Nevada County picayune. (Prescott, Nev. County, Ark.) 1885-1???, 1891-03-19
ANNETTE'S ROMANCE.

strange antipathy for Mr.. George
Wortley, her fathers employer in a
large mercantile business. There
existed no tangible reason for this
feeling, and Annette had tried very
hard to overcome it, but without
success.
Mr.. Wortley was handsome man,
bland, gentlemanly, well educated
and a favorite with the ladies. Half
the girls in Manchester had tried
vainly to captlvate him; his hard
heart still held out and refused to be
captivated. He was 40 years of age
now and owned the finest home in
the town.
A year previous to the time of
which l write Annette Raymond's S
father had died, and her brother,
Edward. had been received into his
place as heard clerk with Mr.. Wort
ley.
Their business was Wholesale
one, and they employed great
many clerks. Among them, and
trusted as much as any person about
the warehouse, was Lester Arnold,
Annette's betrothed lover.
Arnold was poor, having nothing
but his salary; hut his family was
highly respectable, and the young
mans individual talents and acquire
ments were quite sufficient to make
him acceptable to girl Of Annette's
strong common sense.
One morning, about months be-
fore the day fixed for her marriage,
Annette was arranging bouquet of
mignonette and moss roses, which
Lester had just sent her, when the
servant brought up Mr.. George
WhortleY's card.
An impatient expression escaped
her lips. She did not want to see
him. but courtesy demanded somez
thing for a gentleman of his stand
ing. She went down to the parlor
without even glancing at her lovely
face in the mirror, and when wo-
man does thing like that you may
be sure she is thoroughly indifferent
to the visitor.
MY dear Miss Raymond" said
he, drawing her to chair, Twill you
please be seated? | have a some
what painful revelation to make to
you."
Wondering, yet not greatly anx-
ious over anything Mr.. Wortley
might have to say, she took the seat
he indicated; but he would not suf-
fer her to withdraw the hand he had
taken,
Miss Raymond, before breathe
a word of what l have come to say |
must have your promise that you will
keep it secret as of course, if you
value his safety, you will be only too
glad to do.
"Whose safety?" she asked,
haughtily.
Mr.. tester ArGold:si"
She crimsoned TO the temples.
"Will you tell me what you mean,
sir?"
"When you have promised to be
sllqns,
She bowed her head.
II will not mention what YOU tell
me-" Mr.. Wortley.'
Very WE'LL yaHr psom'se is as
good as your oath. Lester Arnold
has forged the name Of my firm,
and"
1T is an infamous falsehood !"
she cried, Indignantly, springlng to
her feet,
II wish it were!" he said, sadly (;
Il would be 800 pounds richer, for
he has drawn just that amount out of
my pocket You had better listen
to me calmly, Miss Raymond, and
be satisfied that ! can prove what |
say"
And like one under the influence
of Il horrible nightmare. she listened
while, in his calm, business way, he
told her the story, putting the case
before her plainly that the Yeriest
child might have understood. The
evidence against Lester was perfect.
What she felt-vhat she suffered
i cannot describe, but she was a
very proud, high-spirited woman,
and she gave little outward sign OF