The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1889-08-24


without disguise the only terms on
which he was prepared to accede to
her prayers. She was the price of Leo's
deliverance. He waxed eloquent his
voice and manner were tender as wo-
mans as he poured out his love to her
the love with which he had loved,
nay, worshjpped her from almost the
first moment when his eyes beheld her.
Stella recoiled from him in horror then,
recovering herself, she appealed pas
sionately to his generosity, to his pity
even. Pity ! he had no more pity than
the tiger whose prey is within his grasp
desire knows neither mercy nor pity.
Her tears, her distress, kindled still
more the violent and cruel side of his
nature. Yet his voice was tender and
persuasive. He would make her the
happiest woman alive. She should not
have single wish ungratifed nay,
Leo, himself should be the first to ben
eft by her sacrifice. He venturned,
even, under the burning scorn of her
eyes, to compare the boys love with
his. Once more she implored him,
with very agony of entreaty, but he
was inexorable there was only one
condition. And So he left her, bidding
her to think it over.
When she told Leo his rage for the
moment overcame his despair. He
called Standish by every name with
which man can brand villain. Would
he have his darling sacrificed to save
himself ten thousand times deeper dis
grace2 But after the first passionate
excitement, despair came crawling back.
Dlsgraced, dishonored, was he nearer
to his love2 Again he thought of max
ing clean breast to his father. But
that very night at dinner the admiral
had seemed out of sorts, and had darkly
limited at an unlucky speculation into
which he had been betrayed. Leo
thought of his young brothers and sis
tiers. Were they to be sacrificed to his
criminal folly? All he could call it
by its right name now. He and Stella
sat with clasped hands and sorrowful
eyes they had never loved each other
as they did now. Then in the night, as
she lay half distraught with her trouble
and Leo's, the instinct OF self sacrifice
which is in every good woman's nature,
which has made heroines and martyrs
of them so often, inspired her, and,
with shudderings and tremblings, she
resolved to save Leo even at the cost
OF her own misery and despair. Without
a word or hint to Leo she wrote Stand
ish that If he would not have pity on
her, knowing how she felt toward him,
she must needs accept his cruel terms,
since she loved her cousin more than
aught else in the world. Would he, she
wondered, still want to marry her after
thatp
He took her at her word with JOY
and triumph. He would know how to
guard her against Leo-against every
man in Christendom-and he had all
the faulty common to lovers who be.
lieve they can make a woman love
them. Even then Stella had hope that
she would be able to creep out of her
promise through some loophole, but
Standish was far too clever for that. Leo
had obtained weeks delay for the
payment of his Goodwood losses. Be-
fore Standlsh handed over Stella's pur-
chase money she must be his. She
must 60 through the form of marriage
with him at registry office. He would
then leave her tree for two months, dur
ing which he was to appear to her fam
ily to WOO and win her. He knew she
was not of age, but he would hardly
stick at such trihe as lie now. And
Stella, without word to Leo or any
living soul, with death in her heart,
went out one morning and married
Standish, and received from him her
price, I2,ooo in Bank of England
notes. Her trembling hands placed
them that night in Leo's and he went
half mad with delight, and vowed that
after all Standlsh was prince OF good
fellows, and perhaps had only meant to
give him fright for his own good.
Stella held her peace. She could not,
dared not tell him-not, at all events,
until he had paid away the money. She
knew well enough how he would fling
it back in Standish's face, perhaps with
blows and violence, did he but half
guess the truth. When Leo sought his
dellverer, and, grasping his hand, pour
ed forth all his gratitude with heartfelt
emotion, Standish experienced sensa-
ton that was rot pleasurable.
A few days later Stella's husband
made form al demand for her hand of
her uncle and aunt. The good people
were delighted. Mercifulv for Stella
Leo had gone yachting with friend for
three weeks. Mrs. Grey could not
make out why the girl was not overjoy-
ed at her wonderful fortune. Standish
was lover in ten thousand his settle
ments, his gifts were princely. He did
not trouble her with much love- making
he could afford to blde his time but
no woman could have had more tender
thought and consideration shown her.
He was so kind that wild hope fash
ed across her that perhaps, after all, he
would set her free. for of late the fond
affection she had formerly felt for Leo
had grown into a madners of love that
was eating her heart out. Suddenly one
evening she turned to Standish, and in
an agony of tears implored him to re-