The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1886-08-26
MUCH HEART BREAKING.


MUCH HEART BREAKING.
Miss Vaudeville? OF course know
Miss Vaudeville, said Florian Fonten-
Ell. There were two sisters of 'em
weren't there? One = radiant blonde
with such a profusion Of magnificently
FURNISHED hair, that they called her
The Princess with the Golden Locks!'
the other, little brunette, with
black braids coiled at the back Of her
head, and solemn eyes that looked you
through. oh, yes. | remember them
very well. They were great bellies in
Boston-was it the winter before last,
or the winter before that? And every
body wondered that they didn't return
last season. So they live here, do they?
Well, upon my word, this is quite an
agreeable discovery. ! must make it
my business to 60 and call directly. for
do you know, Ariadne, was. just the
least little Bit hit by the brunette with
the great, grave. questioning eyes,
Mrs. Major FoHtenel shook cloud
Of fragrance from the satin folds Of her
fan, and moved her head little dis
dainfully. Flattering as these brother
ly condolences might be, their spirit
was not exactly IN unison with the still
tenderer relations which she would
have preferred. She had been Wild
ow for ten years now, and in her own
op MON was no less beautiful than when
she had first stood at the altar. And,
after all, what did it matter that she
was five or six years older than her
cousin Florian? He suited her. And
she had invited him to Fontenel Plains
to fall in love with her, not to maunder
about his old fancies.
YES" said she, coldly, 4 heard
something of their once being in society.
But it didn't last long. Old Mande-
vile, their grandfather, had got involy-
Cd in speculations, and when he shot
himself it was no more than people
expected.
"And how do they support them
selves?'
''Oh. don't know. suppose they
60 out governessing. or take in sew
ing or do something. Somehow people
always do get provided for in this
world.
''Then you don't visit them?'
Mrs. Fontcnel lifted her brows.
''Quite impossible, she said. They
were selling bouquets out of the green
houses until the place was foreclosed.
Fancy selling bouquets out Of ones own
greenhouses for living! And Cassie
has gone nowhere to learn steno-
graphy, and Kate goes around in
calico dresses, exactly like q servant
girl
Florian smiled to himself.
.'She is better posted rs to these two
girls than she is willing TO admit,
thought he.
Aud the next morning he walked
over the old stone bridge, and out
across the fields to the old house which
Leonidas Vaudeville had died in.
The upper blinds were all as care
fully closed and bolted as if the old
mans corpse still lay in the echoing
rooms; but the basement windows
were thrown open to admit the fresh
October air, and q round, dark face.
brilliant as that of Spanish Senorita,
appeared at the door, to answer his
knock.
lis it the man for the ounce jelly"
said she. 1t is not ready yet. | told
you to come this evening"
Il am very fond of ounce jclly?"
said Florian Fontenel, gIayely, '.but |
fear am not the excellent individual
whom you are expecting. Don't you
remember me, Miss Kate?''
1T is Mr.. Fontenel," said Kate
Vaudeville, the crimson color mount
ing to her cheek.
Exactly" said Florian. MAY Mr..
FOntenel come IMP
Miss Vaudeville hesitated q second.
then opened the door with composed
smile.
"Yes, walk in" said she, land see
how industrious l am. lam working
woman now. do up preserves, pick
les, canned fruit and jellies. 1t isn't
such unpleasant work, except when the
weather is warm, and am very liber-
ally paid for it. Cassie is worker,
too. She is q member of steno-
graphic class, and is to get twelve dol
4 10 a vrhnv ho oAppotoc -
Kate had spoken all these sentences
with careless grace, which would
lead an Indifferent auditor to infer that
it was all matter of course. But
Florian Fontenel knew her well enough
to read the true kew to her nature. He
understood how painful it was for her
thus tacitly to acknowledge the blight
which had passed over her fortunes
since last they met.
II see" he said quietly, '.things are
changed, Miss Vaudeville, since Igave
you that sprig of sweet verbena in Mrs.
Lyttell's conservatory that winter
night. You were belle then-the star
of the evening. People spoke OF you
as the beautiful Miss Vaudeville.
Ibid they p
/ Auu COAU Ay oCus 1AOAAaA 0AOCAs
that it was useless to hope to win the
love of one 50 courted and fattered.
That had no sort of chance. That it
was best for me to withdraw from the
lists before had got my poor wings.
NORTHEASTERN, hopelessly SCARED and
scanned"
lO.l'hat was so like man" said Kate,
with rising color. '.You constituted
your self judge, jury and executioner
all in one. Will you be good enough
to step little aside? have to pack
these glasses carefully into box, and
-"
Pardon me-" said Fontenel, with.
out stirring the tenth part OF an inch.
Just q minute more. Well, ] left
Boston, and went abroad. The next
winter, when I returned, other stars
were shining upon the fashionable
horizon. My planet was gone. | am
Il hvy nd r.