Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1894-04-05
At WAR With HERSELF.
The Story Of a WOman's AtOnement,.
by Charlotte N. Braeme.
CnAPTER XXXI.

htely ucClucu III luNOF vi lHt luIlGI'
She was far from insensible, and she
did not find IL quite 30 easy to destroy
her own conscience as she had thought,
Something quite strange and new had
come oyer her. A sudden notes.-the
opening of door-the sound Of an un-
expected footstep-made her tremble.
my lady never used to be nervous, "
said Florette, but ever since that ball
she has been nothing but nerves.
Was IL an lnquiet conscience? She
who had laughed at the worlds opin-
ion, who had been completely indifTer-
emit as to what people said OF her, now
never saw two persons whispering to-
gether without wondering II they knew
that she had found the will aad had
hidden 1t again
On the morning after the ball she
dressed herself carefully. She bathed
her face in clear cold water to restore
something OF its bloom, and tried to
look as much like herself as possible;
but she did not succeed. Something
had gone from her face that was never,
while the sun shone, to be seen there
again. Lady Fanshawe looked at her,
and told her bluntly that late hours did
not suit her She went up to Miss
Dacre, and Ethel took her hand with u
warning glance.
"Why do you look at me so strange
ly?" asked Leonie.
"You are like flower with the bloom
rubbed off, replied Miss Dacre; and
her answer brought flush to the fair
face.
What do you mean?" asked Leonie,
"How strangely you speak to me- What
are you thinking Of that you say such
thing to me?"
Miss Dacre was more astonished still
at her vehemence.
"My dear Lady Charnleigh, ! mean
nothing, and ! am thinking of nothing
more THAI this that you look very
tired, and have very little color"
Leonie turned away with an angry
expression at her own folly.
Am | always to be frightened and
nervous-to fancy that people have
found me QUITO mistake simple words
for accusations Of guilt? If so, the
price of my sin will be Il heavy one"
That it was heavy one she found
out before the day was ended and yet
the most sorrowful thought of all-the
remembrance that she must give up
Sir Bertram she resolutely kept at
bay. One Of the first things she did
was to answer Paul Flemyng note.
81 have not time for many words,
she wrote; "but If you think could
make you happy, | will be your wife,
Grant me two favors-do not come over
to Crown Leighton to-day am too
tired to see anyone and do not men
ton the fact Of our engagement until /
give you permission. | have very spe-
cial reasons for making this request.
She signed the name-Leonie Charm
leigh--in a clear, legible hand, and
smiled bitterly to herself as she did so.
"lf he knew the title was his, not
mine, what would he say?"
She sent the note at once, and.
though she did not acknowledge, even
to herself, why the had done so, her
real motive was that she should so far
bind herself as to put all possibility of
retracting out of her power. AS
she folded and sealed it, she said to
herself;
Now am Paul Flemyng's betrothed
wife, and it does not matter which of
us has the monoy-it will soon belong
to both"
But that day she found out some-
thing of the price of her sin. Her
pleasure Of life was destroyed; the
hours that had once seemed golden and
TOO short now dragged so heavily that
each seemed to her day. The lux
ury and splendor of Crown Leighton,
that had once been to her as the very
light OF her eyes, was nothing. He
whom she loved would never share it
what was it worth without him?
She had loved the sunshine and the
flowers even as the birds do; but now
she turned from them with positive
loathing. Why should trees and leaves,
waving grass, and singing birds all
tell of him? He was to be nothing to
her They might both live long, and
yet life would never bring them any
nearer to each other than they were
now. She had loved the old moss
covered spn-dial that stood near the
we'll, but to-day she cared little for it;
no hour that it could tell would bring
her lover to her side again.
my life seems cursed" thought the
girl as she turned drearily from all
the splendOr and magnihcence she de-
lighted in, rs it possible that | have
purchased Grown Leighton at too dear
pricey Perhaps MOTT is the first
time in my life that have done what
peope call wrong. | have been guilty
of a hundred follies, but no wrong;
that is what darkens the sunshine. In
few days | shall have forgotten it,
and shall take the same keen delight
as ever in my beautiful home"
"Sir Bertram has not been over to-
day" said Miss Dacre, as the three
ladies sat alone at dinner. What can
have happened to keep him away"
perhaps he G. ,sses we are all too
tired for VISITORS" said Lady Fan
shave.
Leonie spoke no word; pain she
could hardly bear had smitten her. If
this day seemed SO terribly long, SO
weary, so dull because he had not
been, what would the days and wears
be like when there was no hope of his
coming The very thought of il
frightened her. He would come once
more, and she would have to tell him
that she was going to marry his rival.
He would leave in anger and they
would never meet again.
"Leonie," said Miss Dacre, "what has
come over you? Do you know that
since last evening you are completely
changed?"
How can any one change in twelve
hours, Ethel? Talk reasonably"
"Sir Bertram says ladies talk feel