Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1886-12-11

was not cadaver to whom she was tell
ing her love, the poor girl would be too
much mortified to ever look us in the
face; by-and-bv, if Otto was correct in
his opinion about my condition, it would
be easy to tell her that had been re-
stored, but not to let her know that /
had never been given up by my own
family.
Theresa confirmed Kitty in this inten-
zion by rising and pressing a long, warm
kiss on my stony lips, and then fastening
from the room.
In the intervals of consciousness which
came to me had leisure TO mediate
upon the two girls. l blamed myself
for being hard-hearted because could
not feel the sorrow at Lina's loss which
it seemed to me that / ought to expert
ence; and Theresa's bright eyes and
sweet mouth would rise before my men
tai vision in most unaccustomed way.
/ really felt quite grateful to Kitty for
what was sure was little artifice on
her part to convince me how little Lima
had actually cared for me, although her
scheme had succeeded beyond her Wild
est hopes.
A few hours convinced all my physi-
clans that the Angel of Death had not
yet been set for me me, and, though 1
was i'll for several weeks, was at last
restored to my usual health. In the
days of my convalescence Theresa fire.
quently came to read or sing to me, and
my eyes now being open to her virtues,
l found myself getting seriously in love
with her.
One day 1 surprised her by saying:
"By-the- Theresa, when is my old
sweetheart, Feroline Palmer, going to be
married 2"
"Why, hasn't Kitty told you9 Her
engagement to Harold Carter was broken
off in less than fortnight; it turned
out he was already married, though sep
aratcd from his wife, and her father
made such talk about it that Harold
disappeared"
And left Lima in the lurch, eh2 Well,
she got her pay for jilting me much
sooner than fancied she would. Why
do YOU look so surprired Did you be-
lieve the story she told Kitty2 There
was not word of truth it."
''But you had your own ring on, and
the box where you kept her letters was
unlocked and empty, Kitty said she
looked into things to see if she was mis-
Judging Feroline in disbelieving what
she had said"
"Oh, Lima was cute; she took her let
ters and changed the rings when she was
left alone with her so-called dead lover, :"
replied, incautiously.
"Oh, Fred, you must not be so unjust,
so bitterl Probably that blow on your
head made you forget what had hap
pened that morning; she is free now" !"
and Theresa gave faint sigh, and l saw
the corners OF her mouth droop.
"Yes, she's free, and likely to remain
so; she can't play her game for ever. She
is Il cold hearted, mercenary flirt!"
Theresa thought my words were in
duced by wounded pride, so she tried to
console me.
"Ferolinc has been to inquire for you
ever SO many times, and l told Kitty that
l thought she ought to bring her up to
see you"
"No, no" thought 1; ''Kitty knows
better; she knows by my silence about
her that l have lost my interest in her."
These were my thoughts, but as said
not a word, Theresa continued
''She sent you those lovely roses which
you have been admiring."
"Did shel" | exclaimed, eagerly.
'Please hand them to me-"
Theresa did so, fully expecting to see
me press them TO my lips, and nct at all
anticipating that would take and fling
them into the bright fire which glowed
in the CRATE before me.
"Why, Fred!" she cried, in amaze.
ment.
"There goes her gift, and there goes
my fancy for her, if there was any of it
left, that is. That blow on my thick
skull, Tressie, convinced my dull intel
lect that 1 had been mistaking pinch
beck for gold. What fool was TO
have looked at Lima when you were still
unmarr ed, and therefore free to be
loved!'
Erred" gasped Theresa; but l
checked her flow of words by the usual
means that lovers employ.
7f'hen Kitty came into the room little
later to see about my luncheon, the arch
hypocrite pretended to beimmensely sur
prised to see the close embrace in which
she found the two of us; but glance
which we exchanged over Tressie's un-
ponscious head told me that she was sat-
isfied now that had heard all that was
going ON in the hours when was left for
dead
But she kept my secret, and it was not
until Theresa and I had been married
two years that the secret was ever re-
vealed. Kitty, at that time, also told
Lima what her share in the matter had
been, and the two women have not
spoken since. e.-FranE Leslis's.
The Antarctic Continent.
That mysterious. unknown land. the