The Bozeman weekly chronicle., 1888-02-29

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mating portion Of his acQuaintances as
being "a highly estimable young manu-
among his comrades as being "a yery
good fellow" and among the young ladies
Of being ''just as nice as he could be.n
Kitty loved Frank; she couldn't help 1t,
and Frank knew 1t. He was convinced
she preferred his society to that of Tom
Wellington, his only rival.
This Tom Wellington-his comrades
called him the "Duke''-was neither an
idiot, or hump backed, or bow legged, all
of which / wish he had been; It would
have made my story so much more inter
esting On the contrary, he was a sensi-
BILE, handsome, well bred young man; and,
SO far as l know, there was not a trace of
the rascal in his composition. Besides
these advantages, he-the son of one of
our merchant princes-possessed an in
come sufficient to enable him to live su-
perbly. He counted his thousands when
his rival counted hundreds.
Frank rested his hopes, therefore, en-
tirely on the influence he possessed over
Kitty's heart. The "Duke," although
just the man for her in every particular,
as he was rich, handsome and sensible,
could never succeed in winning her affec-
tions; and the amiable Frank could not or
would not believe she would allow the
promptings of her nobler and better ma
ture to be overruled by worldly consider
atoms.
Wien he, however, one day insisted on
knowing his fate she startled him by say
ing, with deep drawn sigh;
"Ah, Frank, am sorry we ever nett"
"SorryP''
ayes; have thought it all over; we can
never be anything but friends"
"WhatW exclaimed Frank, turning sud
denly and nervously twisting his blonde
mustache.
"Never, never" said Kitty, in tone
scarcely audible.
Frank sat down beside her on the sofa,
put his arm round her waist in spite of a
gentle "Don't do that" and letting his
voice sink almost to murnur spoke to
her-to the proud Kitty-until she wept
bitterly.
kitty, said he, In tone full of tender
emotion, kitty, I know that you love
me, but you are proud, ambitious, selfishl
If 1t is really your will that should leave
you, speak the word and will CO."
go, then," murmured Kitty.
"Have you fully decidedr' asked Frank,
hardly able to believe his ears.
"Yes,"
'"Then farewellr'
He took her hand in his, looked for a
moment at her pretty, fearful face, and
then, unable to control himself, pressed
her passionately to his bosom.
She not only submitted to his embrace
without struggle, but, giving way to an
irresistible impulse, threw her arms low
ingly around his neck. Suddenly, how
ever, recollecting her resolution, she loos-
ened her hold and pushed him from her
with sigh.
"Shall gos" he stammered.
A faint "Yes" fell from Kitty's lips
the next moment she lay alone, sobbing
and weeping, on the sofa. But, little by
little, her grief seemed to wear itself out.
Her tears ceased to flow and her breath
ing became more regular. Her head
rested on her arm and her face was half
concealed beneath flood of dark brown
curls.
The struggle was over the pain was
already stilled. She saw Mr.. Wellington
enter, and sprang up gayly to meet and
welcome him. His manner pleased her !;
his social position and wealth fascinated
her.
His heart, he said, had long been hers;
would she not accept his hands She
would, and did. A kiss sealed the be-
trothal; but 1t was no such kiss as she
had given Frank, and she could scarcely
suppress sigh. Poor Kittyi
The wedding was superb. Elegantly
attired, her beauty was truly dazzling;
while everything around her seemed to
float in the witching atmosphere of a
fairy land, she gave her hand to the man
that her ambition and not her heart had
chosen.
But it must be admitted that ambition
could not have made better choice. She
already saw herself surrounded by q nu-
merous circle, which acknowledged her as
its queen. Her path was strewn with
fortunes favors: her bark glided gently
over the smooth and placid stream Of an
enchanted life. No clouds obscured the
horizon of her existence; whatever of Joy
and Gladness the outer world could give
was hers in rich abundance Her am
bition was satisfied, but not so her heart,
as she was not slow to discover.
Her friends were numerous; her hus-
band was tender, devoted and loving; but
all their friendship and all his tenderness
were not sufficient to satisfy the longings
of her woman's heart. She had known
what 1t is to love-to be under the influ-
ence Of that divine enchantment which
cannot be bought and sold like chattels in