The Washington critic., 1886-01-23
BETTER THAN WEALTH.


strips of dainty rufiling which came
from under the magic needle, hcmmed
and gathered and ready for use.
The curly head bending over the
busy machine dropped triflc, and the
large dark eyes were pathetic with
fatigue, for May Warner had been
hard at work all day and was nearly
exhausted.
ooh dear" she sighed, in patient,
weary tone. eff only | could ever be
done. | am so tiredl But never
mind" and more hopeful expression
stole into the weary eyes, II am very
glad TO be able to work"
The outer door was thrown open and
then closed with bang; there fol-
lowed the sound of footsteps, and
young girl rushed into the room. She
tossed a pile of books upon tho table,
her hat and gloves followed suit; and
she paused with sparkling eyes aud
rose flushed chccks--a pretty picture
was Nell Warner
"Still at work, May?" she qucried.
II know you're awfully tired, and so
am /. School teaching Is just too-too
-" she hesitated. Carleton Place is
open, | see," she added abruptly.
Mays face flushed, and the little
hand which directed the sewing ma
| chine tremblcd visibly.
81 was told so" she remarked.
"May," said Nell impetuously,
"when | think how shamefully Lewis
Carleton has treated you, / feel like
doing some desperate deed. How dare
hPf Vttgt hnnn,tgn Il ~
one but old Aunt Charlotte to protect
us, he dares to treat you in that heart
less manner. To go to Europe and re-
main two years without word to you;
then return to Carleton Place when he
knows that our little home, all we pos.
sess in the wide world, adjoins his
splendid and magnificent home, the
family residence of the aristocratic
Carletons. May, / detest them all, es-
| pecially his purse-proud sister, Clara.
We must try and rent our house, and
find new quarters ourselves"
You are right, Nell" returned May
| quietly; 81 could not bear to, perhaps,
see him after all that has occurred.
And / am told" she paused moment
and then went on firmly; Aunt Char
le.te tells me to-day-she has heard it
somewhere, that Mr.. Carleton will
bring wife home with him."
"The wretch" calculated Nell, pas
sionately; land years ago you were his
promised wife! Oh, May, if only we
had been rich, Lewis Carleton would
not have dared to trifle with you in
this shameful fashion. | would give
anything to be rich, even for little
time. Money is the lever that moves
the world
May smiled sadly.
ooh, no, dear" she returned gravely.
money is good thing to possess, but
not the best thing in the world by any
means. would not barter q peaceful
conscience for all the wealth of the
Carletonsv'
"Conscience!'' retorted Nell, spite
fully; "you do not imagine that Lewis
Carleton has any conscience do you?
dcspise him beyond expression.
The sewing machine stood near an
open window. Just outside was a tall
hedge of Cherokee roses, which divided
the small domain of the Warmers from
the elegant estate adjoining known as
Carleton Place
AS Nell uttered these words, tall
figure on the other side of the hedge
arose from low seat, Il handsome,
dark. eyed man. He tossed away the
cigar which he had just lighted, and
as the two sisters glanced up simmul.
taneously, he removed his hat and
bowed cowteously. Mays face was as
marble.
"Thanks, very much, for your COM
pliment, Miss Nell,'' observed Lewis
Carlton, in slow, languid tone, and
then turning he walked away.
May faced her sister with reproach-
full eyes.
Nell" she calculated, "what have
you done?'
mo matter" returned Nell, def.
antly, 81 am glad he knows my opin-
ion of him, at least. May, forgive me,
/ wouldn't pain you, but can see how
you have altered, how pale and thin
you have been growing all these
months, and you are all have in the
world, my only sister. May, if were
you, / would cast every thought of that
man from my heart. l would despisC
him-forget him"
II cannot do that, Nell" returned q
her sister, firmly; "he is too dear to
me. And, although he has ceased to
| care lOI Iut, uliNi liuo SiNSi hiO up, Nl
his sister Clara assured me, yet II
can never change. So, Nell dear, VIZ
had better not speak of him at all II
future, since you and disagree on Tho
subject
May arose quietly as she finished
speaking, closed the window, put away
her work, and began to set the table fol
tea.
The man on the other side of til,
hedge had paused within hearing dis
tance, and although the sister hat
spoken in very low tones, every wore
had been distinctly audible to his ears
His face grew very pale, and there wa
an amazed look in his eyes,
81 wonder" he calculated, "if ClarI
told me the real truth, She declared
that May Warner was going to marry
old Hudson for his money. She sait
that May was very ambitious, and llud
sons fortune was greater than ours, al
though since that time the cases hav,
been reversed. She said that Ma,
would marry the richer of the two. Th
choice lay between Hudson and myself
she had chosen him, and was willing t
sacrifice her youth and beauty on th
: altar of mammon. And yet the word
.. that just overheard do not prove sucl
,, thing. Have | been mistaken
have loved her so dearly all the time.
That very evening found him at tn
Warner cottage, and there he founI
May alone. He came and sat down a
her side.
, May" he said, softly, II was toll
!, that You were going to marry Mr., Hud
+ son 1t Is not true, is it?'
, She gazed at him with wide ope
eyes OF wonder,
lyon ought to know that woul