The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1886-05-20

1
no means as beautiful as my former
divinity, but more lovely in every
way" Lily was taller, more queenly,
but this girl with the sweet voice and
glorious, starlike eyes was, in every
way but the mere matter Of fortune,
her cousins superior Of that felt
assured, and was quite willing her i'm
age should haunt me,
A few weeks had passed, and I stood
before the gates Of fine old mansion,
now my own estate---in a Devonshire
village, and looked up the long avenue
bordered by noble oaks All that my
uncle had died possessed Of was left to
me, money and lands. | certainly
did feel the pride Of possession in the
first flush OF proprietorship-I held
my head erect, | was once more even
with the world. The country about
was exceptionally beautiful. Rose
hedges bordered the village lanes
here and there a thrifty farm lay
: smiling in the sunshine-cottages
: dotted the hillsides. Everywhere the
: land spoke of care and prosperity.
: The house was well preserved, and
9 filled with solid though quaint furni-
} ture. There were lighthouses, and all
i the inventions OF this utilitarian age
Y needed for farming on large scale, on
the grounds. ] saw the houses of my
j tenants. I was lord Of the soil
+ Once more in London, my thoughts
a turned back to my OVID country and
: some unsettled business there. There
: was yet work to do, mistakes to cor
I rect, enemies to meet, friends to re-
/ ward.
Among my acquaintances in the
metropolis was a young German ba-
i ron, who had married a lovely English
It girl, and with whom I had passed
e many happy hours.
g "You must come here tonight"
3 said the young baroness, one day 81
v expect some Americans whom per.
haps you know-the Dufours. The
y young lady is exquisitely beautiful
Is there are two-cousins, ! think"
J. II did know Dufour, the banker, o
s. New York, 2 said, quietly, though my
IS pulse futtered with a new thrill o
k. gladness.
ooh, yes-it must be the same fam
d lily. You will Gomez"
IN "0n one condition." I said.
10 "And what is that?"
ne "That you will not speak Of me til
1e | come. As / have another engage
d. ment, l shall be here late in the ever
he ing"
ke What! may l not even tell tn
story of your good fortune?"
?" Anything, so you do not mentio
p- my name"
She laugbed-her quick woman
to wit comprehended, and promising
nd be very careful, she said her adieus.
The reader perhaps anticipates.
it? was spoken of as the young man abol
whose extraordinary luck they migl
ere have heard-the American nephew
rid an old Devonshire gentleman who hf
quarreled with his sister, because h
r." marriage had displeased him, but wi
er. at the last had relented and left m
ner lions to her son-but she withheld n
J. name. Later on I came. They we
"" at tea, my host told me. It was
standing tea I datter myself I ma
gh. my debut with singular GOODNESS
she found myself, tea-cup in hand, ia
ice to face with Miss Dufour, to whom
in bowed with naughty en1pressmaent.
can see her start, grow white and cat
oles her breath-to hear her unguard,
ian. "Why Hall"
Well, it was almost worth losing
ace, fortune for, that experience!
,ng- 'Miss Dufourp ! said, with ch
her ing bow.
lied Pen ofmine cannot describe
discontinue. It was almost like [
oha- ror. For once the reigning belle,
h a woman OF the world, was foiled, mo
I'll of fed, extinguished
He Rallying at last, she tried in SO
sort Of way to regain her lost pow
to but was in love with the starry e
en- and soul-lit face other cousin Luc
fig had been, ever since that even
had night when I, looking up from
n in lower deck-and on one other mel
Ter a rable occasion-saw her sweet face
This heard her speak for the pove
was stricken and almost banished man
me! =
gain. We took our honeymoon trip b
entity in the Persia. Since the failure OF
gave great banking house of Dufour Br
e one ers, and the death of the banker |
gen. self, Lily has mad home with US,
was | feel that in some sort / owe to
some my treasure Of a wife.
,und,
rails, w,su4vcrox NV The TT