The Portland daily press., 1895-04-13

an is noted character, The police have
kept her from troubling me- He could
say no more.
She, that horrible old woman, is nv
mothers mother"
Eyes"
Cynthia rose mechanically to leave the
room. Her father sprang to her and caught
her in his arms. My dear" he cried,
forgive me. ought to have told you be-
fore, but you were like my own daughter.
I thought l would be able to protect you
from this knowledge"
Forgive your she murmured broken
ly. Il bless you for saving me from
frightful life but don't you see it must
alter everything?"
what should it alter?'
my marriage. Have you told the
count of this secret?"
'No."
"Well, you must. You will tell him,
too, that I release him from our engage
ment. Oh, you will see, papa. He will
be very willing to be released. Even your
millions cannot gloss over this affair."
Cynthia was right The Count de Far
andole relinquished the Coupon millions
with sigh. He was desolated to lose this
fair American heiress, but the stain of il
legal birth and the police record of his
1iancee's maternal grandmother were too
much for the proud Frenchman, and SO he
fluttered away in search of other worlds
to conquer
The news of the broken engagement
made great hubbub in society, and pass
ing its charmed portals reached the ears OF
young physician who was building up a
name and place for himself in his pro-
fession A CLEAN of joy shot over his
strong, tender face, and then it saddened
as he said to himself: ''Oh, we'll, what
matter? She can never be anything to
me- She is too ambitious. :"
Nevertheless, when Easter morning
dawned, among the myriad bouquets sent
to Miss Coupon there came one long stalk
of lilies, white. odorous, stately, breath
ing a message of longing, of remembrance,
of Fidelity, which moved Cynthia strangely
and brought back those heavenly days on
board an ocean steamship when she had
learned what it meant to love; brought
back those nights when they had stood
alone with the sea about them and the
stars overhead; brought back the voice
which had whispered, You are like
tall, fair, sweet white lily
Cynthia looked duly at the magnificent
costume lying on the dainty, canopied
brass bed, the gown ready for the Easter
service at a fashionable church and then
for the Fifth avenue parade; at the
masses of orchids, violets and roses with
which her chamber was crowded; at the
jewels sparkling on her dressing table,
Easter gifts from her father. All, what did
they all matter now? She had thrown
away a priceless treasure, the love of an
honest mans heart, and she had her re-
ward
Miss Coupons maid was about to begin
the mysterious rites of the toilet when
servant knocked at the door, and Offering
abject apologies stated that there was
very dirty little boy below who insisted |
upon seeing the young lady. HE says, |
Miss Cynthia, that he's sent by the old
woman in Hester street, and that she's dy-
ing and begs to see you"
Miss Coupon hesitated moment, look
ing at the silvery cloth and velvet lying in
lustrous, seductive folds, waiting to grace
her beauty. Only moment. 1T is my
granG7no0no1, my noJner mother, VINO
is dying. Let me remember that" she |
said under Her breath. Then aloud, "Say |
to the boy 10 return to the old woman at
once and tell her I am coming"
When John Thornton, M D., was hastily
summoned to attend a wretched old beg
gar in district to which out of the good
ness Of his heart he was in the habit of
paying free professional visits, he antici-
pated no such shock as he was destined to
receive. He mounted the rickety stairs,
and pushing the tumbling door open en-
tered and saw a strange sight. The cold |
sunlight streaming through TIE crazy
window played across the frozen features
of poor old Betty Herrick. beggar. crook.
outcast, passed forever from beyond the
judgment of men. Her withered hands
had been decently composed across her
breast, and over her white hair lace scarf |
had been hastily thrown, By the dead |
woman figure sat, figure whose stately
contours sent the blood rushing to Thorn
toms heart. 1t moved, rose, turned it's
head toward him and looked at him with
the proud, sad eyes of Cynthia Coupon.
"Cyntha," he cried, why are you
here?''
"She sent for me-" pointing to the
sheeted form lying there in awful silence.
'She is dead'
Yes, / am too late, see. Poor old
wretch 1t is good thing
DON'T she said, lifting her hand,
"don't speak like that. She is such an
old woman
II know" he interrupted impatiently, |
'tbut she was a terror-a crook, fence.
cannot see what your father could have
been thinking of to allow you to come
alone TO this horrible place. Let me take |
you away at once"
"Not yet, F." she replied. 81 must see that
she is deoently prepared for burial and |
that everything that can be is done for
her. You see, she was my mothers moth
er."
''Cynthia!'
ooh, yes" she answered YEARLY, II am
not Mr. Coupons daughter. I am an i'm
poster, cheat, swindle, DR.. Thornton!
Look around you! This is the mud, the
slime from which have sprung'
He had reached her side and now
snatched her to his heart. Cynthia" he
murmured, ''look at me-my love, my
lily Yes, fair, sweet and pure-like the
lily which springs from mud and slime, |
you are mine at last. There are no false
barriers between US now. I will take you
and wear you on my heart, my lily-my
Easter lilyl''