The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1891-01-30

Slltth'
"Really What was it?'
"Hc said you were pretty"
"I1e is very kind" Eloise answers, a
/ little disappointedly.
She is pretty, and knows it very well,
having been told so again and again.
Mrs. Radcliffe taps her reprovingly
with costly ivorc fan.
"My dear g,rl, you should not under
value such compliment from amillion-
aire like Mr.. Folsom"
Eloises glossy dark eyebrows sudden
/ ly lift themselves.
"a millionaire, Mrs. Radcliffe?'
Eyes. Oh, his wealth is immense! /
thought you knew it,"
"No, have not heard"
"Well, that is not strange, when one
| remembers that you could not have
| known anything about him.
Five days pass. During this time
John Folsom and Eloisc Bristow are
much together. Each soon discovers in
/ the other II charm which lies wholly
! apart from that which first brought
| them together in such close mutual at
traction; but it is doubtful whether, ex-
| cept for certain spurious intelligence
impaired by Mr.. Radcliffe, either of
these two young persons would have
had sufficient interest in the others ac-
quaiutance to have made the delightful
discovery which has now resulted for
! both.
Yes, Eloise Bristow and Mr.. Folsom
are thoroughly in love with each other
at the end OF u weeks time. More than
once, while thinking of how superbly her
reyengeful scheme had succeeded Mrs.
Radcliffe's eyes flash with malicious tIi-
| ulnph.
At last John Folsom tells himself that
! he is foolish not to avow his love, since
Eloise has given more than single
marked sign by which, if he cannot
/ reason to guess it.
One day while passing the library door
he catches the CLEAN of u pink muslin
morning dress.
1T is She" he mentally murmurs,
''and provided she is alone, shall not
| leave her until have declared the truth. ="
Eloise proves to be alone. Mr.. Folsom
seats himself at her side, and in few
| moments has spoken words that bring
the rich color glowingly to the girls
cheeks and make her eyes sparkle with
brilliant fire. He finished with these
! humble words:
Il have no right to address you as
am doing; for oh, Eloise. even should
you consent to become my wife the
world would call me little else than a
scheming fortune hunter"
A moment after the last words are ut
tered Eloise Bristow leaps to her feet.
"A fortune hunter!" she bursts forth
Indignantly. II do not understand
you, Mr.. Folsom, unless you mean what
you say for cruel satirer'
| He rises now.
Satire? Why, Of course I do not.
The facts are plain enough. Ny fort
une Is now mere wreck of what it once
was, and you are immensely wealthy"
A bitter, bleak sort of laugh leaves
Eloise Bristow's lips.
did Mrs. Radcliffe tell you that
that was immensely wealthy?' she asks
excitedly.
| Yes"
Eloise sinks back into her seat. Fix
ing her eyes on John Folsom's face,
which has become very pale, like her
own, she now continues, "And Mrs.
Radcliffe told me- the same thing regard
ing you" A slight pause. Suddenly
she asks, "Have yeu ever thought, in
past times, that Mrs. Radcliffe had any
dislike toward your
John Folsom's answer then comes
promptly enough, "Yes, used to believe
she hated me-"
Eloise laughs again, though less bit
terly than before.
And l feel that she hated me all
along, now. This is her revenge"
Those four words exercise a strange
effect upon the man who hears them
He seats himself at her side. He fixes
upon her face pair of eyes that glow
strangely.
"Eloise Bristow," he begins. with SOL
emn, determined voice, ''the story of nv
wealth Is what first attracted you to-
ward mo; but now that you know me- is
there not any feeling in your heart Who'll
ly apart from all this?''
| iEioioO iuaheS uO answer. she lowers
her eyes and begins to tremble. The
man ut her side draws nearer.
"Eloise, l love you well enough to die
for you-yes, even in these queer, prosaic
times of ours. And if this be the case.
surely love you well enough to work
for you! What is your answer, darling?
Lift up your head and speak it out
bravely. When Mrs. Radcliffe next
meets us shall she laugh to herself in
magnificent delight and silently murmur,
MY revenge is accomplished? or shall
she grind her handsome white teeth in
secret rage while looking on our happi-
ness, and be forced to confess that we
have conquered her with the very weap-
ons she sought to use against us, turn
ing her revenge into that which may be
our lifelong future joy-and such Joy,
Eloise, as no man can purchaser
There is momentary silence, while
Eloise sits motionless, with eyes still
lowered and then an instant later she
has flung herself upon his breast and
hos,