The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1889-05-16
THE EEXILES DAUGHTER
4 GALLANT COLONEL. AND
HIS BEAUTIFUL YOUNG
WARD.
A Designing Young Widow in the
Background.

enne's cheek deepeneti in color.
You mistake me, she said id1laught-
lily. Il have no intention of submit
ting. Ny hardship is, think, at an
end. was IS Thursday. | shall GER
tainIy join you in New York"
Bravo! bravo!' laughed the other
speaker, softly clapping her little jew
| eled hands. SO we are not in love
with our guardians footprints, as the
malicious would have it supposed"
Did any one say anything so pre-
posterous:" cried Toinette, her brill
liant dark eyes flashing angrily.
Never mind, never mind" said
Mrs. Etynge, lifting her innocent
looking blue eyes, and parting her
babyish lips in smile. lie beau
monde is always saying something
disagreeable, particularly of the young
and fair
That scarcely applies to me, said
Toinette, elevating her delicately pen
ciled eyebrows, and glancing at the
petite brunette reflection in the mirror
opposite.
"She walks in beauty like the night
| OF cloadless climeS and starry skies;
! And all that's best of dark and bright
-'h~S'- a. A4SA ''SPSNN s&A.N AlCl - Co.
quoted the dainty blonde widow, Mrs.
Etynge.
Pray, do not be SO nattering.
never could receive a compliment
gracefully" cried Tionctte, looking
vexed.
Pardon me. [ did not mean to Of
fend. | am like Lieut. McCool; in
your presence am always tempted to
express admiration"
At the mention of the lieutenants
name Toinette could not reprcss q lurk-
ing smile of triumph. You both try to
turn my head" she mumured.
The Widows only answer to this
was an affectionate glance and smile.
why could You not go to the post
with me now" she asked aftera pause.
'"To be sure the hotel is not equal to
villa on the Hudson, but the officers
are to have a hop tonight, and, my
dear, young lady may not consider
herself O rose in the garden of girls
until she has attended a West Point
| hop. Besides, your going now would
expedite matters for our New York
trip tomorrow.
Toinette sprang to her feet with an
exclamation Of delight; then paused
Col. Graham is not here" sho fall
tered. He might think
lie might think you were getting
out of the leading strings, ehS" ques-
toned Mrs. Etynge, mockingly. "You
cling to old habits, perceive"
You are again mistaken. | will
be ready as soon as my maid can
change my costume for something
more suitable, and pack something for
this evening-that is, if your carriage
has room for q package as unwieldy as
a party dress2'
Room! My dear, there is oceans of
room. Make haste"
West Point is the loveliest spot in
the world; its music is perfection, its
officers Adonises; but willful little
Toinette did not consider the hop q
success. In the morning she pleaded
indisposition, and refused to make one
of the gay little partE going down to
New York to hear Marie {ozc. West
Points favorite caEtatrice.
Don't let me disturb your plans, y
she insisted. Il will go over to High
land Falls, and take the. boat from
there. [ should enjoy a boat ride
homeWard more than carriage ride
today"
Mrs. Etynge expostuI&ted and slyly
taunted in vain
II am not afraid of my guardian, y
said Toinettc Ny head aches
Ny love" protested Mrs. Etynge,
Il am sure Of both statements. Pray,
do not lool~at me so defantly. l per,
ceive that you have declared your in
LII I 10 Il
If ycu even took the management Of
your property into your own hands.
Have you demanded a statement from
Col. Graham yetG"
"Hardly," laughed Toinettc. Il
have always had whatever desired,
and asked no questions"
sit is well that wardships do not
make mems fortunes, as they did IL
the middle ages. unused Mrs. Etynge
you would have TO hate Dick Ora
ham specializing with your fortune
would you notI''
.. DO yol; mean Col. Graham2"
Yes Tie old name escaped ml
unawares ! do not mind couliding tc
you, ;" said tile widow, affecting con
fusion, "that he and were lovers be
fore discovered his true nature. He
was always talking Of the money hC
would like to have, and it disguised
ne so that | broke with him
Toinette felt a strange sinking abou
the heart, but replied, bravcly:
mo doubt you were to be cOngratu
lated on your escape. Was this--thi!
80, yes; long before he got his
} wound and his discharge. He felt
terribly when l explained iny change
: Of feeling, but no doubt he is all over
? 1t by this time.
| 'Let us hope SO" said Toinette,
sweetly, and kissed her good-oy.
"Good-by, darling. Be sure to ask
the colonel if lie borrowed from you
when he built the river villa and the
E city brown stone"
, "Indeed, | will not"
Toinette was angry, but the ugly
I suspicion had taken root.
IA retired officers half pay would
!, not keep up such an establishment a!
= shis," she reflected He had no in
q lheritance; l have heard him say so
. He certainly has wealth, and spend
: t royalty. Can it be mine2 How dt
[ know have any2 / know nothing
|, Of my affairs. The few times l hav'
L questioned him he evaded me. How
dare suspect him2 Mrs Etynge know
, nothing. Why should she be so bite
= against the man she rejected2'
The jar of the boat as it touched th
shore interrupted her unpleasant trail
Of thought
"How detestablel No one expect
me. Twill have to walk home," wa
. :he exclamation that rose to her lips.
She was thoroughly weary whel