The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1885-04-22
Fo1RTUNE HUNTING.

% yVQ VS GeaAlF euSdSe0 yOuTSel
TO be married, my loveP''
Eyes. Mrs. Townsend.
Francesca We're looked mp little de
family into the quiet, elderly face @
the lady who sat opposite her. Jus
niseteen. with soft hair, touched wit
sunny gold; eyes of the deepest blue
and q fair. oval face, bright with tn
velvety bloom Of early youth, she wa
the very incarna alton and embodimen
of happy maidsnhood, as she stooC
leaning against the window, her dres
Of blue cashmere sweeping the velve
carpet, and mist-like shawl of whitt
Shetland wool dropping from her shoul
ders. An orphan and an heiress, en-
dowed, moreover, with the rare gift O
beauty, it is not strange if Francesct
was liGtle spoiled, yet something very
sweet and winning in her very willful
ness.
"And to Fiske Egertonf" went OF
Mrs. Townsend, graYely.
Yes, to Fiske Egerton," Francesc'
answered, playing q little nervously
with the fringe of her shawl, while q
deeper color crept into her cheek.
my dear, you are doing very ser
ious lhingr'
Yes, ma am, know it; but it's q
way girls have of getting engaged and
marriedr' Francesca said, with an arch
glance at her mentor.
Francesca, you mustn't jest about
this matter" said Mrs. Townsend, ear
nestly. II am your mothers earliest
friend, and, as such, l feel it at once q
duty and privilege to counsel you at
this most important stage of your life.
Tell me about this fance of yours"
He is very handsome, very stylish,
very agreeable, +" said Francesca,
eagerly.
''Is he richs"
mo; but. pardon me, know what
you would say. He is no fortune-hun-
ter; he loves me for myself aloneE'
She had flushed crimson as she spoke.
Il hope You are right, my love. " said
Mrs. Townsend; ''but, to tell you the
truth, have heard less favorable ac-
counts of this young man."
Then you have listened to the false
charges of some envious enemy" in
terrupted Francesca, with sparkling
eyes; 'please do not repeat them to
me. I could not bear them calmly,
even from you, dear Mrs. Townsend,
knowing, as I do, their utter untruthG"
And good Mrs. Townsend took her
leave, pondering rather sadly to her.
self upon the impossibility Of putting
Gid lr~~>els upon ynnng shonlders while
Francesca sat down In the shadows of
the satin window-curtains to dream of
the bright future before her, and to as
sure herself, over and over again, of
her blessedness in being the recipient
of Fiske Egerton's love.
Meanwhile the last engagement up
on the tapis Of fashionable life was be-
ing discussed in the reading room Of
popular Fifth avenue club.
''Egerton engaged to marry Miss
We're! Nonsense--there's not word
of truth in itT' exclaimed Harry Nor
ton, Indignantly, as the floating on dit
reached his ears.
but tell you it is true, for I my
self saw the engagement diamond on
her finger, and Fiskc told me soP'
''Then all I have to say is that he is
q great scamp!'
II don't doubt the fact at all" +"
laughed the companion; "but, never
theIess, he has made a good thing out
Of it this season Francesca is the
richest girl out, and pretty one in the
bargainl"
As Harry Morton stood gazing out OF
the club window at the gayly-dressed
throng Of pedestrians that flowed to
and fro, like contending currents on
the pavements below, his thoughts
were far away, beneath the rose-gar-
landed eaves Of an old farmhouse, in
the golden glow Of the summer that
was gone, where dark-eyed girl was
watching the windings of the road with
feyerish impatience, watching for Fiske
Egerton's coming presence, while he.
the true lover Of years, the earnest.
deep hearted suitor, was utterly sighted
and forgotten.
"Can no have broken with my cousin
Elfridaa'' he thought; ''and so soonp
] will 20 down to Willow Hill and dis.
cover for myself!''
The western windows of the old
farmhouse at Willow Hill were all
ablaze with the dying glow of the chill
winter sunset when Harry Morton ar
rived at his uncle's house. Elfrida
was sitting by the freside, her face
paler than Of old, and an expression
almost akin to despair in the melting
black eyes. whose beauty gave a dark
Spanish beauty to her whole face.
'.Elfrida,'' be said, embracing the
first opportunity of being alone with
her, ''when have you heard from Eyer
tonP"
''Not in some time. / suppose he is
very busyi"
Every, indeed, I have no doubt.
Morton's lips curled ironically. 80
your engagement is broken of.
Broken off Never!''
Elfrida's flushed cheek grew pale as
ashes.
"You don't mean to say that he is
still your plighted loverp"
..Cartainly he isr'
'eMy poor Elfrida, do yeu not know
that be in engaged to marry the richest
heiress Of the season in New York?n
81 do not believe i'll Oh, Harry,
Harry, beware how you deceive me!h'
walled Elfrida; ''it is not true-it never
can be true. "
His engagement ring sparkles upon
her finger; he lis her constant cavalier;
It is the talk of the whole cityl Oh,
Elfrida, do not look so white and agon-
Ized----he was never worthy OF your
IoVeI'
stop a minute, Harry" said the
girl, passing her hand, in bewildered
sort Of way, across her forehead. Let
me realize what you are telling me.
Fiske Eyerton Is a villain. I am de-
serted TOR one who bears the magic
wand of wealth. And she?i'