The Wilmingtonian., 1885-03-14
s.Deceivinr YOU. Mr.. Wilde? Indeed I am

"stop, Miriam," the young man inter
rupted, speaking in a low measured voice,
which awed the coquette more than any
burst of ferv;d passion or over powering
rage could have doue. $50 you mean To
tell me that you have deliberately enticed
me on all these weeks, knowing that at last
you should cast me off as plaything OF
which you have grown weary? Miriam
Creswick, should scarcely have believed
this of you.
Miriam colored scarlet, and tapped her
foot Indignantly.
'It is your own fault, Mr.. Wylde."
ut was-and accept the consequences OF
it," he answered calmnly. II would rather
be myself than you, Miss Creswiok. A dis
appointed man can yet find some sweet
drops in the cup of life, but heartless flirr
can never wholly respect herself or be re-
spected by Others"
pihiaii VIZ hSl mp II W do hoJ suCn luli
after all, to be lectured after this fashion by
the man she had befooled so delightfully."-.
Nor did she regret the soft sound of Con
sCance Dale's football on the porch floor
a sign that her tete-a-tete was at an
end
'One would really think had been COM
mtting state crime - said Miss Creswick
to herself, her cheeks still flaming and her
eyes sparkling in the moonlight. Conny
may entertain him now if sine pleases-I'll
have nothing more to say to him.
And altogether it was decided relief
when Miss Miriam Creswick and her trunks
departed for Cape May.
'Has Mr.. Dalton come, aunty?" was her
first eager question, when she arrived at the
huge, swarming hotel, and began to unpack
her treasures of gauze, Grape and lustrous
silk.
This morning." Mrs. CreswiclS answer
ed, with self-satistied pride. $50 stylish
and distingue he is, too-the handsomest
man in town, think"
Miriam smiled proudly-how long ago
those moonlight evenings at the old Dale
farm seemed to her now. Poor Wylde-but
what else could he have expected? Who
can play with edged tools without incurring
the risk of cut flngers9"
"Do you suppose he'll send up his card,
aunt ?" she asked, ''or ait for less for
NAL introduction P'
But Mrs Creswick could only leave the
answer to this question for fate to de-
velop.
And it happened that Miss Creswick and
Mr.. Dalton met that very evening.
Miriam was standing in the doorway, a
fleecy cloud of white, with roses in her hair
and corsage, when suddenly the color deep
ened somewhat in her cheeks.
"Aunt," she whispered, She's here"
"Hc, child? Whom on earth do you
meanP P''
'Don't you remember ?-the parsons
nephew, out at Edgedale, that 1 told you
about?"
"Where?" asked Mrs. Creswick, putting
bar sroll o,,, ,,i,seo, 4,, l,o, ,,,o,
"There- by the door! See, he's coming
this way, he's bowing to you."
But Mrs. Creswick, without hearing hel
neice's last words, rushed forward, all
smiles and graciousness.
$50 happy to meet you Mr.. Dalton. AL
low me the pleasure of presenting you my
neice, Miss. Creswick."
And Miriam found herself involuntarilj
courtesying to-MIr. Percy Wylde,
Aunt Creswick, the only one who was en-
tirely unconscious, smiled and simpered a.
only well-seasoned dowageS can.
"And when did yon arrive from Europe
Mr.. Dalton?" she inquired.
81 did not come directly from Europe
Mrs. Creswick, " the young man answered
with slight smile. Il have been spending
the summer with relative at Edgedale."
| Mrs. Creswick stared.
SAT Edgedale! Why, Miriam has beef
there. l wonder you didn't meet her.
81 had that pleasure" said Mr.. Dalton
with slight inclination of The head.
"AIiriamr' cried Mrs. Creswick, "yo
never told me"
''Beeause she herself did not KNOW" sal
Mr.. Dalton, smiling. cat Edgewood l g
by the name of Percy Wylde, in adherenc
to fancy Of my uncle, who never loved m
fathers name or family. Aud if Miss Gre.
wick told you anything about me she shoul
have merely mentioned me as one of thos
country hearts it was her 'pastime' I
break ere she returned to town.
lie bowed and turned calmly away viii
Mrs. Creswick was still in maelstrom
perplexity.
''Mirlam, don't understand this at all,
she cried.
But Miss Creswick did. She understoc
that her own folly had lost her n rich hu