The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1886-09-09

the last velvety pink blossom safely re-
placed in the wide brimmed stray hat.
he had gone on his vav With her fav
modest works Of thanks. uttered IN .
voice marvelously low and sweet Inc
ering pleasantly in his ears.
Leslie did not dream what q ,ovo,v
picture she had made that morning IN
the eyes of the young millionaire
standing there in the tender light that
was still half shadow under the leaf
boughs. her soft white gown prettile
defining little and graceful form, thy
bare head covered with rich coils of
tawny hair that waved in silky rings
over broad, white forehead, and the
white straw hat with its auttering pink
ribbons. filled to the very brim with
blushing, dew-wet roses.
Later. only q few days ago, had come
9 formal Introduction given by Mrs.
Harding, and most reluctantly as Les
lie clearly OWNED by the cold hard
glitter Of the widows black eyes, and
the slight. but scornful emphasis with
which she uttered the explanatory
words my companion, " carefully add
ed after Leslie's name. +.
| An amused smile was Hugh Mans
fields only recognition of the little
trick. and there was a light in his
handsome dark eyes as he took her
hand that made Leslie's heart uncon-
ciously beat quicker.
After that in proud graceful little
way of her own she quietly avoided
him. With all her dreams-and Leslie
was something of a dreamer-she was
not romantic enough to fancy that he,
the lonized millionaire, would think
seriously of girl in her position, and
she was far too pure and proud to per-
nit any attention from such as he that
might be lightly misconstrued.
And now pacing the shining beach.
she knew, at last, that another feeling
stronger and deeper than pride alone
urged her to fly from his presence.
IF could only leave here,' she
was saying to herself. with kind of
passionate rebellion against her fate,
If could only be free from the pain
of seeing him. and-and knowing that
he belongs to different world from
mine! If Ineed never again bear that
| woman's pretty stings and slurs. But,
there!' checking her wild, feverish
longing with grim little smile of re-
collection, what am saying? l must
earn my daily bread, and Lou Harding,
with all Ler little tyrannies, gives me
the chance to do that. No, no; /
must sta on and continue to bear it.
Where else could l 20? What could L
do?''
"What pleasure to see you at last,
Miss Weir!' broke in a cherry. mascu-
line voice upon her excited reverie.
And turning. she was face to face with
Hugh Mansfield, who extended his
hand with frank, glad smile that lit
up his dark face most winninglv.
''What must one do he went on, in
tone half jesting, half serious, ''to
obtain an occasional audience with
your majesty? You have not allowed
me the chance to speak one word with
you in three whole days."
..lndeea! How you must have
sufered!' she re:orted lightly, her
careless tones just tinged with irony:
and she hastily withdrew the hand
which she had permitted to merely
touch his for instant. .:But l am not
in society now,' she added, fearful
that he might guess the real truth.
land have duties which keep mo
quite busily occupied. Even now,'
she added. glancing nervously toward
the widows cottage, Il must be going"
''Jove! how she does manage to cut
me short whenever l try to talk with
her, muttered the young millionaire,
gazing after the light vanishing form
with a puzzled frown on his handsome
face. ''Why does she do it. I'd like to
know? Is it pride, or-what? No
other woman ever tried, or cared to
keep me at such an icy distance. I'm
sure. But she is so different from all
the others in every way! Just glance
from those deep. cool gray eyes, and
then she is gone!' All! my fair, proud
Leslie!''
Mrs. Lou Harding had CHANGED to
witness that brief interview on the
beach, and a startled, uneasy look
flashed into her glittering black eyes.
'1u have to get rid of that girl,
see that" she muttered vindictively,
drawing her breath hard as she
watched them from the window. "She
is lovely, in her odd style-danger-
ously so; and it'll be impossible to
keep her in the background any
longer, now that he's insisted upon
having an introduction to her. I
won't mention this affair. of course. but
I'll find some good excuse for dis
charging her before two days have
passed. l would die before 1 would
admit that 1 looked upon her as
rival.
Mrs. Harding kept her word. And
when. after several davs had passed
without glimpse of Miss Weir, MIR.
Mansfield made some inquiries con-
corning her, the young widow put on
pretty air of in ured innocence.
"She left mo very unexpectedly,
and must own that felt rather hurt
over it, since had kept her so long in
my employ and done so much for her,
she said, with q charming little pout.
''But she said she expected soon to
be married, and limited at some old
romance which had Just ended al
right as an excuse for leaving me so
suddenly. So suppose that I really
ought not to blame her, after all. "
The look that swept over Hugh's
dark. handsome face. and settled
gloomily in the depths of his beautiful
dark eyes, as he heard the startling
news, convinced the pretty schemer that
she had not sent Leslie away one NOM
ent to soon.
But the watering-place suddenly lost
all attractions for the young Million
aire. He left at once, not caring
particularly where he went; and. by
some strange fate, found himself, at
the end of the first day. in the very
same hotel at which Leslie Weir was
stopping on her way to take a new
situation.
In the shock of the sudden meeting
Hugh Numbered forth the story of his
honest love and Leslie, having heard it
threw aside ner GOODNESS and reserve,
and then the whole truth came out.
"Since you have no relatives or
friends to consult, my darling" plead