The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1886-07-15

I..Beautiful May" she said; Heaven
help me that | may not envy her hap
pineSs." .
For two DAYS Leoline was busy and
did not go out at all, but on the third.
which was her birthday, she and Flor
ence went for a stroll. Florence was in
the best of humor and talked inces-
sanity of her approaching marriage.
telling about the dresses she would
have, the diamonds she would wear,
etc. At first Leoline listened and tried
to be interested, but. try as she would,
she could not forget DR.. Deane. His
face seemed ever before her and the
more She tried to crush her love. the
stronger that love became and wider
grew the gulf between them. Flor
ence chartered on, wholly unconscious
that her sister was not listening. cit
is a mystery to me how Mr.. Way ever
fell IN love with me. 1 always knew L
was not born to work, but 1 did not ex-
pect to get out of it so How the
girls will envy me when l become Mrs.
Theodore Way, and how May Leslie
will stare. Say, Sis, you are twenty
years old to-day, and 1 must look after
you or you will be an old maid. Wait
till I'm married and see if l don't find
a rich husband for YOU"
The two girls were returning home
when Florence thought of a letter she
had forgotten to mail. and Leoline, not
wishing to return to Main street, walk
ed slowly on, while Florence returned
to the postoffice. Leoline had not gone
far when she heard some one say, 'Good
morning, Miss Arleigh,' and looking
up, her eyes rested upon the handsome
face of DR.. Deane. They walked on
until they reached an arbor which was
provided with rustic chairs. DR.. Deane
! suggested that they enter, but no soon
er were they seated than Leoline's hands
were clasped and she heard the Doctor
saying "Oh, Leoline, can you not see
how dear you are to meP Sweet Leo
line, raise those truthful gray eyes and
tell me. you will love me just a little.
Tell me, Leo, is there no hope for me??"
Leoline did not reply, but she offered
no resistance when he took her slight
form in his arms and showered passion
etc kisses upon her face, which had
lost its wonted paleness and assumed
the hue of the bright red rose. At first
she was too much confused to speak,
but at last she looked into the deep
blue eyes so close to her own and said,
Il thought you loved cousin May"
Thought loved cousin May! Why,
how could l be charmed by Mays black
eyes when [ was in love with her little
nurse?" Here Leoline receives so
many kisses that she begs for mercy
and declares she will be smothered.
One day Mrs. Arleigh was greatly
surprised to see, in the village paper,
a notice to the effect that. through a
dishonest agent, Mrs. Leslie had lost
the greater part of her fortune. A few
weeks later the same paper announced
the marriage of Miss May Leslie and
MI. Richard Lee, the coal merchant,
and stated that the happy couple had
| gone to Chicago, where they would re-
side. Leoline burst into tears when she
heard of her cousins marriage, for she
still thought that May loved DR.. Deane.
Florence remarked, Serves her right.
She liked you, but she always hated me.
and now she has lost her fortune agd
has had to marry a bald-headed, croYs-
eyed, %ill-natured o~ld-codger, whom she
must already hate"
The days passed swiftly away. The
paths were strewn with the leaves of
Autumn, and the cold blasts of Winter
were followed by the soft breath of
Spring.
1t is a bright June day. The rntar-
ior of Mrs. Arleigh's cottage is pictrr-
esque in the extreme. Each roum
seems a bower, for beautiful June roses
are here, there and everywhere. The
inmates of the cottage are fastening to
and fro as if preparing for some special
event but upon the faces of all, thers is
alook of happiness, for there is to be a
double wedding, and the brides will be
Florence and Leoline.
There is a ring at the door, and a
small package is handed to Leoline.
She sees that it is addressed in her
cousins hand writing, and she hastily
tears off the wrapper. All day She has
been thinking of May and wondering
if she has forgiven her for winning the
heart of Mr.. Deane. When She has
torn off the wrapper from the package,
she finds a little box, and, upon open
ing it, she feels a thrill of delight, for
she sees a beautiful diamond rag, in
which is inscribed the word, ..Leoline."
81. Ella Ball, IN GoodaPs San.