The Cook County herald., 1893-09-30
LOVES. TREASURE TROVE.

r
Was it for this I let my lover believe
me frivolous and unfeeling coquette,
and broke my own heart? Oh, how
could she have been so wicked-my
pretty Lulu, for whom I sacrificed SO
much ~ -. -. 10 y
1 Before the quaint, oval window of
the dim, sweet-smelling garret Diane
Rosmond again perused the fateful let
ter. g., - .' 3.
/: She had discovered it a moment
before, while rummaging through the.
contents Of an old cedar chest, search
ing for a certain azure brocade which,
she desired to utilize in the trimming
Of an evening gown. !.
She had found the letter among
quantity of laces and ribbons which
had once belonged to the dead Lulu.
And the sight of her own name on
the yellowed paper had caused her to
unfold the torn and crumpled page.
With a single glance over what was
scawled thereon, her heart seemed
turning to ice, her brain to fire.
ITO insure her happiness I sacrificed
my own; forced my lover to despise
me; have lived lonely and scorned
all these years; and after all she never
cared for him! it was all pretense!
Oh, how could my pretty Lulu be SO
base, SO inhuman?' q
Suddenly Diane flung the letter from
her, as if it were some venomOus
thing she feared no less than loathed.
| She started to her feet and fed down
the stairs as if pursued by some af-
f1ghting specter.
| She clutched at her throat as il
strangling. And her great blue eyes,
dry, smarted and dilated-stared
straight before her Into vacancy.
She was living over again those
years OF agony, intensified thousand
fold by the knowledge that her sacrifice
| and sorrow had all been vain-and
| worse! '-. 49,.
Down the stairs, through the broad
and lofty hail. and out into the quaint
| old garden-she rushed like a wild
creature. >
She was conscious Of but one i'm
pulse, of but one desire; and that was
to be alone in some safe solitude where
| she could weep and wall as she would
beyond the curious gaze of every hu:
II gave my love to her; I blighted
my own life, and let poor Keith despise
| me; and she never cared for him." was
i the burden Of her bitter anguish.
Through the fragrant garden in the
/ last red glow Of the sunset, over a
acuItous old sttile, down a path between
lsdark soughing frs, and SO to- secluded
Espot beside the blue lake--she sped
like fugitive spirit. {. 33s ~ f ~
Here at least no one would intrude
upon her grief. Here she could weep
her heart out IN secret; and after
awhile perhaps she should be her com
posed and passive self again..
And here in a little dingle carpeted
with pine needles and shut in by SOM
Der juniper bushes, she threw herself
face downward upon the ground and
wrestled with the agony which almost
threatened reason itself.
| Lulu!-''the p4Rtty Lulu''-was her
eldest sister. -
| She was a handsome and fascinating
girl with dark, magnetic eyes, hair like
a crown Of FURNISHED copper, and skin
like an almond flower .-s
Diane loved her withthe un reasoning,
extravagant worship which very
young girl sometimes conceives for an
attractive woman much older than
herself
10 Diane her sister was a goddess,
| lovely beyond all comparison, faultless
| as an angela perfect being, who
could do no wrong, and think no evil!
This idolatrous affection amused
Lulu vastly, and she did not hesitate
to impose upon it, and to use it when
ever she could secure some advantage
thereby.
Except for an aged grandmother, the
| sisters were quite alone in the world,
and they had no fortune except the
small share they might inherit some
time when the family homestead
should be sold or divided at the grand
mothers death. r..
Lulu was ambitious, and fond of the
polnps and vanities of the world, and
It was because Keith Trevlyn possessed
the distinction Of being his wife.
But it was the blue-eyed Diane, with
her exquisite grace and enchanting
smile, whom the young man loved.
Lulu's wiles and destinations were all
wasted for naught. He sought the
sweet Diane oftener and yet more
often, and finally the two were be-
trothed and their wedding day appoint
ed. .*.'
But Lulu had one last maneuver in re-
serve.
All at once she appeared languid and
detected and i'll. Her pallid face, her
mournful eyes, the tears which she was
always trying to conceal, apparently
all these things distressed her young
sister unspeakably. =" ~-
Why don't you tell me what troubles
you, Lulu? Don't you know, dearest,
4 would help you ii I could" the lat
ter said to her finally. ysS'@
You could help me, my dear child.
But am not selfish enough to test the
affection you profess for me. And, be-
sides, so long as you are happy it don't
matter if we are miserable" Was the
willy answer Of the unscrupulOus Lulu.
'.We?" Diane repeated, with q sudden
papg Of sickening dread. Whom do
you mean, Lulu ?"
And Lulu, after paroxysm Of tears
and a cunning pretense Of reluctance,
allowed herself to be coaxed into 4
EOnfpSSiOn