The Pascagoula democrat-star., 1885-02-20
INKz ST. JOHN.

"You are sure, Lotties There
can be no mistake, dear1T
81 am only positive about the
name, Miss st. JOhu; that is the
name. Whether or not the world
holds two Harold Vanes l cannot
say but that it holds Que, have
learned to my untold SORROW
III know, dear Lottie; but" With
gentle hesitation, 81 hope this will
not prove to be yOnr recreant lover;
| have learned to like bin 80 much,
to think him very model Of man.
hood."
"As Ibid, it lie is the same,D
Lottie Venuevah said, her Up curl
ing slightly, but Il touch OF pain
belieing its scorn aud proving that
tue pride had not yet subdued the
heart of the woman, or torn from
it her tender memories.
ale is coming to us tonight"
Miss ST. John said, after moment
of musing. "Lottie, SOU have never
mingled with my guests, never ta-
ken the place l would so gladly
give you, as my dearest friend. l
know, dear, you fancy you would
be stung hourly by coldness from
those who were once so courteous
and kind to YOU; but can you not
trust me to see that no humiliating
word or look shall meet you in my
fathers house n
A faint color toGche2 the deli
cate face of Lantie Vennevah. the
dead bankrupi's fair daughter, once
social queen, now companion to
Miss Iuez st. John, whose friend
ship had never ialteIed for the
crushed aud sorrOwing orphan.
I'll kuow,' she said quietly ; "but
| could not be taken on Sufferancr
besides, the world has panied me
enough. When my father lay dead
aud the news went abroad that the
orphan was begsar, where did
sue find friend save in yOurself2
Even the man who had protessed
to love me, although [ wrote him
of my desOlatiou, neither came to
me nor sent a comforting word !
When | left my cid life, L lett all
things-love, hope, frieudship-aDd
| had no desire save to bury myself
from the sight of those who gave
me cold glances OF careless c0mpas-
siOD. When you wrote, Offering
me the place of a daughter in your
fathers house-Oh, Inez, how can
l ever thank you for that kindness !
| replied that | would come to you,
not as "A dependent on your friend
ship, but as your paid companion,
and left no clew behind by which
old associates might trace me should
their interest 20 far enough to make
them inquire whittier / bad gone.
Dnt no, Inez, could not 20 among
your guests; frst, because I am
not one Of the favoFites Of Fortune
who flock about you secondly, be-
cause Of this, -'llfting a fold of her
black dress / mOurned deeply
for my beloved tather's death, Inez,
but OIL there was not the bitter
ness iu that which l found 10 Har-
old Vane's desertIOn I But-yes. |
will meet him tonight, l will 60
down Siih you.s
The proud, gray-eyed heIress
beDt suddenly and touched her lips
10 tie check Of her companion.
III Will c0Dfess TO you, L0ttie,'
she Whispered, s'that should this be
your recreant lover also will sui
fer, tor I Aaps learned to lore him
tOo.7
With the last low word she turn
ed aud glided from the room, leav-
iHg her companion with q startled
expression in her blue eyes and an
added pallor on her lovely face.
Lottie Venuevah and Inez St.
john bad been classmates aud 6rm
frieuds at school and in the three
years that followed their. gradua-
ton, during which tiiss bad spent
her SINNERS 1t the several fash
ionable vatering-plaoes aud her
winters In her native city, they bad |
c0rresponded regularly, but never
met, for Lottie's latber bad taken /
his young daughler for a trip across
the waters, and, % her return, had
launched her fairly uron the social |
stream OF New York's most select
and exclusive gatherings, ia which /
she .stone ike y fair human flower
until Harold Yanc had sought TO
gather her Cor his own bos0m.
he WIS the son oi one OF the /
most saccesslui bankers IN the citx;
and at the time that Lotlie's heart