Daily Republican., 1884-02-22
CORA.
By ALFRED YOUNGE.

By ALFRED YOUNGE.
People are not fools even In couutr
towns, though they are sometimes ap
to think they know more than the.
actually do.
The folks at Deepdene began to lool
askance at pretty Cora Maynard, T.
hint this, that and the other thing, and t.
hem and ha before Roland Asco
had been in the neighborhood q week
The facts Of the case being by N
means intricate, were simply these: Cors
the pride OF the village and the apple o.
her widowed Iather's eye, was the be
trothed wife of Fred Moore, who ba,
gone 10 Canada on business for tn,
large lumber irm Of which he was
chief clerk. Mr.. Roland Ascot came Il
Deedene one fine summers day on
visit to his aunt, the old maid Burgers
a grande dame, who lived In aristocrati'
seclusion swathed in antique laces ant
silk attire. Mr.. Ascot, prowling rOunt
the neighborhood with fowling
piece on bis shoulder, came across Cora
in her favorite noc!, b., inc lake, though
her deuced pretty, You know" ant
made up what little mind he was pos
sessed of TO carry on a summers filrta
ton with the girl and then drop it when
he went back to town.
He had u winning way with women
a certain fund Of small.talk, and alto
gether knew how to make himself fasci
mating wherever he went.
Cora was caught.
That Ia, she thought him very ele.
CANT person, TO phrase her own thought
he certainly Y came nearer TO her bea,
ideal Ofa hero in novel than homes
Fred Moore did, and then he could tall
with her and sympathize in her pei
fancies-as nobody else ever did. Con
seluently, when Roland Ascot be.
sought her with that fascinating voict
of his TO III et HIM in the same place
at sundown Tor a second, third, 9
fourth and a NTH time, foolish Cora wa,
nothing loath.
Prying eyes saw them at their rem
devious, when they fiattered themsel ves
that they we're alone with the stars, and
then folks began to talk.
It's about time Fred Moore came
home" was the uncharitable innuendt
which passed from lip to lip, though
they took good care that none of the
ing remarks should reach old
Caleb Maynard's ears.
Poor Cora was in fools paradise.
She had never given SO much as q
scrap of her heart into Roland Ascot's
keeping, but she was fascinated body
and soul, and began TO dream what lite
would be to her as the wife OF this para
aon of all the virtues.
And Ascot piled his willy arts, trus
him for that.
Well, on the sixth evening, just as
the tire-tlies began to fit like sparks OF
living gold amid the dense foliage that
dipped The placid surface OF the lake,
Roland Ascot slipped his arm for the
first time about the girls waist and
whispered as only Romeo could have
done.
" Cora, tell me, darling, do you love
me- She struggled feebly, but he
held her close.
" Well" he continued" does silence
give consent?'
No-no !" she painted "Mr. Ascot,
vou-"
"CaIA me Roland, since | call you
Cora. Surely We are we'll acquainted
enough Tor that !"
A. he spoke, he leaned forward and
pressei one burning kiss upon her
cheek.
With : cry az though she had been
stabbed to the heart, the awakened girl
sprang to her feet.
Let me 90 - she painted.
son, YOU may 60, was the cool re
joindtr, "but you will return mark
my words, You will return. do not
even ash you to forgive me, because
you have nothing TO forgive. You can
not blame me for the passion which you
have inspired. y
And producing cigar, he struck a
match upon the heel OF his patent leath
er boot.
Quivering in every nerve, she left
him sitting there and fled down the
woodland path as if pursued by ten
thousand furies.
Even Fred had never ventured to
seal their honest affection with kiss,
and here this ranger had taken her,
Al it were, by storm.
Her blood boiled at the indignity ;
he saw Low what fool she had
been
Her flight soon brought her to the
title, over which she sprang, and
umped down upon the dusty road to
ind herself face TO face with stalwart
is ure in the twilight.
She scarcely recognized her own voice
Is single name escaped her blanched
ips.
Fired !"
" Yes, it il l.
81 did not think you were coming
,ack so soon"
" Nor cared, l suppose"
"Oh, Fred !"
" Hush !"
The ur wonted harsbness in his tone
hi He'd her to the very marrow, and she
'hrank back against the wall, trelnb-
ing like the tender leaves that veiled
81 had hoped we should never meet
gain" Fred Moore said, in a hollow,
desperate voice 81 leave town tO-mor-
Ow morning forever. Be good enough
lot 80 interrupt me. You can tell me
lothing. have heard all-all, but the
lame of the man who has stolen you
way. do not wish to know who he
y, for l might be tempted to seek him
MT and KIN him, as l feel tonight.
All have TO say to you in parting is,
make him marry you at once, and stop
be wagging of these idle tongues"
Hepanlsed abruptly, and pressing his
lasped hands upon his brow, cried out:
"Oh, my God, that 1t should have
oiue to this p
Then, ere she could rally from that
earful blow, he was gone and she was
lone in theglOaming.
She did not cry out after him nor
eek to detain him. After moment,
Turing which she struggled to master
he horror that was upon her, she
rossed the stile and with rapid steps,
etraced her way to the nook beside
t.,l.