The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1889-08-22
CUPID'S WILtS.
\ BIT OF COURT-PLASTER
AND IT'S MEANING.
He Loved a Semi-ldeal Girl Though
was About 10 Marry Another.
fCoutinued from last ISSUE. I

his studies at the Seminary, in
vitihg him to spend Thanks
giving with him. During the
visit the court-plaster episode
was discussed, but without any
results so far as additional i'll
formation was concerned. The
visitor said that no one at the
Seminary seemed willing to
speak of it, and its cause and
purpose were as much a mys-
terry as on the first day of the
occurrence. Reluctantly tn e
young man was forced to
abandon all idea of discovery
in that direction, but still
cherished the hope that some
day he might meet and know
The object of his romantic
devotion.
"a few weeks later, a portion
OF the Seminary building was
destroyed by fire. The circum-
stances were most shocking {:
several of the young ladies,
suffocated by smoke and para
lyzed by terror, were unable to
escape, and perished in the
flames. The school was almost
entirely broken up, many of
the pupils returning home or
going elsewhere. This seemed
to the young man to be the
final blow to all of his hopes.
Whether his little love had
been one of the victims was
the thought continually in his
IN ind, and he became sad and
depressed to such a degree that
his friends grew anxious about
him and insisted upon some
recreation, fearing that lie was
being overtaXed by business
respor sibilities. He had never
told the story of that well-re-
memb bered night. 1t was one
OF the sacred things of life that
he treasured in his heart Of
hearts.
"Fifteen years later, a selec t
and fashionable party of sum
mer visitors assembled at one
of the well-knOwn watering
places. Among the number
was Albert West, then one of
the most respected and wealthy
citizens of the State in which
he lived. He had been persuad-
cd to join the party as a sort of
guardian to all invalid sister
who had been advised by her
physician to try the waters for
her health. Mr.. West was still
unmarried, all the efforts of the
many charming damsels Of his
acquaintance having failed to
dim the brightness Of the first
star of love that shone upon
his youthful pathway.
CATER a week Of gayety, the
little circle became somewhat
fluttere1 by the announcement
that on the following day the
party would receive an addition
in the person of a fashionable
star of the fir. magnitude. The
only information vouchsafed
by the two ladies Who chaperon-
ed the party, Was that the
Princess was coming.
"Mr., West arranged for a
fishing excursion which should
last for some days, he having
according to his own account,
seen quite enough Of fashiona-
BILE beauties, and having no
mind to act the part of satellite
to any such dazzling planet.
An accident, however, delayed
his departure, and he was pre-
sent when the Princess arrived.
| Against .h1s will, and in defiance
of, all his resolves, he was
deeply impressed by the fair
visitor. He learned that she
was the niece and adopted
daughter of a gentleman well
krown in financial and political
circles, the heiress to large
properties, and had an immense
fortune in her own right.
"She had been educated
abroad, and had returned home
to wed distant relative Of the
family. Although it was a
marriage Of convenience, it was
as well-assorted as most unions
are. and the couple lived AMIGA
bly, for two years, when the
husband met his death in a
railroad accident. His wife
mourned him sincerely, al
though she had never appeared
to feel any of the enthusiasm
of affection for which her init
mate acquaintance gave her
credit. 1t was often discussed
in the family whether she
could have formed any previous
attachment; but every suggest
tion of this sort was promptly
negatived by those who knew
her best. Now she was a
widow, wealthy and beautiful,
elegant and accomplished, and
possessed of an indefinable
charm of gentleness and tender
ness that drew all of her inti-
InataS to her nreSpncp and