Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1883-06-21

like a piece of first-class villainy! Miss
Leslie has neither father nor brother e
interfere in her behalf.
, She is the Jewel among women, ant
that Buckingham girl is heartles'
! fiirt!"
Duke laughed.
"My dear uncle, q said he, ''you take
things too seriously! Can not an engaged
man so much as look at another wamanP'
But one day, in blossomy May, Col.
onel Vavason's card was brought up to
Miss Leslie.
} Cora was preparing to 60 out with
Miss Duchesne for q drive. She was
full of bright happiness that morning,
and even Miss Duchesne breathed more
freely, for Ariadne Buckingham had
left them the night before, in response
stand-to telegram from her father,
who was ill. The nightmare dream
was over at last-all the world was
May!
She ran down into the drawing room,
where Colonel Vavason leaned against
the mantel, tall, pale and handsome.
"Oh, Colonel" she said brightly, Il
am so glad to see you. Duke is coming
at two o'clock to-
But she paused as her eyes fell on
his pale features, the look of mute hor-
ror in his eyes.
Duke will never come here again."
said he, in low tone. BE heroine,
Cora. Bear your trouble bravely.
Duke went away before daylight. He
left a note asking me to tell you. He
loves Ariadne Buckingham, and has fol-
lowed her to her homer
And so Cora Leslie has closed the
chapter of her first love-or, rather,
Marmakuke Chesterton closed it for
her.
OF course there were plenty of people
to pity her with ostentatious sympathy,
and plenty to say that they had prophe-
sled it all along; plenty TO comment on
Cora's trusting blindness and Dukes
smooth hypocrisy.
But Cora held her own. valiantly.
She was little paler, perhaps; a little
quieter. But the heart wound was too
deep for any surface bleeding. And
the world whispered, behind its jewelcd |
fan: "How well she bears it,
At the end of year Marmaduke |
ChestertOn came back. lie was not |
married to Miss Buckingham after all. |
The beautiful brunette had accepted his |
presents, smiled on him with those melt |
ing eyes of hers, amused herself at his |
expense, and finally welded u young |
lieutenant of artillery, to whom she had |
been engaged for years, and poor Dukes |
eyes hao been summarily opened to the |
folly of his ways. He was pale and hag-
gard as he stood there in therboudoir, |
where he had first asked Cora Leslie to |
be his wife.
But Cora was loveller than ever. AS |
he looked ut her he marveled that he |
could ever have cared tor one like Ar |
iadne Buckingham.
Cora" he said in broken voice, as
she cordially gave him her hand, "can
you ever forgive me?'
"Oh, yes " she answered, smiling,
II forgave you long ago. And oh, how
you must have suffered, Duker'
''But," he went eagerly on, II am
now. My eyes are open
ed at last. l know, now, that / never
really loved any one but you. Sweet |
Cora, is it too late to ask you to renew
our engagement once more.
II am afraid it is" said Cora, still
serenely self-possessed and calm.
but why?" he urged. half madden
ell by suspense.
Zone reason" answered Cora, ''is +
that | have long ceased to care Except,
of course, as friend) for the man who
loved Ariadne Buckingham better
than me. The other is that / am to
be married next week to Colonel Vava-
son."
Tony uncleP"
Yes, Duke" she answered serenely,
ito your uncle. love and honor him
as never loved or honored man be-
forer'
So Marmaduke Chesterton lost both
blonde and brunette, and Miss Du-
chesne was satisfied at last that her
darling was worthily welded. AS for
Cora she believes with the poet that
"There is a Providence that shapes our ends
Rough hew them as We may!"
For did not that darksome path of
pain and suffering lead into the sweet
est sunshine at last?