Arkansas weekly mansion., 1884-02-09
keen. swift, jealous look ather eompan-

Aoth' e"hI, JcniouS iOoA 1ku0I COAup8n-
ions face.
When Dan Woodford reached home
that night he went into his study and
took from drawer in a writing-desk a
small packet wrapped in silver paper.
1t contained a few letters, some with
cred flowers. and a tress of yellow hair;
bNt he didn't examine the contents;
and lie didn't even waste a glance on
them. but careleSsly tossed them into
the CRATE, and with smile watched
them turn to white ashes on the glow
ing Goals.
Mrs. Norton called the next day, and
was shown into Eiinor's drawing-room.
She exerted all the witchery she pos
sessed in pleasing and fascinating the
young girl, and she was in q great de-
gree successful. Elinor thought her
charming as well rs beautiful. and only
/ d tfercd with her on one subject
! Il am sorry not to meet your papa.
/ Mrs. Norton said when she rose to take
/ leave. after she hal apologized for max
ing "a very long visit for Il first call
He is not my papa, Ellnor an
swered, coloring, she knew not why.
! ''But I supposed of course that You
/ called him sD,' said Mrs. Norton with 4
; smile.
/ Il never called him 'iapa' in my
| life," said Elinor, 1esenting the smile
/ .sNurse tried to teach me to call him
.daslde' when l began to speak: Bat>l
called him Dan instead, and l shall
! alwars call him So
! "Iiear me- interrupted Mrs Norton.
'.But there is such disparity Of age; inc
is old enough to lie your ;ather.
II never think SOD ElinOr returned
! indignantly. Mrs. Norton smiled, and
! left the Younger Woman feeling very
uncomfortable.
| From that hour her manner toward
| Mr. Woodford was changed Instinct
| lively she seemed to know that he and
tie beautiful Mrs. Norton had once
/ been lovers; and !.'loverS once, lovers
| forever was El;nor's creed. She re
mcmbered how his arm hid tremb!ed
| and how his face had changed that
! night when he saw her, after long wears.
! There had been a lovers quarrel, she
felt certain; ..but he loves her still and
she loves him. And her heart achcd
at the thought. How often she ~azcd
with envy on Mrs. Norton's violet eyes
, and radiant crown of golden hair.
And all this pcnt up hopeless passion
made it rather hard for poor Lord Stan
hone Not that Elinor ever meant to
encourage him. But he came so CON
stantly, he was SO good, so sympathetic,
derstood her tailoring tones, her chang
ing color; and when he Il ked her to
marry him she refused with such evi
dent dsmav, and so much rc~r for his
d sappointnent, that he knew no!
which to think-whether to think HIM
SELF fool, or TO believe her a hcartlcss
coquette. But he was a gentleman,
and took his dismissal gravcly and >or-
rowfully, and so, at least. won her re-
spect.
What does this mean?' Dan asked.
day or two attcrward. '-1S ii true
that you have rejected Lord Staphope,
Elinor?"
"Yes. it is true" Mss Carey an
swcred. She was turned half from him
| as she spoke, but she wheeled suddenly
round and looked him in the face, and
| something in the great. fond eyes s.
vcarningly bent on her was revelation
| to her Young heart. She went toward
him, blushing and with droopinr head.
and she spoke in the softc>t whisper.
but he heard it.
And why d, Won ask whit it means?
You ought to knot0! Oh. Dan, have
you not always said that | was your lit
| tie Nalentinc?'
"But am old enough to be your ia
thcr, darling.
"That's what Mrs. Norton says
| laughed Elinor. with her lovely face
resting against his check "She has sad
it so often that | quite forgot to answer
that you were not We. Old enough II br
her husband -
No-she prefers ot togenarians.'
Il think her Ia~I" has changed,
dear" laughed Elinor, misch ,cvously.
- But too late, my darling, Dan an
swercd, as he kissed his valentine.
Detroit Free Press.