Nevada County picayune., 1890-02-05


 At that reflection Miss Montainc shivered slightly, and her beautiful face palcd somewhat.
 A spinster's life was rather sad, certainly?
 And was she strong enough, was she sclf-suilicient enough to defy all cravings for affection and sympathy?
 It would seem so piliful:
 .'ro gu through life unloting and unlovcd;
 To feel that thirst and hunger of the soul
 We can not sill
 She arose impatiently from her luxurious Turkish chair of dainty blue plush, and with nervous steps paced the superb length of her white and-gold drawing-rooms.
 Magnificent and panel-mirrors as she passed, showed changing dupli- cates of her slim, proud figure; her queenly Paris gown of satin, shroud- ed with richest lace; her perfect lily face: her great, luminous eyes of unfathomahle blue: her gleaming masses of pale golden hair, banded with iilct of pearls like chrystalized m0on-beams.
 At the enchanting, mirrored image Mss Montaine's lovely ripe lips curled disdainfully.
 Does any woman prize her beauty unless it IS to gain or hold the love of him who, to her, seems goodliest and worthiest among men?
 It were better, perhaps, if she were ugly. Then she would not have gained the noble heart she must wound so cruelty.
 For she had fully decided. she told herself, if indeed she ever for weak, mad moment faltered in doing what she knew was sensible and wise, she would banish Neal St. Clair from her life, her thoughts, her memory.
 To-day, this New Years Day, she would end her struggle and his sus- pense, admitting she had ever felt any struggle, or allowed him to feel any suspense about the matter.
 She would begin the new year bravely and with wisdom, putting all sweet follies and deceptive tempta- tions far behind her, just as she must finish the remainder of the life which a peculiar fate had shaped and fixed for her.
 To-day she would make her rcnun- citation rrevocablc to-day she would bid her final farewell to love and lover.
 And then her thoughts went back to her New Year of twelve months before her simple reception in the modest parlor of a tiny suburban cottage.
 The cottage, with all it contained {, she could have purchased almost for the price of the marvellous Paris gown she wore to-day with such easy grace, or for the cost of the single gem which blazed in rainbow flame upon the little lily hand.
 An! but she was happy then. Tears sprang to her proud eyes as she recalled that one day, set apart for its ecstatic delights ;'that one day which was gone. never to return.
 It was on that day she learned how Neal St. Clair loved her. and learned too, how much she cared for him.
 Even now the rapture of it all had power to thrill her-even now. when she had steeled her heart, and disciplined her heart to renounce him.
 But it was madness to recall these things now. when she needed all her strength of will; it was madness to recall caressing glances and passion ate whispers which dissolved her res olutons as night vapors are dispelled by the rising sun.
 And besides, it was time he ar rived, and she must betray no waver- ing of purpose, no weakness of heart.
 Although it was late in the after noon, Miss Montaine had been alone for some little time.
 She was far too exclusive to re- ceive mob of callers. Indeed, as yet she could not number many ac- ouaintances who would be likely to call.
 II compute my friends by quality instead of quantity" was one of the new hcircss' pet sayings,
 And, acting upon this sentiment she had surrounded herself with [ favorite few, whose tastes and fan IL L. ,.,ct tLI,,,c uorn worry like