Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1884-09-19
Miscellaneous.
FOR LACK OF GOLD.

tecu DhrJOu nus lOhJ MS fortune
announced Mr.. Van Alstyne, one morn
ing at the breakfast table in the great
dining-room Of tho Beach hotel. Clara
Parker dropped the massive fork which
she held, and turned very frightened
face, and a pair of diated blue eyes up
on the speaker.
Impossible |" she calculated, her
breath coming and going in uneven
gasps, her white hands suddenly grow
ing cold, and shaking so violently that
the diamond solitaire which she wore
scintillated like fiery star.
"'Ts it really true. Mr.. Van Alstyne %
she quericd, her face growing slowly
whittier,
He nodded carelessly.
"'Tis true, It's pity, and pity lis
true ! he quoted nonchalantly. It was
not his misfortune and he could afford
to- be l nCno9a "a he "T Tasst NS6 Baaa p
happened to know that Barton's money
was invested there Poor Reed what
pity, for he is a very prince of good
fellows |"
Miss Parker's blonde head dropped
lower over her plate, but it was observ-
cd by the rest of the party that her in
terest in the morning meal had suddenly
disappeared. As sson as she could po-
litely withdraw from her companions
sho went to her own room. Her face
was as pale as death, save for lurid
spot upon her white cheeks, and there
was an angry glitter in the deep blue
eyes. Closing the door behind her, she
stopped short, the breath coming in
painting gasps, the small, white teeth set
hard together upon the rosy lip.
"Ruined p She Kissed the words
forth with angry emphasis. Ellis for
tune gone and he has not come to me
with the intelligence, but leaves it to a
stranger to break the news! Reed Bar
ton beggar; and is my betrothed hus'
band I will never marry poor man
never! He understands that perfectly ;
perhaps that accounts for his keeping
the loss of his money secret from me
But | know the truth at last, and ht
shall be free before the sun goes down =
She seated herself at her writing desl
and penned line to her betrothed hus
band-a cruel line, in which she told
him she had discovered the loss Of biz
fortune, and that it was impossible fol
her to become the wife Of poor man
She drew the diamond engagement RIM
from her finger, and inclosing it in tht
letter, addressed it and dispatched it a
once.
Up and down one Of the long veran
das Of the hotel Reed Barton was pacinl
slowly. A handsome man Of thirty
with dark, resolute face and carncs
brown eyes.
81 wish | could forget her" he nut
tered, half angrily, while involuntaril
his eyes wandered towards group upo
the lawn, in u retired corner, just i
range Of his vision, under the shade 0
huge oak trce--snch pretty group
study for painter.
Half dozen pretty children in thei
quaint Mother Hubbard and Kate Green
away costumes, bright spots Of colo
against the green background of velvet
grass, with the dropping oak bough
overhead, and in their midst girl Q
eighteen years. with pale, delicate fac
and satiny braids of bronze-brown hai'
and deep lustrous brown eyes--a fac
once seen not easily forgotten.
The young mans eyes kindled rs the
rested upon her; children clusterc
about her like bees around blossom
her big sun-hat shading the clear, pa
face the two small hands busily CT
gagged in weaving daisy chains. A yer
charming little study it all made, to B
sure!
Ethel Fcnton was quite unconscious
the admiring gaze upon her, for the sp
that she had chosen was retired, and 81
did not dream Of Reed Barton's proxin
ity. He was gazing at her now vii
bis very soul in his eyes.
II love her, God forgive met !
muttered; "yet | am Clara Parker's b
trothed husband, and -" The wor,
died upon his lips, as footstcp sound'
at bis side, waiter approached and la
a letter in his hand. Reed took IL m
/. chanically aud tore il open. Somethir
: small and glittering rolled from tho O
/ volopc and fell to the floor. He stoopc
and picked itup, aud his face grew slo'
ly pale as he rocoi nizcd his ring.
4 "What does ii mean 7" he cried. Is
a hurried perusal Of the letter reveal
its meaning.