The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1884-04-23

whose beauty gave a dark Spanish
| TYPE to her whole face.
Elfrida," he said, embracing The
first opportunity Of being alone
with her, 4when have you heard
from Egerton9o
''NOt in some time. / suppose
be is very busy
"yery, indeed, | have no doubt"
Morton's lips curled ironically.
$50 your engagement is broken
oa2n
Broken off EeyerP
Elfrida's flushed cheek grew pale
as ashes.
"You don't mean to say that he
is your plighted loyet2"
Certainly be is"
@My poor Elfrida, do you not
know that be is engaged to marry
the richest heiress Of the season in
New York2o
a do not believe i'll Oh, Harry,
Harry, beware how you deceive
mel" walled Elfrida; "it is not
true+it never can be true"
"His engagement ring sparkles
upon her finger; he is her constant
cavalier; it is the talk Of the whole
cityI Oh, Eltrida, do not look SO
white and agonized-he was never
worthy Of your love-"
"stop a minute, Harry, said the
girl, passing her hand, in a bewild.
cred sort Of "a way, across her fore.
head. Let me realize what you
are telling me. Fiske Egerton is
q villain. / am deserted for one
who bears the magic wand ol
wealth, And sho2"
"she is one Of the sweetest girl !
ever knew-worthy to be a mon
arch's bride."
"Then she cannot know"
"0f this previous love-making Of
her precious swain. ofcOurse she
does not know it. Francesca We're
is too noble and true-hearted a girl
to accept her happiness at the cost
of another's blighted life."
"she must be undeceiyed, Harry,
When do you return to the cityT'
"To.morrow."
II will go with you. Ny friend,
Mrs. Clare, will gladly receive me
for a day or two"
at shall be as you wish, Elfrida.n
And Harry Morton asked no fur
ther questions on the subject, al
though he could readily conjecture
what was in her mind.
Miss We're was surprised, a day
or two afterward to receive a visit
from her friend, Mrs. Glare, accom-.
panied by a tall, slender young
lady, whose dark eyes seem to glow
beneath her veil like two Goals Of
Gre.
Miss Dale was very anxious To
make your acquaintance, Fran
cesca," said Mrs. Glare, after she
she had introduced the stranger;
$50 l yentured to bring her with
mo-"
francesca held out her soft little
hand With a smile Of welcome and
one or two gracious words, but
Elfrida merely inclined her head.
"MiSs We're" "she said abruptly,
"is the rumor true tina! you are
engaged to be married to Mr.. Fiske
EgertonP"
Miss We're looked astonished, but
she answered in the affirmative.
"Excuso me-" said Elhida, with
a hard, bitter laugh, "but / am an
pnsophisticated country girl. How
many ladies is it allowable for New
York gentlemen to be engaged "a
at the same time2"
II do not understand you," Fran.
Cesca said, growing scarlet and then
pale,
"Because," added Miss Dale,
"Mr EgerIon has been mysfIianCed
husband for the last six months y
Francesca glanced invOluntarily
down at the diamond glittering on
her fore.Anger. Miss Dale saw the
movement Of her eye, and drawing
of her own glove held up a slender
finger circled by a plain band oil
gold, whore a ruby glowed like a
Crystallised drop ofblOod.
II, too, have an engagement I
ring" she said, bitterly. "LookI'
! She drew i! Of, and on the IN,