The Opelousas courier., 1891-07-25

When this lady heard of Lord Mel
tons engagement to the American
heiress, she spent several very unhapp,
days, and then becoming calm, but will
a dangerous light in her blue eyes, reac
over some of his lordship's recent letter.
to herself. Lord Melton never wrote or
both sides Of the paper, and, selecting
the first page of a certain letter, she care.
fully cut it in two pieces. The first hal
read as follows:
CRoFToN, Oct. LIST. 1886.
EDNA: just a few lines to tel
you of the arrival of Harriet's protegee. ths
heiress, whose American gold, metaphor
cally speaking, is to regild my furnished for
tune. The whole affair is cut and dried.
am to have no rivals while she stays at Croft
ton, SO Harriet, with wisdom which would
guests. She says it will be my own fault il
do not succeed, for she is quite sure Miss
Grey viii be only too glad to marry an Eng.
hsh noblenan. Charming programme, is Il
not?'
The second half quite altered the
meaning of the first.
"And yet 1 have fatty and positively re-
fused to follow it. Harriet, however, being
generously endowed with that most estim-
able of qualities, perseverance, hopes that, by
throwing ME daily within range of Miss
Gfey's manifold charms, that young lady
may finally bring be down. She is really
very handsome; but were she Venus herself,
| would not marry her for money: Am
| F0Ifpinp f0 Gna V0Jf q pnia ca arpnot ma RI
drop in any day next week.
"Au revoir, as | am going to ride with the
American. Ever yours, JAcK.n
II think this will answer very nicely"
said Mrs. Mortimer to herself, and put
ting the second half away among the
papers in her desk, inclosed the first in a
fresh envelope and addressed it to her
successful but unconscious rival.
To a causal observer Miss Grey ap-
peared to be a detected heap of silk and
lace, as she sat curled up in an armchair
before the open fire of her boudoir.
Lord Melton had been obliged to run UP
to London on business, to be gone several
days, and his fancee found that time
hung very heavily on her hands. Lean
ing back with dreamy, half closed eyes,
she thought of her absent lover.
Her reyerie was soon interrupted by a
knock at the door, and a maid entering,
handed her two letters-one from Lord
Melton, aud the other, addressed in a
woman's hand, she did not recognize.
On the principle of keeping the best TO
the last; she opened the note of hef FEM
mime correspondent.
SO Dearest Edna-and no signaturei
There must be some mistake" And
tLen she recognized Lord Melton's hand
writing. Carefully comparing the letter
with the ADDRESS on the envelope she had
just received from him, Parker GREY
knew the same hand had written both.
Then it flashed upon her that some wo-
man whom she did not know had pur
posely sent her one of Lord Melton's let
tiers to read. She felt the safest and
wisest thing to do would be to return it
to him unread.
but have i not the right 2" she ar
gued. Perhaps it is something l ought
to know
He who hesitates is lost, and so Miss
Grey, with beating heart, read the sew
cred letter.
When she had finished it she buried
her face in the cushioned back of the
chair and broke into a passion of sobs.
After awhile she became ca1mer, and
tried to realize the blow she had re-
ceived.
She could not doubt that the man she
had loved and respected had written the
heartless, mercenary letter she had Just |
read. There was no possible room for
doubt. Nothing Lord Melton could say
would alter the fact that he himself had
confessed to this woman Edna his in
tention OF marrying her for her money.
Each phrase of his letter seemed burned
into her brain. She particularly resent
his saying: "She will be only too
glad to marry an English nobleman.n
docs he imagine that I, like himself,
am feigning love, but I'M in reality buy
ing his title9 Thank Heaven that have
found this out in time to prove thatif he
does not respect me, / respect myself
She bathed her eyes in rose water until
Ill traces of tears had been removed.
for her maid, she ordered her
20 pack at once. Then going to Lady
Jrofton's room, she tapped lightly at the
ioor.
"Come in" cried her ladyship.
II have come to tell you," said Par
Ter, entering, stthat | have just re ceived
etters which oblige me to meet my
in London tonight. I am very
to leave SO abruptly, and want to
hank you for all your kindness; and
7ou have been kind to me, very kind, in
many ways"
"But surely you intend to come back2"
demanded Lady Crofton, IN great sur.
"Why, what il the world will
Tack saya"
1T is quite impossible for me to re-
urn; but I shall write to your brother
t once and he will understand per
tsBut, my dear child, you LOOK posi-
Ively I'LL You are as pale as q ghostln
II have a bad headache-tLat is all.
think | will go now and write to LORD,
IL it is quite convenient, T
1ill leave tonight by the seven o'clock
Parker Grey had intended to frankly
Ill Lady Crofton the reason OF her hur-
departure, but when the time came, ]
1T unequal to the scene she knew it {
create, s. decided to let Lord I
lelton be the n to enlighten his sister !
d the subject. !