Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1891-01-05


man who had solicited the favor Of be-
ing her escort assiduously paying his
decoirs to gazelle-eyed brunette in q
costume of crimson and gold. Yes, she
might have known he would bring
Squire Rogers daughter. He would be
sure to be entangled In the meshes Of
the web she was weaving to insnare
him. and propose, for her father was Q
moneyed man, and Well, Madame
Rumor did assert that he cared . very
great deal for money. The girl was UNI
questionably 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 outrageously with Bob Lester,
and numerically snubbed the poor law
yer whom he addressed her, and felt
wretched all the while.
It was late in the afternoon, when,
longing to be alone, she broke away
from the groups scattered here and there
under the funereal pine-plumes, and
| found secluded spot on the bank Of q
rivulet that wound its way noisily
through a chasm Of Jagged, sharp
toothed rocks. and sat down on Q moss
covered bowlder to rest
The play Of the cool water, the sigh
ing Of the wind among the jungles OF
tall brakes, soothed her. She partially
closed her eyes, when
She started to her feet, q startled ex-
clamation dropping from her lips. She
had just discovered that the ruby velvet
pocket that had swayed from her belt o
short time before was missing. Where
had she lost it? And, oh, what If it had
fallen into some ones hands, especially
| Bob Testers 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 1t would fall
into the possession Of either.
What If Bob or Ross had picked 1t up,
and No, no; both of the gentlemen
were honorable, and would not try to
pry into another's affairs. Still, reason
as she would, she did not feel quite
easy about Mr.. Lester. He might not.
but
A heavy footstep crunching the pine
cones that Uttered the ground fell upon
her ear, and raising her eyes she en-
countered the malignant glance Of Bob
Lester. What had brought that angry
frown to his tace? Had he found the
pocket extracted from its depths the
diary, which she had not been wise
enough to remove, and cleaned the
truth of her feelings for him2
He had, indeed. Some perverse fate
had led him to the spot where 1t lay
cleaning in it's brown bed like some
brilliantly tinted bird Of paradise. Re
recognized it at once, and, STOPPING
down, he picked 1t up, with the inten-
ton Of restoring it to its owner, when
from its mouth the tiny blue-and-gold
book slipped out.
"Lucy's diary, by Jove!" he ejacu-
lated. 'Il1 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 as Q thunder
: cloud; furious feelings ragged and
seethed within him. He knew that she
despised him and loved his rival He
felt like rending the tell-tale pages in
pieces, but he controlled himself, and
thrusting the diary back in its recepta-
cle-the pocket he had recently thought
so pretty-he hurled 1t into the nest Of
underbrush from which he had taken 1t.
Let the accursed thing lie there, u
, he Kissed; "Pn confront my lady and
accuse her Of her treachery."
Lucy's face blanched white as death
as Bob Lester, like some raging demon,
halted in her path.
'Grow white, faint If you can, you
treacherous creature" he Kissed, with
all the venom of serpent II have
found you out. You flirted with me, led
,, me on, and confided to your diary that
If were the last man on the face Of the
earth, you would not marry me. More
you vowed you loved Ross Wilde,
= Shameless creature, scorn you'll Ihate
> you'll I've half mind to toss you dowr
among those sharp-toothed rocks! Yor
deserve such fate. No. You need moi
i. shrink from me; I'll not lay hands OF
y you, but shall try to turn the heart O
: my rival against YOU"
. He was gone, and Lucy sank SILVER
= ing to the earth.
y 'Why did ever fiirt with him2" sh,
= walled. "It was heartless, I know, bu
= I never meant him any harm. viii
- never coquette again with any man."
She covered her face with her hand!
and wept bitterly.
Miss Sherwood -Lucyp
. At the sound of a 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? found
. it probably where you lost it"
= She took 1t, and drawing forth thu
~ diary, said:
= "And was there Paul Pry enough
u about you to make yourself master o
the contents of this journal?"
n He regarded her haughtily.
- You are unjust, Miss Sherwood;
|, am an honorable man. But" lowering
= his voice, ''let me congratulate you.
!" met Mr.. Lester, who informed m
- that you had just consented to be hi
20 wife. I wish you ali possible happi
% ness trust he will be as kind to yo'