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

Time, In so Tar rs IL brings them To the
next evening, has not told. The secret
still lies within its ancient breast II has
not yet iisburlcned itself, nor declared
aught that might heal the anxiety that
RACES in the fiighty, but kindly, heart Of
Milliccnt Grey.
Twenty times during tho day she had
approached Nadine with determination
TO lire of all sorts Of point blank batter
ies-mcant TO take the girl by storm-and
twenty times she Ind been driven back,
routed with great slaughter by the limo
cence Of Nadine's lovely eyes. No; she
could not ask u question that would
make her friend unhappy, uneasy, dis
trustful Of the man whom, II she did not
love. SHE had ut least elected TO marry.
80 the day wore on, aud eventide came
and died. and now night IL on them, and
once again Nadine Is standing before her
glass--a mirror that reaches from ceiling
10 fioor-rcgarding with anxious gaze
the lovely form that gazes back at her.
Once more she would I've beautiful!
Once more she would be pleasant In his
eyes. His! In comparison with whom all
the world Is poor.
Tonight her gown Is blue. a pale cleo
trio blue, that throws into purer pr0min.
cnce the startling fairness Of her neck and
arms She il lingering now, touching
her dress here, and moving flower
there. debating all the while what orna-
mcnt shall nave the honor Of lying on
her pretty bosom.
Some vague sense Of evil had warned
her against the cross. No, she would not
wear that Il had distressed dear Lady
Valworth, had whitencd her face and
III. a
DRY, sad aud angry, had been brought 70
mind By II. Not only that first time when
she Ind given way TO an exclamation,
but again that second time when he
Mauricc-Mr. Duran-had led her up 10
where she stood, Lady valworth had
seemed panied. sad, cold, unable to give
her the kindly smile that, up to the
wearing of that luckless cross, had ever
greeted her. No; certainly she will not
wear it-but-
There is the sapphire pendant. That
lovely, sparkling thing that Paul. too,
had given her, aud that as yet has never
graced her neck. True, he mad warned
her not TO wear either IL or the cross In
common! lie had got them through his
business In some strange way he had
failed 10 explain. They were valuable;
too valuable To be worn publicly as yet,
until he had made his fortune and hers.
Too valuable Ia he worn Mt Mrs. Brands,
for example lie had, indeed, made
her give her promise not TO wear them at
Mrs. Brands. and she had faithfully kept
that promise.
But there! He had not surely calcu-
lated ON the fact that she would ever be
herein such house ms this. II he had
known, he would have been the first to
tell her To make herself look MS charm.
ing ms was posslblc 10 her. lie would
have had her no whit behind the rest.
Tho very fact thnt she does not love him
has made her the more particular In the
matter Of Obeying him, and now u little
pang sip0ts across her heart as she won.
dcrs whether she hal been deaf to his
desires when she hung that diamond
cross last night around her neck. Ger.
tainly IL had brought her no delight
M luck. II had hurt Lady valworth, her
kind friend. IL had hurt Duran, too, In
some odd way. She could not tell how
exactly. but he had asked her one or two
questions about Il, and had rcfrained
from praise ii II. even when she laid II In
his palm for inspection.
M; not the cruss The sapphire pend
ant. rather. She lifts Il from its case,
aud raises her arms aiHwe her head and
clasps II round her neck. As she sees Il
glIttcring upon her lovely skin, she
smiles softly Ia herself. and bends for
ward full of sirlish delight at the beauty
III II, and tells herself that Lady Val
worth will hc pleased Ia see her thus
bcslecked uut to ,io honor Ia the home.
coming nf her sou, Capt. Boyle-ths
dearly loved son, who, To Nadine, Is as yet
much.
With last lingering glance nj the
mirror, that gives her back her charms 80
truly. she leaves the rama As yet Il Is
carly for the arrival ~ ,icsis. aud ~ she
enters the huge hall room sl,c iin,ls II al.
mast deserted. The iltl,licrs ART tuning
their instruments IN n monotOnous lugu-
brious way. and 0ne or two people are
laughing at the lower cnd VI the r,nn.
The lights ms yet nrc dim, and Nadine can
scaccly see them. She walks qultki
In their direction, her henrt lHaiing
gladly with sense Of youth and JOY. that
No misery In the future has power Ia kill.
As she draws nearer the laughter she can
see that her two or three have developed
into group Duran Ii here, AMI Gerald
MassaTcene; Mrs. Drand and Mllllccnt.
As Nadine comes mp 20 them some at
the servants turn up the lights 10 the
fullest. and quite glow Of brightness Is
ilnng upon the room. Duran steps 'lr-
ward 10 greet Nadine. lie says noihing
to her, hut only holds out his hand M II
In welcome. In reality, che soft sweet
beauty Of her has entered into him aud
stricken him dumb. The lamps nrc shin.
ing upon her starry eyes. her red parted
lips. her face 20 like = flower. The
antnts NV aianos that halt ses3caks