The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1885-08-27

her red lips and dazzling smile, her
smooth throat of creamy olive clasp
ed by diamonds scarcely brighter
than her eyes, rose up before him,
but he tried to Danish even her
name from his memory.
The night wore on. Blanche'S
''little while" grew longer, and
when she rode home, pale and tired,
she was Allen Westlock' 5 promised
wife. The engagement was an
nounced, and society was taken by
surprise, but the wedding day was
fixed, and there was no mistake
about it.
Two weeks before the wedding
Charley LEONARD sat in his office
resting his grave face in his hands,
when a lady, heavily yelled, came
in.
"YOu are Mr.. Leonard, Mr.. West
locks friend, l thinkP' she said, in
voice that sounded familiar.
II used to count myself so, but
-
Not noticing his bitterness OF
tone, she went on
"Then you will obiige me. am
friend of Mr.. Westlock's too, and,
in view of his approaching marriage
| wish to make a settlement in his
favor. For reasons of my own L do
not wish him to know to whom he
is indebted. Here are two thousand
pound bonds"
1.-TWO thousand pounds! Are you
in earnest, MADAME
Here are the bonds" she said,
holding them out in an ungloved
hand.
AS Charley took them he caught
the flash of a fine rose diamond, and
Immediately recognized the fair
owner.
"Miss Lind! Is it possible?'
She drew back with start, but
Strengthened up proudly the next
moment and raised her veil.
"Yes, it IS IT, she said with dig
nifty. "Have l not tie right to give
him this money if 1 wlsh?''
'But, Miss Lind, have you
thought"
Thought! Have 1 thought of
anything else for two weeks? The
money is for Allen. Give it to him,
but promise me you will not tell
him it"
''Do not excite yourself so, Miss
Lind. You are i'll, you"
Promise me you will not tell
him." she cried, frantically.
mo, no, certainly not"
Her passion subdued in a mo-
ment.
"There is only one more thing 1
have to ask of you," she said. ''For-
get this visit. Let it be as if it had
never been"
'If you wish it,
He had barely uttered the words
when she was gone.
Il was wrong" he muttered.
"She did love him after all. 1t was
Allen who was trifiing with her."
That evening, for the first time In
months, he went to see Allen.
"Where have you been hiding
YOURSELF" cried his friend, holding
out a hand, which Charley ignored.
81 cannot shake hands with you,
Allen, till Lam sure you are not the
knave 1 have been led to suppose
pou are"
''How?"
''Why did you lie to me about |
Miss Lind? You told me you in
tended to ask her to marry you"
A change came over Aliens face |
and for a moment he looked sadly |
at his friend.
Charley, wouldn't say this to
any one but you. L am wretched.
l love Nora Lind with my whole
soul, but have found out that she
is utterly unworthy of me. You
told me so, but"
Il was blind, insane, irresponsi-
bic. She is the noblest woman 1 !
know. You love her and she loves
you"
''Impossibler'
81 tell you it is true
eff it were true, what then? For
n two days 1 shall marry Miss
Merle"
mo, you will not. You shall not
wreck the happiness Of four lives at
once. There is yet time, Allen.
Retreat! You must-you shall!
Blanche was to have been my wife,
not yours! 1t is 1 whom she loves,
not you"
"You, Charley? Was it she who
-
Eyes, it was she! How dared
you attempt to steal her from me?'
Aliens face whitened.
"Why did you not tell me be-
'ore?" he cried. "Do not stand
here railing at me! 1 will go to
Blanche at once"
mot without me-"
''You may come"
They both presented themselves
at Miss Merle's an hour later, but
Allen asked to see her alone and
was shown up stairs to the sitting
room. AS he entered he started
back, for in the centre Of the room
stood Miss Lind.
0OOo-OJs Ol0hShO, ohO was soy
ms. 81 shall rot be at the wedding.
But 1 wish you every joy"
"Stay MISS Lind. 1 have some
thing to say to you" Allen cried.
"Mr. Westlockr' she stammered,
while every vestige of color left her
lovely face, and Blanche regarded
both in mute surprise.
'Miss Merle" Allen went on alb
ruptly, II have known ever since
you promised to be my wife that !
had no hold whatever upon your
Heart. To-day 1 have heard what
leads me to suppose that you enter
ed into your engagement with me
in a moment of pique. Is it true2'
Blanche sank into a chair and |
covered her face with her hands.
At the same moment Charley LIE
onard confronted her with a white |
and desperate face.
"Tell him the truth before it is
too late" he said hoarsely. "You