The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1891-05-02

''lS ii "asy?" asked the Girl, her
fine eyes glowing with pleasure at the
bare thought of serving the creature at
her side.
EASY enou@h,' he said drawing
her closer t" him and kissing her part
ed lips.
''Easy or difficult, it is all the same
10 me- she replied: s.for, LIKE, there's
nothing in the world would not do
for you: ''and throwing herarms around
his neck, she hung ON his bosom in her
Overlooking happiness. ..Tell me what
! am 10 do, dcar!'
''Io' morrow evening | want you TO
dress up III your handsomeSt gown and
meet me at eight O'Clock in the rear of
DR.. Edrimgton's garden. | will make
love 10 you and you must return my
carcsScs. You must insist on my re-
decming my promise 10 marry you,and
lilni that your honor requires that il he
done soon. lou must address me only
as Howard
''And will You promise TO marry me,
truly promise, if | do this for you?''
asked Nancttc, looking up to her COM
panion with two great tears starting in
her eyes.
'Indccd.I will. Nan SO remember
answered he; and placing II gold piece
i'll her hand, he arose to 80.
care You going so soonp'' tearfully
asked Eancttc.
eyes, ] must" he said. ~ have
much to do tonight: - and, kissing
the girl again on the lips, he hurried
away, TO more fully mature his plans.
In form there was slight difference
between Howard IIcrndon and Luke
Adams. Both had dark hair and eyes,
the same poiSe of head, the same walk.
Each wore mlIstache and chin whisk-
| ers of identical cut. If dressed alike,
one,a few yards away, y,might be readily
mistaken for the other
Howard wore, when dressed for call
ing, a neat-iitting suit of black. Adams
invariably wore gray. The latter was
Il perfect minnie, and had cultivated
this gift in the highest degree.
During the day he made sure of
Howard's absence, and knew that no
one but his employer and himself We're
cogniZant of the secret mission on
which Howard was gone. He had no
fear of his return inside of three days,
hence had chosen the next evening as
the time for executing his plan of VEN
gence.
Just before eight O'Clock on the even
ing he was to meet Nlnette in the
rear of DR.. Edrington's garden, he
stole into Towards room, and taking
from the wardrobe Howards dress
suit, he hastened to his own apart
ments with it. Ten minutes later he
emerged therefom, dressed in the pur-
loincd suit, and set out to keep his ap-
pointment with his pretty assistant.
Adams knew it was Grace's invaria-
BILE custom ut this hour of the day to
walk to the back part of her father s
garden, unless she had company, and
sit there enjoying the pleasant sur
roundings. 1t was this practice of hers
and his knowledge of it, that enabled
him so successfully play the game he
was now engaged in; u game that was
to result in the estrangement of two
lives, and sever two fondly loving
hearts, drive one almost to madness,
the other to the wilderness, hermit
This evening Grace, who of course
did not know of her lovers absence
from the city. after wondering why ht
did not come, started away to enio,
her accustomed walk and musing il
the garden, having first instructed the
servant 10 tell Howard where to fine
her if he called.
While sitting, listlessly watching the
lights of steamer that was just turn
ing the bend down the swift rushing
river. she was startled at the sound o.
voices, one of which sounded like How.
ard $ Just over the wall of the garden
She did not intend To listen, but
hearing her own name pronounced
could not resist the temptation TO heal
more.
!, II do not love Grace Edrington!'
she heard murmured by manly voice
which she was sure was that of Howard
, Herndun.
{" love only you, Nanette!" con
tinued the man. 'sWhy will you still
doubt me, darling!''
~ do not want 10 doubt you, How
. ard--Mr. Herndon-God knows | d,
not: but then / heard
; ''What did you hear, little one?'
asked the man.
t II heard that you, while pretending
. TO love me, We're in reality engaged Il
) marry this Miss Edrington. And, oh
t Howard, should You do so, it would Kill
a me! You know how ] have trusted
+ you, how have given up everythin:
4 for your love; how have submitted I,
you, relying on your promise of mar
e riage, and unless you make me You
"A wife and save me FROM
# Grace could not hear the continual
/ ton of the sentence, for il was spokel
: in whisper, but she heard and I'm
derstood the reply.
e sAS God is my witness, Nanette
V darling, do not intend to be untrue t
: You. | love YOU, and you only; an
i so soon as can perfect arrangement
,e | am now making, ! will MARRY you
n As the wife of Howard IIorndon, VIII
/, shall dare cast reprOach upon you?-
Is But, hist what is that? Did you no
d hear something?" and. looking ul
If Lake Adams, for it was he disguised Il
d lIerndon, exposed the side of his forl
to the mellow light of the moon.
l. Had Grace doubted for momei
e that the voice she heard was that {
Il Howard. such doubt would have bee
/. dispcllcd, aS the figure of the man ";
If thus momcntarily exposed in the mool
$ beams. She recognized the poise
V the head. the black dreSs-coat of h,
= lover; even the rose she had pinned c
the lapel of this coat the evening
II had last called on her
d depressing %roan, she kept III
= seat, for the moment Spcll-bound J
is the horrible revelation she had hcarc
p and the pair outside the garden wa
II passed out of hearing.
:. Oh, the shame, the misery of tn;
q hour! Believing herself loved, she In
q given the entire wealth of her affcctiu
d To Howard lIcrndon.
S She had first esteemed, then love,
l. then fairly worShipcd. She had fc
d herself gloriicd by his devotion, eNal
). ed III his passion for her, and never
II dream had she of This girl, this Nanctt,
II this riVal-and now to hear him mrI
q tion her own name in denial and Scon
e To feel that all the ardnr of her pure
: priceless love was despiSed--it was to
much too much,
Y With bursting heart she sought he
e chamber, hat not 10 sleep. All nigl
is LONG he tossed nn her bed suffering a
d untold AGONY; al the while the deatl
r. less pain of sc0mcd, unrequited loy
.e gnawing away nj her poor, womde