The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1883-11-24
LEONORE DALLAS.
BY MARY c. PRESTON.

and-had we not bes. remain at home ?"
"No, auntie; our costumes are prepared
and, fortunately paid for" With slow
scorn in the clear voice. I'VE will &C."
81 am in no mood for gay scenes to-
night, child I wonder you are"
II am not! Nevertheless, Aunt Ina,
we will go"
| The speakers were Lconore Dallas and
her aunt. On that very day the news
had gone like a fash of lightning through
the city that Leonore Dallas, the proud,
beautiful girl who was Arthur Laue's
promised wife, had been beggared by the
| disappearance of her guardian. in whose
| hands was all her wealth, and the rumor
was proven true.
| She stood in the great drawing room
the sinking sun shining redly Oh her
| dusky hair; liue of pain was on her
! brow, haunting, yearniug shadow in
her grand, black eyes. Prouder than was
her wont she looked, and yet fierce un-
rest was gnawing at her heart.
For be had not come. Would he love
her less. that she could bring him but her
womau's heart, her perfect life and pas
sionate love?
With the shadow of doubt, a pang
fierce as death seized her heart, and one
perfect hand was pressed above it sud
denly. Then with touch of the agony
she felt, in her Spanish eyes, she turned
from the window.
"Auntie," she said, ''if my reign is
over, | have the desire that Cataline had,
to fall royalty. None will look for the
suddenly impoverished Leonore Dallas in
to-night's gypsy queen.
"No, dear, they will think you crushed
by your loss.''
''The morning may find me So" she
said, half sadly, as she glided from
the room.
The mask ball was at its height when,
with proud, free step, gypsy queen,
accompanied by dowagsr duchess, en-
| tered.
| Her short skirt of black velvet was
aglitter with fringes Of gold and golden
| chains holding tiny bells of ivory; her
corsage of scarlet satin, was richly en-
broidered and laced with gold, and from
her shoulders hung = scarlet cloak with
heavy, glttering fringe; jewels shone Oh
her bare arms and flashed from her flow
ing, dusky hair, which showered, with
but a ripple in its spendor, almost to
her feet. And on the morrow those
cleaning gems would be all that Leonore
Dallas could claim of the wealth that
was once her own.
| A knight of the times of Louis XIII
stepped forward, and, 'dofTing his broad
plumed hat, offered his arm. She took
it and joined the dancers, while tie
duchess found a seat apart.
Laughing gayly, pretending to read
her partners palm, Leonore was still
watching, watching passionately for
| Darnley. the worthless husband of Scot
lands fatcd queen; for in that garb
Arthur Lane was to appear there, as he
had told her; and when she declined to
tell the character she would assume, he
had smiled into her eyes, and told her
that the eyes of love were sharp and he
would find her, dress as she would
Was he there9 She had finished dane
ing, and was ont on the balcony with her
cavalicr-out in the spring time moon
light, which was almost clear as day.
Lightest of words flowed from her lips
and her companion was forgetting all
else in the charm Of her presence when
voices from below broke on the air and,
looking downward. she saw descending
the steps of the lower veranda red
cross knight-how ner heart bounded
and Darnley, her lover.
1T IS too confaunded warm inside, :"
said the knight, in retuent tones, ''and
the affair is q complete bore. have
failed to recognize anybody
"Thanks," was the reply, in the voice
which she so loved. Thanks, Sanford,
you recognized me. But, then, I'm not
Miss Montague. I, also, am seeking for
one I have not found as yet"
You mean Miss Dallas. BY the way,
Lane, is this rumor true that old Brent
has absconded and taken her money with
him? They told me it for fact, and
that your engagements broken. That s
not so, is it? I'd never respect you if it
was"
Leonore bent over the railing, holding
her breath to hear the reply. A life, the
life of her youth, was at stake, and she
forgot everything in the anxiety of her
listening, while her cavalier was pulling
the flowers in his button-hole to pieces,
wondering at her silence.
"Standtord, came the answer, ''does
the world say that? Then tell it for
me that my engagement to Miss Dallas
is not broken by the fall of her fortunes.
Tell it love her, not for her wealth, but
her worth; and, since she has not chang
ed, l love her still, and she is still my
promised bride. was called from the
city yesterday, and only returned this
evening. The rumor met me almost at
the threshold, and fastened to her to
learn that she had just left for the ball.
l have sought her among the guests, but
failed to find her. Stamford, can you
help me ~
Leonore heard no more. With hands
clasped closely above her breast, and eyes
full of thankful tears, she turned to her
cavalier.
"Oblige me, she said, in her rich, clear
. voice, by going to the lower veranda and
sending Darnley here. must see him
immediately.
And then she was alone, the moonlig ht
falling tenderly upon her dusky hair, as
she bent her head and breathed a soft
, Thanksgiving.
Lady, you sent for me?'
: She turned, holding out both hands.
He drew back step, not touching them.
"Arthur,' she said, do you not know
me?"
LEO, my darling?" and then his arms