Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1891-01-15

dec0FS TO gazelle-eyed brunette IN
costume OF crimson and gold. Yes, she
might have known no would bring
Squire Rogers daughter. He would DO
sure to BIO entangled in the meshes OF
the web she was weaving to insnare
him, and propose, for her father was a
moneyed man, and We'll, Madame
Rumor did assert that no cared very
great deal for money. The girl was un-
Qucstionably lovely, and No matter;
she would show Ross Wilde that his at
tentions were disagreeable TO her. So
She forgot her mothers warning and
flirted outrageogsly with Bob Lester,
and numerically snubbed the poor law.
yer when he addressed her, and felt
wretched all tho while.
II was late in the afternoon when,
longing to be alone, she broke away
from the groups scattered hero and there
under the funeral pine-plumes, and
found secluded spot on tho bank of
rivulet that wound its way noisily
through chasm Of Jagged, sharp
toothcd rocks, and sat down on moss
covered bowlder to rest.
Tho play of the cool water, the sigh
ing of tho wind among tho jungles of
tall brakes, soothed her. She partially
closed her eyes, whom
She started to her feet, a startled ex.
clamation dropping from her lips. She
had just discovered that the ruby velvet
pocket that had swayed from her belt a
short time before was missing. Where
had she lost it? And oh, what If it had
fallen into some ones hands, especially
Bob Loster's or Ross Wilde's?
She remembered that her little blue
and-gold diary reposed in its depths,
and she had been foolish enough to jot
down some thoughts concerning the
rivals, never believing it would fall
into the possession of either.
What if Bob or Ross had picked it up
and No, no; both of tho gentlemen
were honorable, aid would not try to
pry into another's affairs. Still, reason
as she would, sho did not feel quite
easy about Mr.. Lester lie might not,
but
A heavy footstep crunching tho Pine
cones that Uttered the ground fell upon
her ear, and raising her Dyes she en-
countered tho malignant glance of Bob
Lester What had brought that angry
frown to his face? Had he found the
pocket, extracted from its depths the
diary, lich she had not been wise
enough to remove, and CLEANED the
truth of her feelings for him?
He had, indeed. Some pcrverse fate
had led him to the spot whero it lay
cleaning in. its brown bed like some
brilliantly tinted bird of paradise. He
recognized it at once, and, STOPPING
down, he picked it up, with tho inten-
ton of restoring it to its owner, when
from it's mouth the tiny blue-and-gold
book slipped out.
"Lucys diary, by Jover he ejacu.
lated. "I'll see what she has jotted
therein"
With no conjunction whatever he
opened it, admired the Italian, spidery-
like caligraphy, and then read the items
it contained.
His brow grew dark rs thunder
cloud; furious feelings ragged and
seethed within him. He knew that she
despised him and loved his rival. liz
felt like rending the tell-talo pages il
pieces, but he controlled himself, anC
thrusting the diary back in its recepta
Gle the pocket he had recently though
so pretty-he hurled it into the nest o
undcrbrush from which he had taken it
LET the accursed thing lie there,
he Kissed; "Ill confront my lady an(
accuse her of her treachery."
Lucy's face blanched white as dealt
as Bob Lester, like some raging demon
halted in her path.
"Grow white, faint if you can, yol
treacherous creaturew no Kissed, will
all the venom Of q serpent. 81 hav
found you out. You hirted with me, lie,
mo on, and confided to your diary tina
if | were the last man on the face of tn
earth, you would not marry me. More
you vowed you loved Ross Wilde
Shameless creature, | scorn you! l hat
you! I've half mind to toss you dow
among those sharp-toothed rocks! 70
deserve such fate. No. You need no
shrink from me; I'll not lay hands o
you, but snail try to turn the heart G
my rival against you"
He was gone, and Lucy sank shivel
ing to the earth.
"Why did / ever flirt with him?" sh
walled. st was heartless, | know, bu
| never meant him any harm. wi
never coquette again with any man."
She covered her face with her hand
and wept bitterly.
Miss Sherwood -Lucyr
At tho sound of familiar voice sh
raised her tear-wet face. This tim
; Ross Wilde stood before her, and in hi
/ hand she saw the ruby pocket Sh
, began to hate it.
! He extended it toward her.
Your property, | believe? l foun
: it probably where you lost it."
t She took it, and drawing forth tn
: diary, said:
i "And was there Paul Pry enoug
= about you to make yourself master {
/ the contents of this journal?"
r He regarded her haughtily.
: "You are unjust, Miss Sherwood;
: am an honorable man. But" loworin
l his voice, 'let me congratulate you.
met Mr.. Lester, who informed m
Q that you had just consented to be h
/, wife. wish you all possible happ
!. ness. ! trust he will be as kind to yc
: as should have been had you given n
r the right, Oh, Lucy, you know my s.
cret. Think of mo as kindly as yo
, can"
r He started to leave, but Lucy Gale
+ him back.
b "Mr. Lester spoke falsely, Ross.
: you had read the diary, as he was mea
: enough to do, you would have !earne
y tina, love you-only you"
t 1t matters not what followed; suffit
r it to say that Lucy was blissfully ha
C ply, and vowed that she would new,