Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1888-02-04

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quick to acknowledge that the treachery
Of a mere hollow woman of the world
should have laid his life barren In this
way. IL, md gotten to feel that he had
lost all reverence for her sex through her
She had lowered his whole standard.
There were occasions when he told him.
sell hat if he despiscd her less he would
hate her for the wrong she had done
him
A friend If h who knew the figure of
tn Maskelyne estate with approximate
accuracy and who had marria real lie
sister took him to his mothers house one
day and introduced him. Mrs. Leth-
bridges house was homelike in an emf
nent degree, and Naskelyne liked Lcth
lrdge, even though he was conscious of
no special admiration for his sister He
returned there several times, as much as
once he walked uptown with Lcthbridge,
and entering on his invitation he passed.
in the hall slight young girl in black.
The li.tt was rather dim; it was at the
close of he afternoon; the ga was not
yet lighted, an he only saw her face
when she was close upon the two men.
Then, however, he saw it distinctly and
she raised her startled eyes to his.
Lcthbridge had sprung forward and
opened the door for her. She went rap
idly out with a slight inclination of the
head. Iehbridge had heightened
co.or on his face.
When they had gone back into the
library Maskelyne, standing with his
back to the light, said:
" That lady who passed out looks as
tonishingly like Miss Flora Wade"
1t is Miss Wade" Lcthbridge took
up book and laid it down again. "She
is nursery gOverness to two of my
younger sters."
"Thc Miss Wade who was out West a
few years ago." said Maskelyne, after "A
pause, twas an heiress."
Flora Wade was an heiress until a
year ago-yes. suppose you have heard
the story q
Out on the frontier one hears nothing
said Maskelync, dryly.
"Nol Well, it was nothing new.
Wade made his money 10y lucky stroke,
you know, or a series of lucky strokes,
and he lost it by one unlucky one. Then
heb, -- his brains ont, more than any
thing else. ! susnect, because there were
well-fuundel suspicious that all his
transactions had not been perfectly e
climate The two girls were with an
aunt. Miss Wade had been taken
abroad, and had refused, 1t is under
stood, ducal cOrOnet. For two seasons
she led everything before her here.
When the change came she left the aunt
whose health had suddenly Gn conse
quence of these changes become too
delicate for the support ard care of two
jOung girls. Miss Wac had had
brilliant education, but, passed under
review with reference to such elements
in it as could be turned to practical ac-
count, it appeared that there was very
little Miss Wade could 10 to support
herself and her young sister. She could
be a nursery gOverness. however, and
that is what she is now"
There was silence between the two men.
Allen Icthbridge took, hcsitatinCiy,
step fOrw ard.
Il don't mind selling yOu," he said,
leaning his arm against the corner of the
mantcl, "that have an immense aLmira-
tion for Flora Wade. II 8he viii marry
me she shall be my wife"
The door opened. admitting Mrs.
Lc,hhridge and her oldest daughter.
sch, Mr. Maskelyne, hope you will
stay to dinner with US" cried the lady
hospitably.
Thanks. am sorry. have an en-
gagement."
Maskelyne went out, and the engage
ment proved roaming of the streets un
til far into the night.
Against the conjunction pleading in
all h nerves for Flora, awaking and
throboing with the opening of a wound
he had thought cicatrized and quiescent,
he had arraycd fierce arguments out of
the elements of scorn and resentment he
had been harboring and accumnlating
through these four years past in his soul.
What if misfortune had islcr upon her.
Would that change her2 Would hat
make true woman in day of one who
hitherto had lived only for the fiimsy
vanities of the world and her Own-self
love. Why, he kept urging upon him
self brutally, she had seemed blooming
enough when he caught that one glimpse
Of her in Mrs. Lethbridge's hall. She
was not changed SO vey much in ap
pcarance by misfortune as night be cx-
pected. 1t was proper, of course, that
she should look little demurc and
depressed. She was god actress and
She would be likely to play her part
well. Was not her reward within her
grasp already. Allen Lethbridge's ad-
mration and intentions were probably
perfectly Clear to her. That was the
way out of her difiiculties-by the easy
path of matrimony.
Thus the hurt he had himself received
goaded him t, brutal injustice, crying
down with high voice the appeal of
every other sentiment He went home
at last and threw himself on his bed,
bruised and sore in all his members from
the conflict in his soul.
lie did not return to the Lethbridges',
and he kept out from Aliens way.
One day, about a week later, in passing
n picture gallery, he wandered in. There
was one other / rson only in the gallery;
a lady in black Eith her back to the door.
Maskelync sod still, with sudden
pang In moment the lady turned her
head slightly and. Maskelyne saw that
his heart had not deceived him.
Flora was unconscious that she was no
longer alone. In the silence and secluded
rcmotencss of this curtained room the
burden she carried day after day dropped
away from her in an interval of blessed
calm. She sat with her hands clasped
in her lap. All the worn lines of her de-
lca.e profile were revealed to Maske-
lyne's eyes now. Not changed! He
:ood there dcvouring her face with his