St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-08-11


every good aud generous quality for
her sake-once he possessed her! So
Standish set himself to serve two mas
tiers; hell first and heaven after. He
found out Leo's weakest spot, which,
poor lad, was tendency to gamble.
Standish led him slowly and surely on
--lacing, card playing, even little
tlutter on the stock exchange. For the
first time in his life Leo's pockets were
full Of money. He was intoxicated with
the unWOnted sensation. He bought
diamond heart for Stella, which she
dared not wear. but treasured fondly.
for he had sworn her to secrecy about
his money making. What delicious
whisperings they had together! When
he had made $4,000 they would be mar
ried. Stella was more charming than
ever to Standish. Was he not their
guardian angel?
The day of reckoning came quickly
and surely. Leoslost all his winnings
in Goodw0od week and $4,000 beside.
He was horribly vexed, but by no means
in despair, with friend like Standish
at his back. But suddenly Standish
made a volte-face, looked and spoke
sternly, and absolutely declined to adj
vance the money. Stunned and stnpe-
fed, for one mad hour Leo dreamed of
suicide; but he was young, the love of
life was strong in him, and he thought
of his parents and Stella with deeper
affection than he had ever felt before.
But what could he do! 1t would be i'm
possible for his father to raise the money
in so short time, even if he consented,
but Leo did not believe he would
consent, and he felt it would be
easier to die than to ask him.
But to be defaulter! What
high-spirited young fellow could bear
such a thought? That night he took
Stella into the gardens in front of the
house, and there he told her everything,
with burning, miserable shame and
anguish. She wept and wrung her
hands. Was there justice in heaven if
this awful calamity could fall on one so
loved, so guileless Tin her eyes, as Leo
on those dear people who had been as
father and mother to her. She rallied
against Standish, and vowed she had al
ways mistrusted that stern face of his.
She lay awake all night, her golden hair
tossing on the pillow, her white face
rosy with feverish anxiety. She would
see Standish, would plead with him
yes, on her knees. He had always
seemed so glad to do her smallest be-
hest; surely in matter of life and
death he would not refuse her. She
contrived to see him, and alone.
With bushes that seorched her fair,
white face, she pleaded to him as in the
watches OF the night she had schOoled
herself to plead. Then Standish UNI
masked. He kept the passion of his
without disguise the only terms on
which no uraC nronarad t0 apophp tO hpr
prayers. She was the price of LeO's de-
liverance. He waXed eloquent; his
voice and manner were tender as
woman's as he poured out his love to
her-the love with which he had loved,
nay, wOrshiped her from almost the
first moment when his eyes beheld her.
Stella recoiled from him in horror;
then, recovering herself, she appealed
paSSionately to his generosity, to his
pity, even. Pity! lie 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 bene-
fit by her sacrifice. He ventured, even
under the burning Scorn of her eyes, to
compare the boys love with his. Once
more she implOred him, with a very
agony Of entreaty, but he was mex
oIable; 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 a villain.
Would he have his darling sacrificed to
save himself ten thousand times deeper
disgrace? But after the first passion
ate excitement, despair came crawling
nearer to his love? Again he thought
of making clean breast to his father.
But that very night at dinner the adj
miral had seemed out of sorts, and had
darkly limited at an unlucky Specula-
ton into which he had been betrayed.
Leo thought of his young brothers and
sisters. 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 sor-
rowful 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,
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 shudder-
ings and tremblings, she resolved to
save Leo even at the cost of ler own
misery and despair. Withouta word or
hint to Leo, she wrote StandiSh 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 that?
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 believe they can
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 a
weeks delay for the payment of his
Goodwood losses. Before StandiSh
handed over Stella's purchase-money
she must be his. She must go through
the form of marriage with him at
a registry office. He would then leave
her free for two months. during which
he was to appear to her family to WOO
and win her. He knew she was not of
age, but he would hardly stick at such
a trife as lie now. And Stella, with
out word to Leo or any living soul,
with death in her heart, went out one
morning and married Standish, and re-
ceived from him her price, $4,000 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 a
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 the money.
She knew we'll 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 deliverer. and, grasping his hand,
poured forth all his gratitude with
heartfelt emotion, Standish experienced
a sensation that was not pleasufable.
A few days later Stella's husband
made formal demand for her hand of
her uncle and aunt. The good people
were delighted. Mercifullv for Stella,