The Pascagoula democrat-star., 1885-02-20


for his father, with whom be had
recently been received as partner.
LOttie had sent him two heart
broken, heart-hungry letters, but
received no reply, although previ-
Gus to that they had corresponded
regularly.
When Inez st. John sent for her,
bidding her trust the friendship
that had not changed since the
pleasant days at school and come
TO her as n sister, LOttie had taken
what was left of her fortune, which
was but the merest trifie, and in
proud silence left the place ia
which she had reigned; but she
only accepted q home with Inez on
conditions that she should hold the
post of hired companion, and reSo-
lutely declined going at all into
society.
That morning, when Inez had ac-
! cidentally spoken of Harold Vane,
her exclamation had betrayed an
interest to explain which she had
told the whole story TO her friend.
The gaslighJ shown on two very
fair, proud faces in the st. John
mansion that evening; two young
faces, both very pale.
The daughter of the house wore
a long robe of azure velvet, richly
simple IN make, which harmOniZed
we'll with her fair face, light brown
hair and gray eyes. She wore a
cilclet of pearls on her white arms
aud no other ornament save a dia-
mOnd ring which shone on one slim
nnger.
The companion was arrayed in
piaim black, lustfeless silk, without
, a single jewel, but her proudly pale
young face, rising like dainty
flower from the sOmbTe garment,
needed no such aid. The eyes were
as blue as a summer sky; the hair,
as golden as a sunbeam, was waved
back aud bound in simple coil
low on the graceful neck. And
they were both very pale, but per-
fectly composed, when u sharp rug
at the door was followed by steps
aloug the hall, aud a servant, fling
ing the door wide, announced the
visitor.
Nay, the risitorS, for tlcO young
men entered the room as the girls
with set, proud faces, turned TO the
open door, ahd LottIe's fair face
blanched pitiably as her blue eyes
h.et tile dark ones that were fixed
on her in Wondering amazement.
The next moment aud she found
herstlf taken in a tender em Drace
and beld closely to the bosom of
Halold Nane, while, as ia a dream,
she heard his low tones OF loving
reprOach for her treatment of him.
Presently, coming back to a re-
membranco of what she had endu-
red, she drew from him decidedly,
laying white hand on his breast
to keep him of.
"Tell me- she said, her tones wa
vering, "tell me why you did not
come when l SO wanted you, when
l almost died because OF your cru
city When papa died SO sudden
", and | fonu( | was not even to
have my cid uome, not even my
jewels, unless L chose to defraud
somebody, none seemed to be
friend to me but Inez. wrote YOU
twice, aud you never even answer
ed then it seemed to me was
utterly fOrsakeu, and l thought you
had ceased to love me, because l
had become so poor. | left New
York, my heart was nearly broken,
and as no friendly hand was offer
ed me in good by, so left my ad-
dress to none. Now tell me how l
am TO read your conduct, even to
your wOoing OF my true friend,
Inez st. john"
As she spoke she drew further
from him, her blue eyes losing much
Of their sOftened light, her lips be-
coming scorufnl.
"When you wrote me, dear, I was
lying at the point of death, raving
madly In fever had taken. It
was weeks before l was given your
letters, and then they nearly drove
me wild. | started for New York,
weak and all as l was, within an
hour after had read them, aud
went straight from the station to
your house, sure that / would fiud
you there-nvt thinking it had been
sold. The new owners could tell
me nothing Of you ; the people who
bad known you could tell me moth
ing. l vent to all your old friends,
but Obtained no clew. "Darling,S
with q smile, 81 was like the Lover
Of the song, who went about cry
ing;
"rm lonely without you,
Ny own dear bride.D
The last words were whispered
aiH0st ss Der ear, aud brought 9
sudden color to her white fact.
GAS for my being a wOoer Of Miss
st. John,0 the young man coutin.
ued, ssI have yet TO make that
young lady's acquaintance. Ny
oOusin-zilso Harold Vane-bas pic
tured her to me in glowing terms
aud. ~ the way, lo0k-that resem-
bles a reconciliation, too, doesn't /
itr
Lottie Turned and saw Inez stand.
ing At q remote window, both hands
\ 4