The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1889-10-13

. rs >NexA lsEEAAM s!lssi
SHE WROTE TO FREE HIM.
Doubtless he had fallen in with some
woman who had had for him SO stronga
fascination that his old dear, admiring
love for her had shrunk into passing
fancy. And yet, how could any sudden
attraction have so deep and true an ex-
istence as that gradually developed af-
lection in which all the best part of his
nature had been called out?
Slowly covering her incurable wound,
she looked around her-ah, the world
was full of inexplicable wrongs and
transformations; she wondered she had
never noticed it before; and ceasing to
wonder at her own share in them she
resolved to guard Lottie from such
treacheries. Lottie should be hard
hearted and give all her love to learning,
for books betray not, knowledge certain
ly rewards its lovers; and she would
rather see her in spectacles, with short
unkempt hair, than wasting her heart
on man, who isunstable as water.
And SO, with gallant strivings to fill
up the rent made by falsehood, with
wisdom of practice and learning, Tasia
learnt to creep through three long
months with iron yoke instead Of wings
upon her shoulders. Neither the first,
nor the last in very truth-but it takes
courage, and that of no mean order.
While Lottie was at school she spent
her time at the British museum, and
wrote few little articles, and made
charming TRANSACTIONS, some of which
found their way into a magazine.
At the very end of July, when only
those who could nVt get away were still
in town, she and Lottie dined with
friends, and went after dinner into the
illuminated horticultural gardens Lot
tie had been promised to see the foun-
tains playing, and the party was chiefly
on her account.
Among the two or three other guests
was Dick Sherrieff. cousin of the fam
lily, who had gone on the stage, and was
SO far successful that now and then he
got an engagement for leading part in
touring company. He was a quiet,
/ pleasant fellow. with good looking, dis
appointed face. He and Anastasia, who
were old acquaintance, found them
selves together when they entered the
gardens, and he fell into somewhat con-
fidential talk, finding her sympathetic.
Lottie roamed about in ecstasies with the
colored beads az light in strings, fes-
ICONS. and hooking the fruit on the trees
of Aladdin's garden; with the fairy
buildings starred out against the inwigo
sky, above all with the foamy fountains
dancing on high like SO many of IN
dimes relations, mantled superbly in col
ored lights.
Anastasia and Sherrief found quiet
seat at comfortable distance from the
band. People were walking and sitting
all round them, and they amused them
selves by watching the groups.
"Shal we move away from the smoke
of that cigar" Mr.. Sherrieff asked pres
entity. "I'm afraid it comes across your
face. BY Jovep This last exclamation
was to himself, as he distinctly caught
the profile of the smoker.
Anastasia followed his gaze and turned
CHASTITY pale. Osmund Questin's face,
his clean cut aquiline profile, his marked
eyebrows, his crisp mustache some
shades lighter than his hair-worn
tride longer than formerly-even the
heavy intaglio ring ON the hand now
raised to his cigar-all were before her.
The beating of her heart Elmost choked
her; she was afraid aer companion
might hear her sobbing breath, and see
that she trembled from head to foot
She must get the better of the 10y pain
somehow. Love-the heartlessness of
his last letter had killed that-but
oh the anguish There had even
been limited reproach to her for
not having broken off the engagement
before she writhed as she thought of it.
"And how l deceived myself in my
blindness" she thought bitterly. 81 see
now in his face what ought to have seen
before-cold self seeking. He must have
altered gradually, for no one could now
be attracted by the look of goodness /
fancied could see."
"You know that MANI" she asked
young Sheraieff.
$50 far that once he tried his fortunes
on the stage at Manchester in the com
pany with which / was acting. His
name is Questin; pretty good on the
stage, no good of, l imagine. He
seems pretty happy now. Come back
from the road to ruin by the looks OF
him, with the heavy father reconciled."
No doubt the old gentleman with red
face and double eye glasses, who was
speaking emphatically at that moment.
was Mr.. Questin. Sr.
Cant go on, ! tell you. What want
70 know Is what does II mean? l know,
know. it's all trick to get sy consent
to marrying that little hussgIEtiAS