Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1889-12-14

make him l:aprv Col. Mortimer wa
drinking heavily and playing high-twt
sure signs that he was losing faith in the
continued prosperity of the company
and there were some ugly rumors afloa
that reflected upon the company S credit
John, too, feared day of reckoning
and he followed the example of his chic
in the matter of drinking and high play
His letters to Amy became less frequent
and his visits to Leoni more so. lie wa
infatuated by the Italians beauty ano
her passionate love for him. and he coult
not keep away from her, Two or thres
times lie had gone to see her while feel
ing the worse for liquor She was terri
bly, shocked but he explained the cir
quite willing to accept the explanation
One day, after "a matinee. he called fol
her at the stage door of the Academy tt
take her home in his carriage She re
fused to 90 with him at first, because he,
mother was not with her; but John
lrgued SO eloquently that. she yielded.
Were they not engaged to be married.
indeed, they were really as good as hlls-
oand and wife. 1t was only a question
If few words of ceremony. Moreover,
le had something of great importance
% say to her, and he must say it to her
alone.
So Leoni got into the carriage. John
,poke few words in low tone to his
italian valet, who sat on the box with
the coachman. and sprang into the car
riage, shutting the door after him with
bang OF victory. AS the horses dashed
up the street he took Leoni's hand and
kissed it deferentially, and held it in his
own while he talked to her as he could
so well talk to women. John had been
drinking, but not heavily, and not enough
for Leoni to notice; only enough to make
him determined to accomplish his object,
to which end he brought all his elo-
auence to bear. He told Leoni the story
Of his love for her-a story she never
tired of hearing; and then he asked her
if she really loved him. Her words
were few, but their emphasis and the
look in her eyes satisfied him. Then he
told her that he was going to put her
love to the test-that he was going to
ask her to marry him, and to marry him
that very afternoon. Circumstances
which he would explain to her some day
made it necessary for their marriage to
be private.
If he could have his way, he would like
it to be proclaimed from the house
tops and cried through the streets. He
was proud of his love, and he wanted
the world to know of it, but adverse
fate would have it otherwise If they
were to be married at all, it must
be privately. Leonis face grew pale at
the "if," and she pressed Johns hand
that held hers with an energy that gave
assurance. II was SO sure that you
would say yes, darling, that l brought
this ring, and l have ordered the coach
man to drive us to the house of a re-
spectacle clergyman, VINO will perform
the ceremony as it should be performed,
making thee mine and me thine beyond
any chance of separation" Tears filled
Leoni's eyes at the thought of deceiving
her kind father and mother; but John
kissed them away and told her that it
would only be for a short time. He had
his way, and as the clergyman's house
was reached in few moments tho cere-
mony was performed at once, Johns
valet acting as witness. Leoni, in her
agitation, with her imperfect knowledge
of English, did not notice that John gave
tho name Of Hurlstone.
After the ceremony John drove her
home and took dinner with the family.
He was never gayer and never made
himself more agreeable to Signor and
Signora Celia. Leoni was more or less
embarrassed. She felt that she was in a
false position, and she was displeased
with herself for having deceived her
parents, particularly her mother, from
whom she had never concealed anything
in her life. Both her father and her
mother felt sure that John was seriously
in love with Leoni, but they knew their
daughter too well to fear that she would
entertain any proposition from him but
that of honorable marriage. Those who
look upon ballet dancers as an utterly
corrupt and abandoned class who regard
we'll to do young men as their legitimate
prey should have known Lisa Celia. A
better girl never lived. Not only was
she the bread winner for her family
(many less virtuous girls are that), but
she was purity and goodness personifed.
Many women of society, whoapplauded
her dancing, but would have tossed and
turned away their virtuous heads if they
had met her in drawing room, could
not have submitted their lives to such q
scrutiny as hers would bear. Even dear,
good Mrs. Hurstone would have taken
to her bed had she known of her Johns
marriage to a premiere danseuse of the
Italian opera-not only because he was
already engaged to the girl of her choice,
but chiefly because of her horror of such q
mcsalliance. Inreality the mother to have
been made wretched by this marriage
was Signora Celia. Lisa was much tol
good girl for John Hurlstone, and never
under any circumstances could he make
har u davotad hrshand She was nre-