Daily Republican., 1884-04-26
JUDGE NOT (!
BY MRS. T.. BURKE COLLINS.


Hetty Winfield listened to the words
with a strange interest, as she sat in the
crimson curtained bay window, an un-
opened book in her hand, a Thoughtful
look upon her sweet face.
Eighteen, and just home from school ,
her education finished she had accepted
an invitation to Mrs. Marsden's planta'
ton home for few weeks, and having
arrived safely, the first item Of intel
ligence to which she had listened was
this He was only boy, and she
broke his heart."
The two gentlemen who were speak
ing did not dream of the girls proximi'
ty, and went on, coOlly
Heartless cOquette! cried Alan
MarsneD, the son of Herty's hostess,
with flashing eyes and contemptuous
voice.
And Heartles indeed n' acquiesced
bis companion, Will Gilbert.
H-tty could bear no more. With
flashing eyes and compressed lips she
dashed the crimson curtain aside, and
springing to her feet, confronted them.
"It is false !" she painted, angrily,
her dark eyes flashing, round red
spot coming upon either red cheek.
" You are speaking of my cousin, Edith
Cameron, and she is not heartles CO.
uuette More, | do not believe word
of what you have uttered in regard to
her II Harry Moreland, the unhappy
boy of whom You speak, chose to com
IN it suicide, do not believe that my
cousin was responsible. She Is beauti'
full and fascina ting, but heartless'--
never May l ask you, gentlemen, ii
either of you have ever met Miss Came
ron 2"
The two yonng men appeared slightly
confused, as they answered in the mega
tive.
81 should at least possesses personal
acquaintance with lady of whom ]
ventured to assert such atrocities,
said Hetty, with withering scorn.
"Miss Winfield" cried Alan Mars.
den, contritely, "will you pardon us.
and lot US off for this time? Heaven
knows we did not dream Of hurting
your feelings, or that we were over
heard. But 1t serves Us right, for nc
gentleman ought to pass remarks con-
cerning a lady which he would hesitate
to make in the presence of her friends,
though few people are fortunate
enough to possess such defender az
yourself. We have never had the
pleasure of meeting Miss Cameron, and
were merely discussing story which
is going the rounds OF her own set
"Like couple of ancient gossips,"
interrupted Hetty, saucily.
The young mans face flushed Grim
son.
:" You are right, Miss Winfield he
returned, humbly, "and |, for one, am
heartily ashamed of my own conduct.
Gilbert, you and will never again err
in that fashion, will we, old fellow. 2"
Will Gilbert's dark eyes were fixed
upon Hetty's earnest face
We will wait to be presented to
M iss Cameron before we pass judgment
upon her actions" he observed, land
will trust to Miss Winfeld's unbiased
opinion. Only one thing perplexes
me in regard to the unfortunate affair
of young Moreland 1t Is this Before
he committed suicide he wrote letter
to Miss Cameron, the contents OF which
are known only to that lady. If |
knew-and yet," checking himself
hastily, ait is no concern of mine, and
we ought not to judge rashly."
You are right" remarked Hetty,
" and | have confidence to believe that
you will learn the truth some day in
regard to Edith and that you will be
wonderfully surpsised."
The sound OF the dinner bell pealing
through the great rooms brought the
conversation to q sudden termination,
and when dinner was over Edith Came
ron had arrived.
Coming into the dining.roOm together
just at dusk, Will Gilbert and Alan
Marsden saw slight, pale-faced girl,
with great, dark, pathetic eyes and
wavy brown hair, standing on the
hearth rug, conversing with Mrs.
Marsden. Not the dashing beauty they
had expected to see, but a quiet, intel
lectual woman, with broad, thought
ful brow, and an easy grace OF manner.
" Miss Cameron" was the Informal in"
PRODUCTION from tho hostess, and then
the other guests assembled and conver'
sation became general. But Alan
Marsden had gone down under the first
fire. Two hours later, when ne bade
Miss Cameron goodnight, he knew that
his doom was sealed, and he hated him
self with corresponding fervor.
" A target for a professional tiirt and
coquette," he muttered, savagely.
"heaven alone knows how many slain
hearts-how many wretched lives lie at
her door. But cannot blame any man
for loving her. Heartless coquette,
butterfly of fashion Even her studied
simplicity tonight was doubtless gotten
up tor effect. She Is trying to remove
the impression made by poor Henry
Moreland's tragic fate. I wonder-I
wonder how much truth there is in that
story. l would give my life to know y
The next morning the young man
arose with the settled determin alton to
avoid Miss Cameron he went down
stairs, and proceeded, naturally, to
seek her society without delay. There
are certain laws that work only by
contrariwise, you know.
She received him with quiet grace,
but l suspect little Hetty had been
there before him, for Miss Cameron was
chilling to the last degree. OF course
that "capped the climax" for her
coldness was the complete instrument
of his subjugation, and he saw the sun
go down upon heart gone over to the
enemy. He loved Edith Cameron, and
alas, he had called her heartIess Co
quette, and charged her with having
driven young Moreland to his doom
Could he ever hope to undo what he
had done? Words once spoken are Sc
hard to forget or wipe out. They settle
upon the memory as q blot of ink set
ties upon blank white sheet of papel
l-indeible.
The days came and went; Edith Cam
eron was still at Mrs. Marsden's, ant
Alan was ever at her side.
One evening, just at the golden heuI
when the sun was setting in "purple
and azure sardonyx, and red" he fount
Edith alone in the garden. She wa
gowned in simple white, and upon he
face there rested look Of sorrow. HI
came straight to her side, and his fac'
as he gazed upon her showed that ht