Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1886-08-19

down the beach; but her mind anC
heart were too full of excited thought
to permit her to read, or even to notice
the lovely scene which the sunset was
painting on the Still surface of the sea.
Calmly as she had borne it, that
subtle, barbcd thrust of Mrs. Harding S
had gone straight to its mark. 1t had
stung her to the very soul. 1t came
home TO her now for the first time,
with thrill of bitter shame, how COM
pletely Hugh Mansfield had realized
her perfect ideal of manhood and how
often his image had, of late been a
part of her sweetest day dreams.
= Several times, in the first two or
three weeks following their arrival,
they had met by chance-once during
enc of Leslie's early morning strolls,
when the dew was yet glistening in the
hearts of the wild flowers she was
gathering and the wood was ringing
with the trills of II thousand fluttcring.
silver throated birds.
The young mans quick. firm step, as
he came striding down the woodland
path, switching the dew off the grass
with his light cane as he walked, start
led her so that she let fall the hatful of
sweet June roses she had gathered, and
they lay scattered on the dewy grass
directly in his path.
With graceful apology he stopped
and assisted her in gathering up her
fallen treasures; then, when he had
seen the last vclvety pink blossom safe
ly replaced in the wide trimmed straw
hat, he had gone on his way with her
few modest words of thanks, uttered in
voice marvelously low and sweet,
lingering pleasantly in his ears.
Leslie did not dream what a lovely
picture she had made that morning in
the eyes of the young millionaire
standing there in the tender light that
was still half shadow under the leafy
boughs, her soft white gown prettilv
defining 1.-the and graceful form, the
bare head crowned with rich coils of
tawny hair that waved in silky rings
over broad white forehead, and the
wide straw hat, with its iluttering pale
pink ribbons, filled TO the very brm
with bluShing. dew wet roses.
Nor did she know that he had secretly
carried one of those same roses away
with him as souvenir of his meet
ing with the lovely wood-nymph, as he
called her in his thoughts.
Later, only few-days ago had come
a formal introduction given by Mrs.
Harding, and most reluctantly, as Les
lie clearly OWNED by the cold, hard
glitter in the widows black eyes and
the Slight, but scornful, emphasis with
which she uttered the explanatory
words my companion" carefully adj
dcd after Leslie name.
An amused smile was Hugh Mans
fields only recognition of the little
trick, and there was q light in his hand
some dark eyes as he took her hand
that made Lcslie's heart unconsciously
beat quicker.
After that, in proud, graceful little
way all her own, she quietly avoided
him. With all her dreams-and Les
lie was something of 4 dreamcr-she
was not romantic or simple minded
enough to fancy that he, the lonized
millionaire, would think seriously of
a girl in her position, and she was far
too pure and proud to permit any at
tcntiOns from such as lie that might be
lightly misconstrued.
And now, pacing the shingly beach,
she knew, at last, that another feel
ing, stronger and deeper than pride
alone, urged her to fly from his pres
Cnce.
If could only leave here" she
was saying to herself. with a kind of
passionate rebellion against her fate.
IF could only be free from the pain
of seeing him, and-and knowing that
he belongs to a different world from
mine! If l need never again bear
that woman's petty stings and slurs.
But, there!' checking her wild fever
ish longings with grim little smile
of recollection, "what am saying?
must earn my daily bread, and Lou
Harding, with all her mean little
tyrannies, gives me the chance to do
that. No, no; must stay on and con-
tinuc to bear it. Where else could l
go?-what could do?
What pleasure to see you at last
Miss Weir" broke in a cherry mascu-
line voice upon her excited revere.
And, turning, she was face to face
with Hugh Mansfield, who extended
his hand with a frank, glad smile that
lit up his dark face most winningly.
What must one do" he went on, in
tone half TESTING, half serious, ito OBJ
tain an occasional audience of your
majesty? l will do anything-only tell
me. Do you know" quite earnestly,
'that you have not allowed me the
chance to speak one word with you in
three whole days?"
Indeed! How you must have suf-
fered!" she retorted, lightly, her care
less tones just tingcd with irony, and
she hastily withdrew the hand she had
permitted to merely touch his for an in
slant But / am not in society, you
know she added, fearful that he
might guess the real truth, land have
duties which keep me quite busily oc-
cupied. Even now" she added, glanc-
ing toward the widows cottage, Il
must be going. Mrs. Harding-''
What! you don't mean to say YOU
are going the moment / am so fortu-
nate as to find you?" he interrupted,
with rueful countenance. indeed.
III must" she retortcd lightly, as she
moved away. Then. glancing back
indiifcrently, she added, with a careless
smile and nod, Good evening, Mr..
Mansfield -