The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1888-12-27

q zeal ismost deeply when I tell yea
that never wrote the letter 30 which
goa ailnde, ner any lester to you. Is
nust be forgery. Fer your kind ez-
preston toward me, which it has drawn
forth, I can only offer my sincere
thanks, for. believe me. value your
good opinion most highly. You are not
mistaksn in supposing that admire and
esteem you beyond almost any woman
I have ever met / would say more,
but am not free. / am, in honor.
bound to another. / thought this was
understood by Lady Brandon, but Ifear
/ have been to blame, and that / have
caused you pain. If you have got the
forged letter, will you be so kind as to
forward it to me at Wildwood? have
no doubt shall discover its author.
and he or she shall not escape punish
ment. / have but one more word to
add. My dear Miss Molyneux. know
you ere sensible and brave; let no one
know what has occurred. This vile
trick must be the work of some one at
Brandon Hall. Do not let any one
know it has succeeded. and we shall yet
battle and disarm our enemy | could
say much more. but it is better not.
Believe me, with the sincerest regard
and esteem, yours faithfully,
L. CHICHESTER"
Florence's mind was in such tu-
mutt Of confused thoughts that she
could scarcely comprehend what had
happened. She flew to compare the
handwriting. No! they were not the
same. though there was some resem.
blance The envelope bore the same
initial and motto. Who could have
done so cruel an actg Jane Morris. Ii
flashed upon her like a conviction. but
could it be possible? Could one girl
act so basely to anothero She Enclosed
the fatal letter to Captain Chichester.
and then wrote to her mother, begging
her to summon her home on any pre-.
tense.
So some months passed away and
Florence heard nothing of her friends:
she felt forgotten. forsaken. But one
morning she was awakened by a letter
from Ada Brandon announcing her ap-
preaching marriage with Lord Stone
leigh. and affectionately inviting her to
be bridesmaid. At first Florence shfank
from the thought, but when she read
the postscript. Il suppose You have
seen Lady lda's marriage in the paper, :"
she resolved to go TO Brandon Hall.
1T is all over" she said; ''he is mar
ried. / will go and enjoy the happiness
of Others" But it was with asad heart
that Florence found herself driving up
to the well-known entrance of Brandon
Hall. All! how different it all was now,
she thought, as memory carried her
back to her former visit. There was
no one waiting to receive or welcome
her, and with blank feeling she fol-
| lowed the servant into the drawing
room, which was deserted. As the
door closed behind her she heard the
sound of quick footstep on the grass
without. and mans figure darkened
the light as he stepped in through the
open window. Florence's heart gave a
great leap, and the blood dew TO her
| face. She turned to fy-but her limbs
were trembling SO she could not move,
and then some one caught her hands
and spoke her name, and looking up.
she met the gaze of Captain Chichester 8
blue eyes.
Florence" he cried, forgive me.
Have frightened youP | have come
here to see you. to speak TO you. to tell
| you love YOU"
.'Oh, no, no" cried Florence, draw.
ing back. Let me go. You you
are married. Ada told me-"
mo, no, cried Captain Chichester.
laughing. II am not married to Lady
Ida. never loved her. nor her me. II
was only family arrangement. She
is married to Lord Layton I have
never cared for any one but you.
''But-but tia letter" cried Florence.
sit is because / said -
'sNo, nor he said. quite gravely now
when Miss Morris stole mr. note pa
per and forged my handwriting she
only told you half what felt. Flor
ence, Florence, my darling! don't cry
you love me. do you notp' Florence
made no answer. but as she hid hel
face upon his shoulder she forgot all hel
doubts and sorrows in the raptnrou,
knowledge of his love. Home Chimes
| e