The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1884-10-30

hem of her steel-g gray dress, and ther
looked up in her face, wagging his tau
His master motloned him away.
"Nol" she cried, bending over tn
handsome creature. HE usel to low
me-"
Baron Alverton looked at her will
his blue eyes and groaned.
Laurel" he said, with fine appeal
ing gesture. 81 used to love you
Yet to-day you would not touch mi
with your beautiful hand asyou toucl
that brute! AndI eserve it"
She seemed to look at him then fo
the first time, though only for an in
slant. If she saw how his face has
changed in five years, and was ssirre
to pity, she gave no sign. She turne
her head aside and seemed to wasci
the two dogs frolickin3 down til
beach.
"No excuse could bo Invented fol
me-" he went on. "You were one
the sweetest, truest women that eve
breathed, and my promised wife. No
a shadow stood between us when
met Nellie Dimpleton. But l knew
less Of women than 1 do now. CoU
not measure you, appreciate you as
have done since. l was \ fool to b.,
won from you by pretty face, thong
that face had set the artists crazy
All, well, you do not even care to lis
ten to me!'
She had gathered up her gloves an
parasol to descend, but paused.
Laurel" he continued, ain the ol
days you were never revengeful
vindictive. If you were both now
you might gloat over the misery of III,
married life. am utterly wretched
Let this just decree repay you for m.
base desertion.
| Baron! where are you?" called !
querulous voice.
A drmpy figure in blue had pause
at the foot of the rocks, and a pair 0
| lacklustre blue eyes now looked up Il
them, the owner apparently not carlns
to ascend. 1t was a blonde, faded
sickly face, fretful and careworn
though Mrs. Alverton had EVIDENT,
once been very pretty.
Lifting his hat to Laurel, Baro.
Alverton turned, went down the rock
and joined her. A few sharp word'
followed, which Laurel overheard.
x x \ X 4
The following winter. develops
strange surprise at Nutwood, Ms
Wales home. Her aunt, Mrs. Par
don Ardley, the most well-meaning o
disagreeaDle persons, chose to engag
herself in marriage to Mr.. Abel A
verton, the sourest of bachelors an
Baron Alverton's uncle Laurel wa
speechless with surprise.
"NVhy do you marry him, Aunt Par
don?" she asked at last. "Are yo
not happy here?"
"Because he is rich" answered Mr.;
Pardon, "and 1 want a home of n
own. I've no doubt you mean wei
Laurel, but 1 don't always approve c
your ways"
Her niece was silent, and the prep5
rations for the wedding commenced. |
Aunt Pardon did not approve of Lar
rel, she had no hesitation in demand
ing her attention, her carriage, he
servants for this momentous occasion
With great patience Miss Vale a
lowed herself to be set on one side i
her own house while the arrangement
for her aunt's marriage went on.
$50 vexatious" cried Aunt Pardon
"That disobliging Miss Trimmings al
solutely refuses to come oat here an
make my dresses, but says she will III
dertake them if I will come to tow
for few days. I suppose l must d
it; and Mr.. Crabtree proposed la:
night that we come to his place,
very nice private boarding-hous
quite exclusive, in fact"
She stopped, beaming; but Laure
who felt really too tired for any ne
exertion. hesitated to respond.
"Wouldn't some one else do9" 81
asked at last. "Some less importar
person than Miss Trimmings migf
be found to come here
mo, indeedl There's nobody $
stylish and high-priccd. We must G
certainly we must, Laurell But, l
the way, Mr.. Crabtree says his nephe
your old beau, Baron Alverton-an
his wife are staying there now."
"Where?" asked Laurel, bewildere
"At his clearinghouse. Poop
say that his marriage didn't turn OF
well," Mrs. Pardon ratified on, unhee,
ing her nieces silence. 'for his wi
acted like q crazy woman when he To-
some of his money last year-ratt
him so, it was really quite scandalou
Did you see her on the beach last fall
Such white-faced thing! They S;
she takes arsenic for her complexio
l don't call her pretty, though she W;
all the rage five or six years ago.
believe she lost her health-too mut
dissipation. I've heard that she's ay
fully jealous of her husband, thoue
he don't give her the least cause ar
bears it like lamb"
: =
Laurel and her aunt were at NJ