The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-07-26
FOILED.

AS morning when Mrs de Lacey, accom-
ES panied by her companion" Florence
Chester. first sailed into the long breakfast
room Of the Royal Hotel at Newtonyllle,
looking bewitehingly coquettiSh aud pl-
quaint in a well-ehosen morning costume.
Mrs. de Lacey was quite conscious OF the
notice SHE attracted, and enjoyed 1t excess
siyely. She lad not before appeared in So
eiety since she had lost her husband. She
had come now to the Spa, with the full in
tentiOn Of creating a sensation. Her prac-
ticed eye, and a still subtler sense that be-
longs to the habitues of society, assured
her, long before the first breakfast was
over that she had succeeded.
Mrs. de Lacey had enjoyed the possession
of large income during her husbands
lifetime but on his death she, being child
less, was compelled TO see nearly everything
that she had been accustomed to look upon
as her own pass into the hands OF the men,
bers Of his famiiy-the heirs-at-law.
l, Is true she had quite enough to enable
her to 1--we in quiet independence. but that
sort of life had no charms for her; and she
intended so to arrange her plans of cam
paigu that, long ere the real truth in rela-
ton to her fortune should reach the ears of
the public, she could secure a lover, or
Il l.
n-law were ready to aid her in her plans.
Florence Chester's father, friend OF MI
de Lacey, had died abroad, before ms
friend, who at once took the orphan to his
home. Thus she had established sort OF
claim Upun the widow, though IN trutn she
owed her nothing beyond gratitude Tor her
PROTECTION. Her scanty Inheritance was al
ready sufficiently augmented by the result
Of her own efforts to render her perfectly
independent IN pecunlary point OF view.
a.. nfgfn
admirers. Her beauty, her fascinating
maHuers, the reputation Of her wealth, all
consWred to make her the center Of attrac-
ton. Near this bright center-a pale satel-
lite, Indeed, amidst the radiance OF the
widow chaTms-waS ever seen the quiet,
gentle Florence Chester. There was one
among the crowd, who, from having at first
conceived violent prejudice against her,
had come to feel a strange and most unac-
countable interest in the girl who, Ike
silent, beautiful statue, save Ihat her lace
now and then lighted up spiendIdly at the
utterance of q noble sentiment, was always
present during his frequent conversations
with Mrs. de Lacey. There was singular
attraction for Charles Belden IN that silent
figure liz made his visits even more ire
quent to the widow parlor, where he was
sure of seeing her. lie knew that he might
create false hopes in Mrs. de Lacey, but the
discovery that her heart was not likely to
take much part in the game had become
ptICPpuUlt ~ u4lis anu tDClC4O4C AC Adu III
cumpuuct!unS.
Mrs de Lacey had singled Charles Belden
as The most desirable of all her admirers.
lie was rich; had travelled and lived much
abroad, and belonged to one Of the best
families. He suited" Mrs de Lacey ex-
actly, and that lady was by no means
pleased to note his attempts to draw Miss
Chester into conversation, or the continual
wander of his glances toward the window
where she sat, while she herself was exert
ing all her brilliant powers for his enter
talnMent.
III cannot be possible" she said, in self
communion; 1T surely is almost beyond
the pale of possibility that Charles Belden
can find anything in Florence to admire be-
You'd her beauty. which is hardly OF kind
= to attract a man of society such as he IS.
But, lest there should be something Of this,
| viii take care to render Florence more
distant and TepeIlant To him than she Is at
present. | cannot | ought not, l will not
allow such prize to slip from my hands,
Just as it seemed almost gained"
She started up as she spoke, and paced
her chamber nervOusly. The season was
nearly passed and her purpose yet ungained.
FIR her security relative to Charles Belden
she had reldxed her efforts in other direc-
tOns. She had reason to belive that the
fact of her want of fortune was becoming
known. The second on her list OF ellglbies
was already secured by another. Every
day lcsSened her chances, and increased the
liability of defeat There was no time Tor
DELAY, and she had already resolved on her
course when Florence knocked at her door
t. inform her that the hour Tor their daily
walk had arrived, aud thus afforded her the
opportunity she desired.
In little while the two were seated be-
meath tree-a favorite seat that conf
manded the broad esplanade, at that period
of the day usually thronged with promen-
aders. Here Mrs de Lacey, in the intervals
of her numerous tiirtatlons, knew she would
have ample leisure for that little CONVEX
satIOn" which she desired to hold with Flor
ence.
"A splendid man is the Count de B"
she commenced; Il think he admires you,
Florence"
IF ever noticing me is evidence of that, |
can readily agree with you, replied Flor
ence. But | trust you are mistaken.
why should You trust so, my dear? All
girls are DESTROYS of marriage, l suppose,
and you will surely marry"
Il am not SO sure of that. | have never
received an offer. nor wished for one"
Tell me, Florence, is there not some gen.
tleman here whom you admire more than
an0ther?"
There are several" answered Florence;
more than one whom | admire"
But one above all-Charles Belden, for
instance"
81 consider Mr.. Belden." replied Florence,
"a most brilliant person, and believe him
to be uneXceptional in all respects; but |
never thought of him in any light but that
Of your friend"
''But he is scarcely that" the widow re-
piled, languidly. II don't deny that he
was much struek-greatly attracted at first;
but you who understand me-who know
where my heart lies buried in the grave of
my poor misunderstood know also that l
could have given him no encouragement.
Indeed l have taken means to have him in
formed-but enough of this. l only wish
that he did not dislike you so much. l
should so like to see you his wife"
For the first tire Florence was interested
in the widows remarks.
"Does he dislike me, then?" she asked,
while tears rose to her eyes, and she cast
troubled, anxious glance upon her compan-
IONS face.
Yes, extremely. He said-perhaps l
should not tell yOu-but be said 10 Mrs.
Carlyle that you were so stiff, so distant
so formal, that he never dared approach
you lest he should become morally frozen"
Florence's lip quivered. She was silent
for moment after her friend concluded
Waen she spoke there was a perceptible
tremor in her voice, but she said, calmly:
Il am sorry for this. l was not aware
that had given cause for such dislike. 1t
is unmanly, think, to speak of me thus,
and l shall always retire from Mr. Belden's
presence whenever in future find myself
IN it."
Perhaps Mrs. de Lacey might have re-
piled TO this with characteristic hypocrisy,
but some friends came up at that instant
and she strolled away with them, leaving
Florence still sitting beneath the tree-stilI
sitting with her eyes fixed upon the book
that trembled in her little hand.
But scarcely had Mrs. de Lacey disap-
peared than rustllng might have been
heard in the shrubs that surf rounded the
base of the tree and quite concealed another
seat on the opposite side. In another mo-
ment Charles Belden stood before the as
tonished Florence. She hastily arose and
would-have made her escape, but Mr.. Bel
den gently detained her.
Scarcely were the Christmas fetes pastin
the following winter, when Blank Square
beeame suddenly gay, on a certain brilliant
winter morning, with the throng of car
rlages that poured into its aristocratic pre-
eincts, carrying their freight Of elegance
and fashion TO the bridal reception OF the
young Mrs. Charles Belden. Among the
first who approached the lovely bride, as
she stood at the end OF the long splendid
vista of drawing-rooms was Mrs. de Lacey,
Fastening to welcome her ouondam "com-