Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1888-01-14

termined, and his right hand resting on
his heart inside his coat as though 20
still Its tempestuous beating.
Miss Grey, with tremulous smile,
draws nearer TO him.
~ have decided" she says gently.
Snow and forever"
''Is Il 20 be him, or met" Though his
accent In steady, she can see that his
very lips are bloodless.
"You, you!" she says. And then there
is long. long silence between them.
They are standing In corner Of the ten
mis- ground open TO all the world, 10 that
any demonstration Of Joy or gratitude or
love Is impossible. hut even when &C.
tion is denied, the eyes can speak.
"My belovei!" says Mr.. Massareene In
q tone no low that she can barely catch
Il, but Il IL 10 full Of infinite delight and
love that she tells herself Il In su fIicient In
itself to atone To her for the enormous for.
tune she is willingly fiinging away for his
dear sake.
"Thcre Is only one thing more" she
says after little bit. "Do not speak Of
this until tomorrow has gone by. Il will
distress auntic and Lady valworth, aud
spoil her party"
"Bnt, II 1 say nothing, when Boyle TO.
turns he will still regard you as engaged
10 him and--and he may expect"--
"lle will expect nothing. We have
never been loving couple, I assure you.
No. Let the matter rest until Lady Val.
worth hos had all her enjoyment out Of
her sons birthday ball"
at shall be as you wish, Of course. Z"
Then, forgctful Of everything save Of her,
he takes one Of her hands and holds it
closely. "Millicent! tell me you have no
rcgret-that you do not think have done
you harm instead Of good"
~ think Of nothing except that have
given myself to you for veal or woe, as
the case may be, AMI that believe it will
be for veal"
"But II not. my darling, Now that
have really won you. grow faint hearted
lest you should ever repent. Oh! u you
should do that! II there should he only
pOvcrty-that Is wOe-before your
II should prefer that to veal with
Grant or any other man. she says softly,
with such light In her eyes a. he had
never seen there before.
The day wanes slowly; and night draws
near with reluctant footsteps. Nadine,
ttuttttTk kiNSSt ~ CUiNGNNH VI
u thrill Of satisfied vanity as she sees the
dainty vision that Is gazing hack ut her.
All In white the vision stands: u simply
clad thing In virgin muslin. hut with q
face above Il beautiful as q dream. That
II Is her own face rcjoices the heart OF
Nadine.
The many guests accommodating for to-
morrow nights ball have all arrived, and
IL Is with flutter at her breast that
Nadine takes n last glance nt her charm
ing person, and clasps round her neck the
diamond cross-Paul Annerlcy's first gift
Ia her. II had been deemed by her too
grand mn ornament To bc worn on the car
licr evenings here, when only q simple
black grcna,linc had ,secn her dinner
dress, but tonight, as she sees herself
looking all that the heart ef man could
desire, In her delicate Indian fabric, she
tells herself that the glistcning diamonds
arc what will add the last finishing touch
to nm already perfect picture.
Taking up her faIi, and returning the
maids congratulations ON her appc: rance
with pleased little laugh. she leaves her
room and go.s slowly down the staircase
toward the drawing roin. FOR u minute
or two she piiiscs outside the ,lW,r, partly
from natural NERVOUSNESS ut cncuuntering 4
NO many strangcrs--thcir vOiccs coming
to her In sublLcd murnur from within
and partly to give herself u last glance
over IN the huge mirror behind her, To as
sure herself that She Is loking fRirer than
usual. and that IN her true loves eyes she
may lind favor. She sighs u little rs she
remembers how far she will he from him
In few days timc--lost to him forever
bound irrcvocahiy to one whom she may
respect but can never love.
The smile hal died from her lips, and
her facc Is colorlcss rs her gown when she
has finished these sal musings, aud open.
Ing the drawing room door, advances
slowly ta where she can see Lady Val
worth IN the distance.
The room IL somewhat crowded. Many
look up rs she goes by them. Some re.
gar,l her silcntly-thcsc the men; some
nsk, IN ,lcprccatery way, who she is
these the women.
All show an undisguisc,t interest.
Lady VnlwOrih, with whom she has be-
come rcigning favorite, turns to greet
her as she approaches her si'le.
''Yuu must let me introduce you To o
very charming little friend Of minc." she
says az her companion, Lord Aster. hold
Ing out her hand to Nadine with u kindly
smile. "A friend, too, of Millicent So
She gets through the Introduction. and
Lord Astcr, an old beau with "a juvenile
lisp. aud wig callow and golden rs a
chickens down. murmurs something com.
plimcntary In u boyish tone that Is as
lalorcd sts u Is ancient.
There are few arrangements as yet
incomplete. Some cligihlcS unassigned" 4"
whispers IGsdy valworth % her favorite.
~ should like To give you some one who
would amuse you through the tedious time
Of dinner Would you like
She comes suddenly Ia u dead stop She
hal been murmuri::s t0 the girl IN gay
a5i,lc. with u smile upon her iacc. but now
the smile has given place in i:lance of
mingled astonishment and horror. Her
,yes are fixed ON Na,,inr's l.reast, where
the diamond cross-,'aui Anncricy's g1is
lis glitterin: and spar.l.n; INA nin.
Gently ns the girls gentle bosom rises
and falls.
"That-w.lcrr did you get thnt" de-
manslS Lady VaiwOrih, In u stiilcd tone.
Lord Astcr, fortunately, Is glancing
throrgh lis jarnty eyc,:lnss at some one
Nadine aud Lady Valworlh arc virtually
alone.
"Thaty" nsks Nadine ncrvously. sur
prised at Lady Vnlworth's. manner. She
looks 80 innoccntly at her hostess that the
latter, by n supreme effort. recovering
herself, lays her hand reassuringly upon
her arm.
"Nothing, my love. II was mere start
received. That pretty cr,,Ss upon your
neck reminded mc OF one usc'l To ad'
mirc long rIo. Who gave Il I" you!'
Paul Anncrley-l'aul. q" whom am
cn"aHcd. says the girl. with little
si"h. In truth, the pretty hanilc-ihc
value Of which is nngncSscd lay hers
devoid of rll tender interest, coming ~ IL
dill from LIN.
"Nh.nir tty gift" rc,'uss I ~ Val.
worth nhscnilv. In spit" " Sc Z her
manner is constrained. She moves away
from Nadinr nhd crnsscS the r"nm To
where Mill cent il s'an'!.nl. convcrsing
with Geraldine Mnssarr n. Her face IN
very pale. and there Is excitement in her
c.e as she approaches her niece.
"Milliccnt, says she abruptly. tapping