Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1885-04-04
MAY MoRELAND.
CHAPTER ".
BY NJ. A. RIED.

came up with her and asked permits
sion to accompany her in her ride.
With an assumed air of pleasure she
granted the request, and in a few
moments they reached the woodland
cottage.
When they alighted at the gate,
May paused and said candidly:
"This family lives very retired, Mr..
Weston, and perhaps they would not
like visit from stranger. You can
wait here little while; shall not be
gone long"
He bowed assent, and she entered
the house. Bernard was much better,
Elsie said, he had walked out to the
spring.
AS May and Elsie come out Of the
house they saw Bernard conversing
with the stranger. May introduced
the parties and they fingered while
at the gate, Sidney Weston expressed
unbounded admiration for the cottage,
with its picturesque surroundings, and
played the agreeable so well that Ber-
nard asked him to call again. Then
they mounted their horses and rode
away, Weston was in gay spirits,
May apparently so. They rode slowly
along talking lightly, when Weston
said something suddenly: "Miss
Moreland do you know you are per
feet study to me?"
81 don't see Why" she answered,
"tfere is nothing mysterious about me
hope,
NO." said he nothing mysterious
and yet you are puzzle. Most ladies
of your beauty and intellect would be
a belle, but you have the advantage
of other ladies your mind is compre'
hensive and.you are not dependent
upon social pleasure for happiness"
Weston thought this sugared com
nliment was administered with gooC
effect, as he saw May turn away hel
face; but could he have seen the smile
of contempt which crowned her PROUD
lips at that moment, he would have
said no more, yet taking that actor
for an attempt to hide the love he wai
sure she felt, he poured out torrent
of passionate words and told her Of hi
love. William tho he was, he did love
this woman and with the full strength
of his nature; and he waited expectan
for her to speak.
She rode on, silent, for some time
then she looked up at him, her grea
black eyes shining with a light HI
could not understand, and asked time
to think of what he had said.
This angered and surprised him bu
he could do nothing but submit, anC
in silence they rode on home.
Weston called frequently at the cot
tage afte; that day. Bernard likeC
him and he protested great regarc
forth artist. He employed Bernard
to paint him life sized portrait of
miniature which he had. 1t was
ladv's miniature, Weston said his sis
ter's. The face was one of unusua
beauty; a Grecian cast Of features
great soft blue eyes, under whose lon!
silken lashes, lovelights seemed Stun
boring in blissful innocence. Ma,
saw this portrait only once, then b.
chance, as she came in one day befor
her usual time. Only for an instan
did her eyes rest upon it, for Bernard
threw covering over it saying:
''This is the only secret | possess
May, and it is no secret Of mine.
am in honor bound not to show this
or tell any one for whom it is painted.
May was little surprised at this
she felt sure that the picture was 70
Weston. Why, thought she, shout
he wish to conceal it? Instinctivel
she felt that she bad found link j
the chain of this mans life. She kne,
not what it might lead to, she woul
watch and wait.
One morning Weston announced HI
intention of spending the day huntin
in the country. He had not bee
gone long when Clifton called. Ma
told him all that had occurred. sine
their last meeting.