Daily Republican., 1885-09-11

such child. She Is fond OF Lewis
too, In her kittenish way, and, OF
course, never dreamed that she was
snacting the role Of an innocent little
And then she smiled, as she remem-
bered the parting glance and pressure
of the hand, which eloquently said that
the interrupted proposal would be re-
newed at the earliest possible opportu.
nifty.
BY and by she went down again to
the parlor, and was somewhat surprised
to find Pearl sitting there, her elbow
resting on her knee, and her dimpled
chin In her hand, with the most thought.
full and serious look on her pretty face
that Ida had ever seen there,
What's the matter, Pearl 2" she
wonderingly inquired. 81 never saw
you look 30 solemn"
Pearl gave . slight start and glanced
up, and then the sight of her cousin
seemed to increase the trouble, what.
ever II Was.
Ida repeated her question rather anx.
iously.
"Oh, do wish you wouldn't ask
me, Ida Indeed, indeed, i wish you
wouldn't" she burst out, half-sobbingly,
AZ her bright Lead dropped lower.
I'm afraid you'll hate me II 1 tell
you."
Pearl. you know will not. What
can you mean, child LIS itsome secret
trouble Of your own 2"
"N-no," sobbed the little hypOorite.
cts about-about you and-and Lewis
Carleton"
IdA's dark face suddenly paled to the
very lips,
Lewis Carleton % she echoed faint
| ly. Then, checking the weakness which
had all at once came over her by strong
effort she said In n tone Of quite com
mand: Tell me what you mean this
instant, Pearl. You knew l will not b.
angry with you, dear"
Then after much hesitation and OK
acting, child like, many promises from
Ida that she would forgive her, that che
would never tell Lewis, ETC., she con.
tinued
1 couldn't help seeing that you
you cared for him, Ida, when l came In
here this morning, and l felt as If
could hate him for trying to deceive my
dear, dear cousin, after what-what l
heard at the party last night"
go on" commanded Ida, after
| waiting o moment for Pearl to GET
| through sobbing. And her face, which
had flushed crimson at the beginning OF
the above speech, grew white again
W hat did you hear at the party ?"
| "I-I was in the conservatory" re-
sumed Pearl, "~hen he and-and Mrs
Carter-the little widow, you know
came In, and they didn't see me. HI
WAS telling her that he lo-loved SOM
girl didn't hear her name, but sh'
was poor, and and he couldn't MARI.
her, not for-for . long time anyway
And the the widow said thai
every body thought he was in love will
you and then, oh, Ida he laughed
and said no, but he had a purpose II
view and besides, everybody calie'
you proud girl. aud be wanted to sc
liz he couldn't humble your pride
There, just think Of that -
And as the broken, hesisating stor
came to AN end Pearl raised her head
with fash in her blue eyes which he
cousin entirely mistook.
"So-he-said-that ?" she slowl.
calculated, with sCch frozen look o
/: her beautiful dark face that the littl
fraud was actually frightened.
"You said you wouldn't be angry |!
isho cried impetuously, land now yo
are. Oh, wish hadn't told you !"
"No. l thank you for telling me thiI
Pearl. 1t will enable me to preserv
my self-respect Mt least"
And she rose abruptly and went
her room, where she gave way to u
b ,tterest thoughts against the man X
!, whom, q few short hours before, sh
had 80 nearly confessed the tenders
, love.
After that day abe saw very little
o him. They met in society, but an IN
;. visible wall seemed suddenly to hay
! arisen between them.
He was very nearly as proud M
= distant as herself, which fact she q
. tributed to guilty conscience.
HE knows he deserves my scorn,
, she thought. "He must divine that
4. have in some way heard of his bss
~ ness, aud 30 he guilty avoids me-
But what was her surprise, son
,, months later, when fearl came to h
y and, with many tears and bushes, !
y formed her that she had promised to
20 Lewis Carleton's wife.
y Why, this is very strange, Pearl
!, she said slowly, and with her dar
n truthful eyes full of wender. " Aft
70 knowing his dishonorable conduct
= ward myself and-and telling me vi
a your own lips how you despised him
;, al know 1t, Ida, darling" she
70 claimed, penitently, kneeling down a
hiding her flushed face In her cousli
lap. did hate him then, but-wh
found was the girl he had loved
e, the time, and when he said that
I, couldn't give me up In spite of
st poverty, although he had once thouf
m he could, why-why, I couldn't ht
RI saying yes. you know. You are
angry, Ida?"
n mo, have it as you WILL" was
n quiot answer.
re And so the wedding preparations
q, gan.
," "You must forgive my occasion
le lack of devotion, Pearl. You can
er give it the more easily, knowing b
y | once loved Ida, and that such Il
H. cannot change In an hour, despite
Ill uuworthiuess of Its object. But how
1t that she and Wardlaw are not IN;
i'd ried yet? You said that day." a
n, Lewis Carleton 8 strong, clear vo
sh trembled little over those two wor
ul " that you knew she intend cd to maj
him, or l should"
ng "Should not have transferred "
20, affections to me-" finished Pearl, h
ne sarcastically, as he checked himst
he True but there has been some II
lal Understanding lovers quarrel, 5
ne know-which will soon bs made ,
to however, for know Ida Is very fond
gle him." she added, glancing nervon
about
or For, although Pearl had seen
Ich cousin start out for long ramble
ow fifteen minutes ago, and therefore
mt no cause to dread detection, yet she
ways felt nervous and uneasy whene