The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1884-06-07

Wildwood. am going to shoot with
him tomorrow, and he hopes 1 will
bring you with me; the shooting is very
good, you had better come" Capt.
Chichester hesitated. He had prom
lsed his father to return at the end of
the week.
The day passed by heavily. The gen.
tlemen were out shooting, the ladies
took a drive. At dinner Jane Morris
seated herself between Capt. Chi
chester and Florence. In the evening Sir
Charles asked him to pay ecarte, and it
was only when bidding goodnight that
Captain Chichester made his adieux.
Il suppose I must say good-by now"
he said to Florence. "We start so early
III the morning"
Florence could not command her
voice, but gave him her hand.
1--WE shall meet again, I hope? We
must meet again. Do you ever come
to town."
"Oh, do move on, Miss Molyneux,"
SAID Jane Morris, "you are keeping us
all standing"
Florence disengaged her hand and
went upstairs. Her happiness was at
an end. They would never meet again,
and he had said nothing to her. Nay,
1t almost seemed as if he had avoided
speaking to her. What fool she had
been to think he cared for herl An I'M
opened letter lay on the top of the pin
cushion. Who could be writing to her
She took it up. There were initials up
on the envelope and motto. The in
itials were al. c." the motto "True till
death" The words danced before her
eyes. 1t was his motto. It was not a
dream, it was letter from Capt. Chi
chester. She pressed it to her lips, then
tore it open, and read the contents as
quickly as her agitation would permit
1t began:
have in vain tried to speak to you alone
but cannot leave you without learning my
fate. You must have seen that love you de-
votedly. Can you give me any hope? l leave
early tomorrow, but my future movements de-
pend upon your answer. If you love me LET
me have few lines from you tonight, and
will return from Wildwood with Sir Charles on
FRIDAY. My room is the last in the gallery.
May ask You to let me have few lines there
from you tonight? On your reply my happi-
ness depends. Ever yours devotedly,
l.. CHICHESTER.
Florence let the letter fall into her
lap; the revulsion of feeling was almost
too great. The bitter tears of sorrow
and disappointment were still upon her
cheek. but some subtle chemistry had
changed them to rainbow of hope
and JOY. he loved her! he had writ
ten TO say so. And now she had the
delightful task of replying. What
should she say She could consult no
one.
Florence wrote from an overhowing
heart, without stopping to choose the
words, joyful and happy acceptance
of Capt. Chichester's love. She
went to bed at last, not, indeed, to
sleep, but to indulge in blissful
thoughts. She put Capt. Chiches-
ter's letter under her pillow, and felt it
from time to time to assure herself it
was not a dream.
AT length, towards morning, she fell
into a peaceful slumber, from which
she was awakened by the maid bring
ing her a cup of tea.
Florence started up as her new-found
happiness flashed upon her. A letter
lay on the tray. She snatched it up,
scarcely waiting for the maid to leave
the room ere she tore it open. Yes, it
was from him; she saw the well-known
cipher and motto. The sound of wheels
grating on the gravel reused her. She
ran to the window, and peeping from
behind the curtain saw Capt. Chiches-
ter drive away. He was gone, but he
had left letter, and she sat down to
read it. But the happy tender smile
with which she opened it was suddenly
succeeded by look of amazement, then
by almost incredulous horror and de-
spair. She pushed back her hair from
her face and turned the letter over
wildly, as if in hope of discovering some
thing to give her comfort. But no
The words were not to be mistaken.
My DEAR MISS MoLYNEUx-I scarcely know
how to write to you. There has been some
great mistake, or some one has cruelty con-
trIyed plan to give us both great pain. Be-
lieve me feel 1t most deeply when 1 tell you
that | never wrote the letter to which you al
Jude, nor any letter to you. 1t must be for
gerry. For your kind expressions toward me-
which 1t has drawn forth, l can only offer you
my sincerest thanks, for believe me 1 value
your good opinion most highly. You are not
teen YOU beyond almost any woman I have ev-
er met. l would say more, but | am not free.
l am, in honor, bound to another. l thought
this was understood by Lady Brandon, but
fear l have been to blame, and that l have
caused you pain. If you have got the fore ed
letter, will you be so kind as to forward it to
me at Wildwood? l have no doubt shall dis
cover its author, and he or she shall not es-
cape punishment. l have but one word more
to add. My dear Miss Molyneux, know YOU
are sensible and brave; let no one know what
has occurred. This vile trick must be the work
OF some one at Brandon Hall. Do not let any
one know IT has succeeded, and We shall vet
battle and dlsarm our enemy. 1could say much
more, but it is better not. Believe me- with
the sincerest regard and esteem, yours respect
fully. L. CHICHEsTER.
Florence's mind was in such tumult
of confused thoughts that she could
scarce comprehend what had happened.
She flew to compare the hand writing.
Mol they were not the same, though
there was some resemblance. The en-
velope bore the same initials and motto.
Who could have done SO cruel an act
Jane Norris It flashed upon her like
conviction, but could it be possible /?
Could it be possible? Could one girl
act SO basely by another? She en-
closed the fatal letter to Capt. Chi
chester, and then wrote to her mother
begging her to summon her home on
any pretense.
So some months passed away, and
Florence heard nothing of her friends !:
she felt forgotten, forsaken, but one
morning she was awakened by letter
from Ada Brandon, announcing her ap-
preaching marriage with Lord Stone
leigh, and affectionately inviting her
to be her bridesmaid. At first Florence
shrank from the thought, but when she
read the postscript, 81 suppose you
have seen Lady Ida's marriage in the
paper" she resolved to go to Brandon
Hall. at is all over" she said; "he is
married. I will go and enjoy the hap
piness of Others" But it was with a
sad heart that Florence found herself
driving up to the well-known entrance