New-York tribune., 1886-11-07

had no business to leave my money OF amonl
Tom, Dick and Harry. | ought to be ashamed Of
myself, and very well knew it. FoullSc had
written him from Paris that | had made you one
of my heirs and French ragamulhn OF an artL1
the other II was scandalous that my husband
fortune should not be left i'll the family-or al
least a good half OF it. Foukc would know how
10 save it, invest it, put il TO good uses Foulkt
was not only Dorian but a splendid fellow be
sides I was doing an outrageous thing, and Inc
felt it to be a shame that the law could not reach
me. And while he said that Otho, he lifted hi:
me one Of those yellow hands that had already
amassed millions.
sSuch behavior, said to Mrs Dorian as she
paused, has a flavor of insanity 1t can only be
condoned on that ground, truly y
All exclaimed my Guardian, Guardian, 1T was hor
rible, and yet it was superb That lean sada' cr
gown and with one foot in the grave, produced
upon me an impression which positively treasIrc
lie is no longer a man he is passion, an appetite
"Ic il still a father I said.
"Ony because his son is a part OF him. II
is the sg%% % of 1eny hat at Tdne IN % Viii na
tinue the clutch upon those millions when his
own yellow hand IL unnervcd by death; that is
interesting. lie should be painted or written
about | should like Casimir to see him Cas-,
imr, am sure. could make something grand ana
The winter had nearly come to a close when
/ asked Mrs Dorian If it would be possible for
her 10 obtain some definite tidlnes regarding the
that soon gave place TO sympathetic pity. She
understood me, and promised so readily TO use
every means in her power that l regretted not
IN, Ing sooner eneaged her kindly services But
Otho,' she presently asked. have you seen no
face while here that could make you forget Col
oncl Gramerceys daughterP Are you hopelessy
rammited 10 that one memory. mon cher?"
"Hopelessly, ] answered There was break
in my voice as ! spoke the single word. And
then I told her as much as a man cares to tell
on so delicate a subject. though strangely enough
il was one which now often discussed with Cas-
imir But in many ways Caslmir had become
almost my second self Not even the devoted
friend to whom | then ap called could rank her
influence and intimacy beside his l had grown
to lean upon his love like staff, and TO expect
his loyalty and allegiance as if they were the very
warmth and light of the sunshine.
In another fortnight Mrs Dorian brought me
news that was like sudden grcvous blow. She
had sought out a relative OF Colonel Gramercey's
an old and widely trusted New-York banking
house had wrought s'rious disaster TO his fortune.
1t might be absolute ruin there was no no tellin; as
yet The affairs of D. & Co. were still in state
of utter turmoil Their name had stood among
the very highest and their credit was deemed un-
assailable Others beside Colonel Gramercey were
lapse but il was believed that he, Of all who
trusted them, had sustained the severest losses.
"No doubt they will now soon return | said
to MIS-. Dorian And then | added, with touch
Of bitterness hard TO restrain Perhaps this
event will force her maIria!e with your nephew
we may hear. in little while. that she is coming
back as Mrs. Foulke Dorian"
"Otho." answered my guardian. looking at me
very. intently, ""1will such event break your
heart. mon ami p
/ laughed "IIearts do not break so easily"
replied "What FIcnchman was it who said
that the heart Is muscle, and consequently
tough P"
BY the middle Of March I learned that they
were home again And then. but few days
afterward, tidings reached me that the Colonel
his life was desraire1 of. The story ran that
being in unsound health when the failure of D
& Co occurred, the effects of this intelligence had
at once found out his dwelling and presented
myself there in person 1t was little after
in the evening. The servant to whom | gave
could see no one whatever. Her father waa pro
nounced better but still she rarely quilted his
chamber left my card and o,1 dSpaed MtS had ro
at in. AMI with some Of those raw. rainy gusts
which make her lraises for mildness most III
fot6 in 70 n;on 'G nr Wsdison Soarcs below skies of
tender color and in brcczcs Of elastic freshness.
Spring, that gives its dceper thrill TO so many old
SORROWS. brought 10 my longing a STRONGER thrOb
1t fortunate that no imperative task now
claimed me. for the constant recollection that she
vas near and in sad trouble scarcely ever passed
from my thoughts. ! had written her score of
letters and destroyed them all without sending.
My moods Of humility were fitful; and rapidly
iSSwed by these Of accTsaiio4 and r%Gpr9aGh %
been unfairly dealt with Nitallzed the latter Even
amid her dist he aneG she mi. might +, have haze
by a sinoie line. Still have no doubt that these
from who held HOMAGE as my
iohtful due on every side would not have pre-
vailed with me but for the unccasnE goad ana
hurt Of what | believed TO bc Foulle lDorians
continued suit Not more than week after the
arrival Of the French steamer which had brought
Colonel Gramcrccy and his daughter TO these
shores | had seen Dcrian's name announced in a
newspaper as among the nascn2ers OF an intliSh
and most awIwarlly met. | went 10 a certain |
ecel ton. civ en- at what would here be Gale the
Tag end Of the season and reached the house
somewhat late. As ! entered the dicssng-rOOm |
'or gentlemen with it's lOunge belstcad chairs |
md floor thcl<ly ovclspread by bundled coats | |
1erceiy ed that mae figure stood before one 81 the
mirrors. His full-cnet tn view waS reflected be- !
ore me as | crossed the threshold he wan Ian
yuidly drawins on his gloves he looked thorough !
y the man Of fasl ion. the eegant idler and 1t |
occurred to me while drew closer that he might !
,e an acquaintance whom | had met durin, the |
winter gayetics Then, in few secon IS after, | |
iiscened his face, face the e, mirror Showed it me it
| had time tO rcpTcSs all signs OF discomfort be-
ore he turned lie presently did tmn. and at
nee, while remo' ing my wraps saw him start.
tand as if dsmayed for an instant AMI then |
walk away. Soon afterward he passed out into
he hall.
Later saw him again in the thronged drawing
ooms below stairs How he must loathe me-
thought as | detected his dull gaze more than
nce slipning coyelty from my face 1t Il must must
an feel If she had seen me lay that lash over
lis smooth dccorous face. | wonder whether she
would have no scoln for him to-day
OF course a man reared as lie had been. with
he custom of cOmmani anon. srvants, so-caUed
Interiors, with the INDULGENCE and precedence
asily secured by liberal wealth, must have
srthed in spirit under the disgrace of stripes like
hose had gwen him. 1t could not be other
wise and vet did not his non resistance Of the
rus ling disgrace affirm tempeIament unmanly
cspicable with blood that was ichor AMI a
raven, bastard heart? ! might be prepared for
ONE mean re enge from him-a blow in the dark,
stab in the back. Not only the way he had
aiken my punishment but the insult by which
G had called il forth should both forewan me.
You spoke of living quietly this sumemr
tho" said Mis- Dorian TO me. a few DAYS later.
Shall the affairs of the estate be sufficiently
titled for you TO leave New-iork all through the
ummer p'
Z" fear not" my reply. "I shall have to
ist town at least once or twice each week
My guardian appeared to muse. Her face be-
Iayed no SIN of the subtle little plan that she
,a, hiding from me, cid the faintest sus-
icion of il for long time aftcrward enter my