The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1885-04-22
-. Then she don't know"

DE1oe.
.'Then she don't know
'4Of this previous love-Eaking Of this
precious swain. OF course she does
not know it. Francesca We're is toe
noble and true-hearted girl to accept
her happiness at the cost Of another
blighted life. !" s.
s.She must be undeceivcd, Harry.
When do you return to the citye"
Tomorrow" @
IL will go with you. my friend. Mrs.
Clare will gladly receive me for . day
or two"
Miss we're was surprised, 3 day OF
two afterward. to receive 8 visit from
her friend, Mrs. Clare. accompanied
by tall, slender young lady. whose
dark eyes seemed to glow beaeath her
veil like two Goals of fire.
'.Miss Dale was anxious to make
your acquaintance, Francesca" said
Mrs. Clare, after she had introduced
| the stranger; $50 ventured 70 bring
her with me-" 4
Francesca held out her soft white
hand with smile Of welcome and onG
or two gracious words. but Elfrida
merely inclined her head.
miss We're, she said abruptly, "i0
the rumor true that you are engaged
to be married to Mr.. Fiske Egertonn
Miss We're looked astonished, but she
answered in the affirmative. :
Excuse me" said Elfrida, with Q
hard. bitter laugh, s'but am an un-
sophisticated little country girl. How
many ladies is 1t allowable for. New
York gentleman to be engaged to at
| the same timer"
II do not understand you," Fran.
cesca said, growing scarlet and than
pale. .t,z
Because" added Miss Dale, Mr..
Egerton has been my afianced hus--
band for the last two monthsl"
francesca glanced involuntarily down
at the diamond glittering on her fore
finger Miss Dale saw the movement
of her eye, and drawing OF her own
glove held up slender finger circled
by plain band Of gold, where ruby
glowed like acrystalized drop Of blood.
81, too, have an engagement ring"
she said bitterly. ''Lookr'i
She drew it of, and on the under side
Miss We're could read in tiny engraven
characters: '.Fiske Egerton to Elfrida
Dale, July 4, 15-"
u can show you his letters, too. !"
added Elfrida. II brought them to the
city with me lest this ring and my ua-
aided word should scarcely prove
strong enough testimony"
at is enoughr Francesca's voice
sounded strangely hard and metallic
You need say no more"
May. interrupted Elfrids Dals.
more softly; ''it was not to break your
heart that unveiled the character Of
the man we have both been rash
enough to love, but rather to save you
from fate too terrible to contemplate
marriage to a false-hearted villainl
We are sufferers together, Miss We're;
let me take your hand in minev' y
Francesca clasped the prohered 4
palm in her owns and drawing Elfrida
Dale close to her kissed her lips. Sor.
row had indeed made them sisters.
do not GO" she said ''Stay here
yet little while"
''What are you going to doP"
81 have sent for Mr.. Egerton to come
here at once. Do you dread meeting
him?'
"Only as would dread contact With
q loathsome reptile or q deadly viper.
Love in my heart has died out, uttsrly
and entirely"
Francesca's lip quivered slightly.
You are brave. Perhaps ], too,
shall learn the lesson in time
Mrs. Glare looked ON ut the strange
scene being enacted before her, scarce
ly able to believe but that It was q
dream. Presently the servant adj
vanced noiselessly into the room, and
announced in voice hardly above his
breath:
'.Mr. Egerton!''
And Fiske Egerton followed him, Q
tall, handsome young man, with con.
ceited way Of carrying his head and .
confident air, as if quite certain Of the
of his own charms.
Francesca, my darling, you sent for
me-" he said, bending over her hand.
''Yes, / sent for your
Mr.. Egertor looked expectant
''An cid friend of yours Is visiting |
us. / wished you to meet her face 20
face"
She motioned to Elfrida to advance, |
and the next moment Mr.. Fiske Eyer |
ton Etood confronted with the girl |
whom he had so heartlessly Tilted for .
more advantageous match.
'.Elfrida Dale!" He grew pale as q
sheet of white paper. What on earth
brings you hereP' :
1.-The determination to expose youvf
Elfrida answered, calm as statue,
while slight scornful curve rested
on her upper lip. .'You
are unmasked, Fiske Egertonl Here
after, have the goodness to remember
that it is not always safe to play , dou-'
bic camel" M
francesca exclaimed Egsrton,
turning to the heiress, Is if determined /
% cling to the last straw Of hope. But
,he drew haughtily back. -
mo raore Francesca to you. Il ycu
please, Mr.. Egerton. Leave my prss-
,nce, and never let me look upon your
ACE again. "
And that was the end Of Mr.. Fisks I
Egerton's finely-woven web Of false
hood and duplicity. The heiress was
lost irretrievably and forever.
Elfrida Dale became happy once
again as the beloved and cherished
wife of Harry Morton, and in the
course Of time Francesca We're welded
q suitor far worthier Of her love than
the handsome, heartless fortune-hun-
ter; but Mr.. Fiske Egerton is still
seedy, shabby gentleman about town,
oping against hope that SONS day he
may marry rich.
Wooden sailing vessels are being
rapidly superseded by iron steam craft
for even coastwise trade In Great Brit
ain. Higher freight is considered to