Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1888-09-28
miscellaneous.
DECEIvERs EVER;
OR,
A GAME OF CROSS PURPOSES.

Poor Ethel Hildesmerc Her dream
of life was broken. Her old playmate,
Percy Crawford, had returned after man
years absence, and they have danced
and rowed together, and just now she
had overheard his friend John Standard
talking to him as if he were married and
upbraiding him for flirting with her I'M
der the circumstances.
When Ethel crept home sick at heart
after hearing of Percys deception she
felt as if she never cared to look upon
his face agein; but as she grew calmer
she resolved to 60 to the garden party
the next day, where he was to be, il
only to let him know how little she
thought of him
When she saw him again it was to
greet him with a careful smile, having
nerved herself beforehand for the meet
ing No one was gayer than she at tho
party that night.
At the hour Of departure Percy Crau-
lIfara at.last found bis way 10 her side
Is"T l1ave to-tno49ahv, Ethel, I be said
DO you intend to be long away n
she asked, AS carelessly as she could.
81 cannot tell,' he said bitterly
"Perhaps it would be better if | never
come back May come and say good
by tomorrow 7"
81 shall not be at home" she added
coldly; "let it be good-by now
He took her hand slowly aud there
was misery written in his eyes.
"What is it EthelY You are differ
ent--you arc not like what you we're +"
Oh, if she dared but tell him she
knew all Instead, she raised her brows,
and smiling, said
''Pray, how would you have mo be ?
Shall | weepT"
Don't jest, Ethel. don't think
you would if you only know how bate
myself--how miserable am !"
He spoke impulsivcly, but checking
himself hurriedly, said goodnight, press
ed her hand fondly, turned and left her.
Some one else saw her to the carriage.
Her laugh was clear and musical as it
drove off, but then she sunk back, burst
ing into passion of tears.
"Thank heaven it is over" she sob
bed. II love him, love him so and |
feel his heart is mine "
Six months later two events happened.
The wife Of Mrs. Hildosmercs married
son died, and Mrs Hidesmere, with
Ethel, went to keep his house, Spring
hurst. The other was the news, which
got whispered abroad, of Percy Crau-
ford's marriage. 1t was said, urged by
sentiment, pity and mistaken love, he
had married one pretty, heartless, selfish
woman far inferior to him in station. All
had turned to Dead Sea fruit in his mouth,
and repentance had swiftly trodden on
the heels of joy.
Then three years passed. Ethel had
been wooed and wooed by many in vain
She never, she said, intended to we'd
These we're her brothers children She
would BE- another TO them She would
not wed without love, and she had none
Then she heard vaguely that Percy
Crauford's wife, his clog, his misery,
had died Of cold caught at ball Her
heart had beaten quickly for a space,
but meanwhile she had exclaimed,
coldly:
'sWhat is that TO mew
Yet she seemed expectant. Never.
theless Percy Crawford made no sign /;
she heard he had gone abroad
Another year, as Ethel sat reading
under the old beech tree on the Spring
hurst lawn, shallow fell across her
book looking up, she beheld Percy
Crawford standing before her His eyes
sparklcd, his quick breath seemed to
throb upon his lips, his hands were
eagerly extended At first Ethel had
she felt her color come and 60
but in second she had recovered her
self and regarded him steadily
Ethel, my darling" ho murmurcd,
81 am free p
Eyes, | know" she answered quietly.
But what is that me p
He regarded her in bewildered pain
and surprise then he had thrown him
self by her side and was pouring out all
that past Of misery and passion. How
he had been struck, fascinated by "a pref
ty baby face. and thought it love How
by a crafty family no had been made to
believe that love so returned that the
girls heart would break for him. and,
on the impulse of the moment, no had
uttered words that in honor be could
not recall.
Ethel heard, and, outwardly cold, in
wardly nerVously trembling with her