Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-01-26

I
fore her. If she still elected to adhere to
their original eontract-so be it. Good-by
then to life, and joy, and happiness. The
honor that alone remains will be but a
poor comforter. knowledge of Miss Nor
land tells him that she will be very likely
to assert her rights and decide on keeping
her hold Of title and estate. He manages
to ask her for a few moments alone with
him before leaving the breakfast-room.
Something new in her face as she answers
granting the required interview
strikes him at the moment, but not forci-
bly,. OF late her moods have been very
! variable.
"Now?" asks he.
"The sooner the better" returns she,
shortly. "The library is always vacant at
this hour. Shall we go there?"
"a good place." says he, trying to look
calm, while his heart is humping violent
ly against his side, as though it would
burst its bonds.
"Look here" says Miss Moreland, as he
closes the library door behind him. Zone
word is as good as ten"-this is the usual
graceful style in which she carries on her
conversational know quite well why you
are here, and | may as well have the first
word. You are sick of me, and Pm sick of
you. That's it-isnt it?"
"Really begins Brooke feebly.
He is indeed so overpowered by the brill
liancy Of this attack that he finds words
difficult to him.
"The fact is" goes on Miss Moreland,
waving his attempt at a reply aside with a
gesture of her large, firm hand, 81 don't
| think there is the remotest chance of the
old gentleman dying. Farnham you
know-and you without the title aren't
good enough"
Il can quite understand that" says he,
gravely, shocked at her coarseness. at is,
however, pity that you didn't think of
that sooner. l presume it was never me,
then; it was only the title"
"Well, as far as that goes" says
she, II presume it was never me either
1t was only the money" At this he colors
holly. She laughs. Does that trouble
your" says she. "Well, money clings to
money, you know, and l have decided
that one in the hand is worth two in the
BUSH" This is a dark saying to him, but
time explains it. "The truth is. | saw
Lord Farnham in town Just before I came
down here, and he looks as if he would
last forever; as if he would never get
! older"
"No, he will never get older" repeats
| Brooke. in a curious tone. With the old
man lying dead, this heartless speech of
hers-this cruel longing for his death
sounds even more detestable than it would
have were he living. He himself had not
loved the old lord, but he had never wished
him dead.
GAS to that, I suppose he will have to,
whether he likes it or not" says she vim
dictiyely. "But l don't feel inclined to
wait for him. And-er-as Lord Totem
Yes" says he, his heart giving great
bound.
GAS Lord Tottenham asked me last night
to marry him, decided that it would be
better to bring our engagement to an end"
81 am to understand, then, that you are
about to marry Lord Tottenham," asks he
formally, subduing all expression Of his
passionate relief by supreme effort. So
Tottenham was "the bird in handw A
tough one, truly.
EXACTLY So"
''You are wise in your generation" says
he, without passing smile. "And sound
in your proverbs"
You don't express much regret, at all
events" said she, with shrill laugh. 81
am wise in this, at least-that | don't care
about dividing my husbands affection with
another. That little girl to whom you
give your whole time will no doubt be glad
TO share with you your 500 pounds year"
This is unbearable.
"If YOU allude to Miss Dene," says he,
Al. L l. l. =.
eyes flashing, 81 do not think she gives en-
tire thoughts to money. Five hundred a
year, however, would, | acknowledge, be
but poor thing to lay at her feet. am
glad, therefore, that it is now in my power
to offer her $4,000"
"What?" says Miss Morland. She takes
step forward. Dismay, CONSERVATION,
discontinue are all largely written on her
astonished face.
'Lord Farnham died at 10 o'clock last
night. Contrary to my expectations, he
left me every penny he possessed" He
bows and moves toward the door.
''Stay-one moment" gasps Miss Nor
land. Ii she has even one small grain of
hope left that she may still be Lady Farm
ham, his next words destroy it.
''You must pardon me-" says he; II
have an appointment with Miss Dene.
She has not yet heard my news. All Lord
Tottenham," to that carefully preserved
old beau, as he most OPPORTUNITY enters
the ROOM Permit me to congratulate
you. Miss Morland has just informed me
of your engagement to her. feel she has
done wisely indeed With much humility,
l confess myself very much the worse man
of the two"
He laughs, and hurries away to find
Dorothy waiting for him in that little sa-
cred spot he had named Arcadia yesterday.
She rises as he comes toward her, and turns
so deadly white that he is afraid she is
going to faint.
"It>is all rightw cries he, joyously, to
reassure her. She would have gone to
him. but her limbs refused to obey her,
and if he had not caught her III his arms
she would have fallen. There is no re-
storative power SO efectual as lovers |
kiss. Dorothy is presently her charming
self again.
"Ohl how did it happen?' cries she,
rapturously. 81 prayed for it all last
night. but somehow | never had much |
hope. She has given you up, then. Real |
ly"
"Really and truly"
ooh! how could she?" leaning back
from him to gaze into his dear face, the
handsomest in the world to her.
"Well, it appears she could, quite |
easily" says he, with happy laugh. "You |
may think me good to look at, but when |
compared with such youthful Adonis as
my Lord Tottenham, even you must allow |
that ought to take back seat"
"Do YOU mean to tell me" with growing |
indignation, "that she has given you up |
for Lord Tottenham?"
"ESen so, my good child"
"Pouf She's fool. She's not worth |
wasting words upon," says Miss Dene,
with scornful conviction.
"Thst's what l think. Let's talk of our
selves" says he.
"Oh, as for that" says she, turning sud-
denly very dismal, and trying to give her
head the properly detected droop. 81 dare
saw you will be sorry about all this later |
on. l have not been a good friend to |
you," with heavy sigh, "and that's the
truth"
''What am going to be sorry about ~
''You know You said yesterday that it |
wouId he dreadful to live on e500 year."