harbored an unkind thought toward any
one.
Milly returned home, fed to her cham
Der and threw herself on the bed. She
had longed for this refuge that she might
give vent to her wounded feelings in a
flood of tears, but she had been too much
shocked for such a relief. Besides, in de-
tiance of every conviction she tenaciously
chung to the belief that there might be
some mistake, and agenerous trust in the
a she loved came back to her. She
was positive there must be some decep-
t on about the matter. Conrad had al
ways proved himself the soul of truth and
honor, incapable of double-dealing, and
he surely had loved her. She blushed
and was thrilled as she thought of the
past few weeks. Why should she doubt
him without more convincing proofs of
his guilt
If Mllly intended to go to the sociable
that evening it was time for her to be
making her toilet. Conrad was to
escort her there and had sent her a
splendid bouquet for the occasion. Yes,
she would so. Without doubt in the
course of the evening she would see
enough to convince her either of his truth
or falsity.
Milly was as lovely and sweet as a
cluster of newly-gathered rosebuds when
she descended from the d-ressing-room to
accompany Conrad Marcy to Miss Lefevre's
house. The young man gazed at her with
admiring eyes and could scarcely refrain
from telling her of all the love for her
that was in his heart; but the thought of
Miss Lefevre and of the trials that might
be in store for her had so transformed
Milly's generally impulsive manner.
causing an appearance of GOODNESS and
reserve, that all the YARN feelings of
his heart were chilled. They rode
along together, exchanging merely a few
commonplace words, and it was a relief
to both when they arrived at their desti-
nation.