The Delta independent., 1893-11-29

destination in a
distant Northern city. Yet, Stella
felt strangely uneasy. Had she been
too precipitate?
| Perhaps there was some mistake.
| after all oh, how she wished it
| might be SO; she would humb her
self upon her knees before him, if
she could only prove herself mistaken.
Yet, it was therein black and white
before her-the evidence of his guilt
| What could she do but believe?
She went home to the pretty cottage
nearby, where she had lived all her
life. still with that uneasy feeling
rambling in her heart, that troubled
expression in her gray eyes.
Going straight to her own room, she
opened her writing desk and took
told her of Teddy Danes perfidy.
! Teddy Dane, her own dear lover. to
/ whom she was betrothed.
| Far away, in his Northern home, he
was working for her-waiting for the
/ day when he could claim her for his
wife. Stella was working, too, with
| her pen; for she was quite a successful
writer of stories for various publica-
/ tions, and earned 4 very comforta BILE
| income. So she devoted herself to her
| literary work, and her bank account
/
| Independent, and was determined not
/ TO come TO Teddy Danes home penni-
less; and all her worldly possessions
/ consisted of the income derived from
/ her writing
| Teddy was SO loving and tender, so
! truc and honorable, no wonder she
| loved him; and IL there was little
| jealous terror lurking in her heart,
/ lest some one else should learn to care
| for him also, one cannot wonder at il.
/ For in all true love there turks a spice
| of jealousy. II is the human element,
and since we are all poor, erring NOR
/ tails. our love must partake OF the
| human-morc or less But nothing
had ever aroused the slum bering de-
mon. jealousy within Stella's heart
until now. The first seed was so~n
now-wh hat would the harvest be?
She stood holding in her hand the
letter which had been the cause of
her disgust ever since its reception
that morning. This is what it said:
Miss STELLA LogSE: Pardon me. u
stranger, for vcnturing TO address n
word of warning to you. understand
that you are bctrothcd TO Mr.. Teddy
! Dane, of W. Arc you aware that
he Is constant visitor at Miss Laura
Latimcr's residence in b? 1t is
Dane is going TO marry the lady. l
have been aware of this for some time,
and MS have the greatest respect and
admiration for YOU as "A lady and a
writer. ! have venturcd to drop you
this hint. II | have blundcrcd in
doing so, ! beg your pardon My in
tcntions are good, and ! trust you will
not imagine, for moment that my
motive is otherwise than honorable.
"A word to the wise is sufficient
Yours very respectfully,
OSCAR SMITHsoS.'
Slowly, carefully did Stella Lorne
read this letter over, her face growing
very pale. her eyes filling with tears
OF bitter sorrow and regret Sorrow
for her own suffering. her lost faith.
lost trust, and regret that her idol
should be thus rudely dcthronei. For
Stella could not close her eyes TO the
| warning conveyed in Mr.. Smithson's
letter. She had never mct the gentle
man personally, out he had attended
to some business matters upon several
occasions, invest ng her small funds in
such an advantageous manner that
the investments had largely increased
her modest bank account She knew
that he was shrcwd and keen. IA tuc
business manager. and, as far as she
was aware, gentleman, She felt
that his letter was entitled to consid-
Grafton at least. For what object
could he have in deliberately misrcp-
rcscnting and attempting to make
trouble between her and Teddy?
Yes, 1t must be true, poor Stella
could not believe otherwise. Laura
Latimcr was an animated fashion
plate, soullcSs woman. who de
lighted in angling for mems hearts,
and entering into engagements. Just
foi fun" engagements which she had
not the slightest intention should cul-
inmate in marriage, She was too
fond of her freedom, she was wont to
say. And so she went on in her game
u OF hearts. aud more than one man had
learned to dcspisc her
To Stella Lorpc who knew all about
her, though personally astraugcr, the
very sound of her name was sufficient
to arouse all the worst attributes of
her nature. And now to read in u stran.
gers letter the shameful announce.
mcnt OF Teddy Danes falscness seemed
more than she could bear. Soon after
the lcttcr from Mr.. Smithson had ar
rived Stella had seated herself at her
desk and there she had written a few
scathing lines to Teddy (truc and
faithful, she had always called HIM,
and had coldly broken the engage
mcnt between them.
Mature dclibcration has convinced
inc that We should never be happy to-
ycthcr," $50 she wrotc), "and l there
fore cancel the engagement between
MS. You will find sweet consolation
in Miss Latimrr's affection ;while IL
lnsts), and l-wcll, no matter about
inc. good-by."
And if that was not cruel letter,
then | am no Judge
And now the letter was mailed: was
safe in Unclo SANS lcttcr-boS, and
Stella was home again. But somehow
the spirit of defiance and anger which
had upheld her during the entire cpl