Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1888-01-13

IL
! died. Maskelyne, on this event, came
East Old Dir. Maskelyne had been a
frugal person, highly respected as an ex-
cellent citizen. He had not been held
to have laid by much of this worlds
goods. But it proved contrary to expec-
tation, in the course of investigation,
that he had left large fortune behind.
Howard Maskelyne was East. He deter
mined to stay.
He took up the old existence now, by
his long absence become new one, list
lessly. He thought the zest would come
back, but somehow it did not. He looked
back at times upon that episode in his
life which had made all this difference
this freak which did not promise ever to
be wholly bridged over-with almost a
fury of resentment. 1t CALLED him to the
! quick to acknowledge that the treachery
of a mere hollow woman of the world
should have laid his life barren In this
way He had 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
self that if he despised her less he would
hate her for the wrong she had done
him.
A friend of his who knew the figure of
the Maskelyne estate with approximate
accuracy and who had a manageable
sister took him to his mothers house one
day and introduced him. Mrs. Leth-
BRIDGES house was homelike in an emil
nent degree and Maskelyne liked Leth-
bridge, even though he was conscious of
no special admiration for his sister. He
returned there several times, as much as
anything from want of other interest.
Once he walked up town with Lethbridge,
and entering on his invitation he passed
in the hall slight young girl in black.
The light was rather dim; it was at the
close of the afternoon; the gas was not
yet lighted, and 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.
Lethbridge had sprung forward and
opened the door for her. She went rap
idly out with slight inclination of the
head Lethbridge had a heightened
color 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"
''It is Miss Wade" Lethbridge took
up book and laid it down again. "She
is nursery governess to two of my
younger sisters"
"The Miss Wade who was out West
few years ago." said Maskelyne, after
pause, twas an heiresS."
" Flora Wade was an heiress until
year ago-yes. suppose you have heard
the story %
Out on the frontier one hears nothing"
said Maskelyne, dryIy.
"No? Well, it was nothing new.
Wade made his money by lucky stroke,
you know. or a series of lucky strokes,
and he lost it by one unlucky one. Then
he blew his brains out, more than any
thing else, suspect, because there were
well-founded suspicious that all his
transactions had not been perfectly le-
ultimate The two girls were with an
aunt. Miss Wade had been taken
abroad and had refused, it 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 Gin conse-
quence of these changes) become too
delicate for the support and care of two
young girls. Miss Wade 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 do to support
herself and her young sister. She could
be nursery governess. however, and
that is what she is now"
There was silence between the two men.
Allen Lethbridge took, hesitatingly, a
step forward.
81 don't mind selling you,'' he said,
leaning his arm against the corner of the
mantel, "that 1 have an immense admira-
ton for Flora Wade. If she will marry
me she shall be my wife"
The door opened admitting Mrs.
Lethbridge and her oldest daughter.
ooh, Mr.. Maskelyne, | hope you will
stay to dinner with u.s." cried the lady
Hospitality.
Thanks am sorry. have an en-
gagement."
Maskelync went out, and the engage
ment proved roaming of the streets W.
til far into the night.
Against the conjunction pleading in
all his nerves for Flora, awaking and
throbbing with the opening Of a wound
he had thought cicatrized and quiescent,
he had arrayed fierce arguments out of
the elements of scorn and resentment he |
had been harboring and accumulating
through these four years past in his soul. |
What if misfortune had faller upon her? |
Would that change her? Would that !
make true woman in day of one who /
hitherto had lived only for the fimsy |