Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1895-12-12

II
them ever had the courage to meet her
again always excepting Charley
Thornton. His was a case of such blind
devotion and such courage that even
Laura Wittemore respected it; and in
time he became, not her accepted lover,
but her tolerated admirer, and he was
quite satisfied with the role. People
said 1t was because he was the poorest
of her admirers that she gave him the
unusual privilege. It seemed trife
cruel. His case being hopeless, it APP
peared as if she were making the situ-
alton all the more tormenting.
The years rolled on. Miss Wittemore
| never mentioned the name of her recre-
ant lover, but there was no one who did
not believe, who did not know, in fact,
| that she still believed in him, still loved
him. She was waiting for him to come
back to her. All women have faith in
the men they love. Hers was an unusual
example of the faith of perfectly
organized woman. In the meantime she
changed but slightly. Agray hair or so
appeared above her temples, and she had
occasional lapses into melancholy.
During these she was usually rather dis
| tant to the ever-faithful Thornton. He,
naturally, would be thrown into the
depths of dependency on such occa-
sions. But his friends agreed, to man
(and even to woman), that these were
the most hopeful signs he could desire.
And they instilled this idea into him to
such an extent that he took advantage
of one of these melancholy periods and
proposed again. 1t was for the last
time. The result was quite the usual
! one, but more decisive. She said: II
think you might spare me repetition
of this" and left the room. And then
Thornton, in his turn, gave up all hope.
After that Miss Wittemore seemed to
interest herself in but one being-her
niece, Maud.
1t was the night of the garden party.
The gathering was interested in the lit
tie romance that was eliminating that
evening, mainly because rumors of
somewhat disagreeable nature had pre-
ceded the arrival of the count. But
every visiting foreigner, in these fin de
steele days, is regarded in America
with more or less suspicion; and, by
virtue of that fact, he had found, from
pure sympathy, many admirers and
supporters. During his stay in New
York, before his trip to the country for
this garden party, he had made no bet
ter friend than Charley Thornton. The
fact that he was engaged to the niece
of Laura Wittemore may have ac-
counted for this. Or Thornton may
have been careless and unsophisticated
as usual. At any rate they were every
where together-which initiated very
much in favor of the count. Still re-
tanning some of the rights of a "friend
of the family" even though he had
abandoned all pretensions to the hand
of the hostess, Thornton was at the
counts side when he was presented to
Miss Wittemore. He saw the varying
expression of surprise, terror and de-
termination in her face. He, perhaps
he alone, heard her gasp almost mar
ticulately: "Raoul!" For the first
time in his life he was brilliant enough
to divine the truth, and by cleverly
overturning table loaded with flowers
he turned silence into confusion, sus-
pense into laughter and climax into
onti-climax. Miss Wittemore, leaning
upon the arm of the imperturbable
Count Kanoll<y, was enabled to escape
from the laughing throng, while Maud
Buchanan helped the supposedly I'M
fortunate Thornton to rescue the
| flowers.
Miss Wittemore and the count strolled
away to a remote corner of the lawn.
They had the appearance of being old
friends-or old enemies.
$780," she said, opening the converse
ton when they had reached seat un-
der an old shade tree, 80 you have
dared, Raoul, to come even to my house
and under an assumed name, as the
fiance of my niece"
YES" he laughed, with shrug of his
little, half-stooping shoulders, II have
dared. 1t is but little trick in the
game. 1t is nothing. You see it was
very convenient to leave France just
when did. l needed money and thought
it would be as well to take it from Amer
leans, as from others. And 1 could not
ask better opportunity than being in
troduced as the fiance of your niece"
udonotmean," gasped Miss Witte-
more, anxiously, "to marry Maud?"
Swell, not now" he answered. II
did intend to, until / discovered that
you were a feature in the game. Then
it became too complicated matter to
bother with. All l want, you under
stand, is money"
"You have sunk so low as that?"
"Oh," he replied, with disagreeable
laugh, 81 have sunk much lower than
that. In fact, l lam improving my situa-
ton daily. AS you see, l am the fiance
of beautiful and rich young girl. ]
will release her. But you must help me
in return. 1 want money. l have OBJ
tanned notes from one of your set. You
understand? 1 must not be interfered
with, or everything shall be known"
you dare to threaten me, then, with
the exposure of your own infamy?"
i Certainly. That is card that never
fails to win with women. Not knowing
that you were the Miss Wittemore ct
1. ~ -