The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1886-06-18

For three weeks Guy Travers was
the first to enter the opera house and
the last to leave it each night aud al
though his friends often chaffed him
about being hard hit, and remarked
his worn, haggard face, he was not the
man TO give up while there was the
faintest shadow of a chance TO win.
On Viola de LAMA he had staked his
all, even though it was reported that
she was betrothed Of Sir Maurice
Conway, q wealthy baronet.
AT last fortune favored him. At a
grand dinner party be met her, and
was supremely happy. She said she
was delighted to meet him, as she had
seen HIM so often at the opera-house,
but, of course, she did not know that
he was "the Mr.. Travers whom Mr..
Mordaunt wished to present" and she
was so sweet and gracious that he was
more infatuated than ever.
The day she had so longed for had
come at last. For more than five years
she had waited, and now she would
pay hin back in his own coin. She in
vited him to call on her whenever he
"had nothing else to do" and she
would always make hirl welcome.
After this he was always near her
he walked with her, drove with her,
and for three months he was her de-
voted slave. During this time he often
saw Sir. Maurice, but AZ Viola did not
seem to notice him much he did not
consider him a rival.
One evening he told her how dear
she was to him how he worshiped her
and how, if it would serve her, he
would gladly lay down his life for her
| dear sake.
He took the dimpled hand and
smothered it with kisses then he ex-
claimed
"Viola, my darling, until l saw you
l never met woman for whom | cared
one iota.'
"And when was that p she question
ed. "When, did You see me first
remember, now, the very first time?'
The night you appeared in IRA,
viata," he replied.
"And you never loved any ore be-
fore that? l can scarcely believe you,
she said laughingly.
"Viola, darling, you have told me
nothing of your life, you know | am SC
eager to know everything about you,
my queen"
MY early life would be scarcely in
teresting to you, Guy as it was a very
sad one she replied land my career
in public ends with this month. Aud
you,' sine declared, shave told me moth.
ing Of yours. Come, Guy, l am youi
confessor tonight. Is there nothing
in the past that you regret? ?"
Confession is good tor the soul,
he quoth gayly. mo, my dearest
there is nothing regret or repent Of
excepting that l did not meet Viola dc
LAMA years ago"
He had utterly forgotten Glenmort
then. If he had only remembered tina
she might have had some pity. bu
now
"Guy, you are sure you love me--nC
other woman in the world but me p
mo other, so help me heaven" HI
answered, solemnly. "Viola, whel
will you be my wife?"
81 will give you my answer to-mor
row | will write"
Then, as he could not induce her tt
say any more on the subject, he tool
his departure.
Tomorrow tomorrow would i
never come? He paced his room al
the night through, and counted tn
hours which must eapse before h
could receive the promised letter.
AT last it came. He snatched it pas
siouately, kissing the superscriptio
over and over again; then he opened il
and out fell the old letter he had sen
to the mice little girl at Glenmore.
1t bore across the bottom, in her hanc
,writing, these words:
l have bided my time. AS l suffel
ed then, you must suffer now This
the end.
MADGE HEATHcoTE,
Otherwise Viola DE LAMA.
This was all ; no, not all, for at h
feet lay two cards-wedding cards
bearing the names of Sir Maurice Coz
way and Miss Madge Heathcote Tn
, | hnr