Weston weekly leader. [volume] (Weston, Umatilla County, Or.) 1878-189?, 1885-09-25
SAVED BE CHANCE.

her, locking up into the beautiful face
with anxious, loving brown eyes.
81 cannot deny it, Dolly" she said.
Scarcely, with such proof as tear
wet lashes; but the eause-what has
happened to grieve you-you Mildred,
whose life seems all sunshine, who are
beautiful, admired, loved -"
/ "But 10 ones life can be all sunshine,
Dolly; the shadows will come. Don't
mind, dear; it is only my weakness.
"Then no one has offended you?"
"No."
"And nothing is wrong?"
'Only myself"
"Have--haye you and Roger quar-
reled:"
A panied lock crossed Mildred's fair
face. and her lips quivered; then she
rose and shook down her coils of waving
hair.
NO." she answered, in low tones.
Run away, now, dear, rm going to
dress for dinner"
'Is Roger comlng!'
She turned suddenly and faced her
younger sister; her face had grown pale,
her eyes shone like stars, her lips were
set.
"Roger is never comlng" she said.
"He is going away tomorrow, to Cali
| for,,i, Ill ~ nn11u
[ would be alene.''
Dolly went out slowly. There was
that in her sisters manner that warned
her that Roger Warren's departure had
much tc do with her sorrow and tears,
and yet she did not seem to grieve as
one does over the loss of dear friend.
There was tinge of bitterness, of
despair, in every tone, and look Oh
her face that she had never seen there
before.
"There is something beneath 1t all, -
she thought, as she returned to the
lower rooms.
Left alone, Mildred continued her pre-
parations, but her fingers moved slowly;
she paused now and then as though abb
sorbed in thought, and once a sigh fell
from her lips, and the tears sprung
again to the lovely blue eyes.
! Roger was going away-Roger, whom
she had always known and loved, and
from her his dismissal had come.
She did not think wien he told her OF
his intention that she could care SO
much.
He had never thought of losing hel
till one .fated day there came to the
, village mail with the dark beauty OF
a corsair, the grace and fascination of !,
Leicester, and fancy that was attract.
ed by Mildred Shaw's beauty which
held him, for the time. captive.
He WAS Guy Proctor, guest at the
heme Of Judge Leonard, and Roger
rival, in truth; for Mildred, whose fatl
had never swerved before. found {;
pleasure in the strangers presence thai
was irresistible.
Out Of this mutual fancy had COME
Roger Warren's misery, and now tht
emu had come.
They had parted forever, and he wal
going away, leaving the field clear TO
his more favored rival, and surrender
ing quest that he deemed hopeless.
Il will miss him for while, ant
then things will 60 On the same as ever,
; thought Mildred, as she secured he
lace fchu with coral brooch, and drew
il spray OF lilies through. 81 am sorr,
for Roger, but he will forget, and it
for the best. Once thought shoul
be his wife, but now it is impossible
simply that"
She met the gaze of her own Czur
eyes in the mirror, and hlushed at tn
thought that she read in their depths.
MS Then with last survey at refet
ton in which the sternest critic coul
detect no flaw, she gathered up her lila
draperies and descended to the dininy
room.
Dolly looked at her in mute wonde
That fair, calm face with smiling lll
ana brilliant eyes seemed scarcely lik
the tcar-staihed features she had see
but an hour previous. Perhaps it w;
nothing serious, after all.
The Shaws were not wealthy. II
death of the head of the family had lie
them with their cottage home and
small income, which, with the close
economy, covered their needs; and no
and then Mrs. Shaw would accept
:, light task from her neighbors, glad
the opportunity to add few dollars
their scanty board.
She came to her elder daughter VIII
the morning meal was over and laid
hand on her shoulder.
"Will you take Adelaide Leonar,
cloak home, dear? Dolly must tini
the ironing, and am very tired. S
wants it tonight
cd Mildred hesitated. The erran1 "
distasteful to her, but her generous
ture overcame her scruples.
eyes, mother, I'll take it," she sa
"Fold it up in close, neat parcel, d
I'll get my wraps"
Mrs. Shaw shook out the finish
C: garment with its delicate rose-silll
ings and fringe Of creamy tint, and |
it carefully between the fslds of tiss
paper.
Fifteen minutes later Mildred was
her way to the Leonard mansion.
She was ushered into the little ar
room adjoining the parlor. 1t was fl
gone with the shadows of twilight. and
drsd, sitting there alone, grew i'm
r, .ient at the delay.