The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1895-12-13

80 - @""N"
| again 80 always excepting Charley
Thornton. Ills was q case ~ such blind
devotion and such courage that even
laura Nitfcmore respected II; and in
time he became. not her accepted lover.
Tut her tolerated adinirrr, and lac was
quite satisfied with the kie. People
said il was bccause he was the poorest
OF her admirers that sle gave him the
unusual privilege. II seemed "A triiic
cruel. His case being hopeless. il APP
pcarcd ms il she were making the stu
alton all the more ~tormcnting.
The years rolled ON. Miss Wittemore
never mentioned the name Of her recrc-
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 10 her. Al women have faith in
the men they love. Hers was an unusual
example of the faith of a perfectly
organized woman In the meantime she
changed but slightly. a gray hair or so
appeared above her temples, and she had
occasional lapses into melancholy
During these she was usually rathcrdis-
iant to the eyer-faithful Thornton lie,
naturally. would be thrown into the
depths of dependency on such occa-
s;ons. l,ut his friends agreed. 10 man
land even 10 "A woman. that these were
the most hopeful signs he could desire.
And they instilled this idea into himto
Auch nm 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: Il
think you might spare me a repetition
Of this" and left the room. And then
Thornton, in his turn. gave up all hope
After that Miss Nittcmore seemed TO
, interest herself in but one ~being-her
niece. Maud.
! Ii was The night or the garden party
The gathering was Interested ia the Int
tie romance that was eliminating that
evening. mainly because runors OF a
: somewhat disagreeaDle nature had pre-
2 ceded the arrival OF the count. But
every visiting foreigner. in these fin de
! steele days. is regarded in America
{ with more or less suspicious; and, by
! virtue OF that fact. he had found, from
pure sympathy. many admirers and
e 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 Ihe
! fact that ne was engaged to the niece
y OF Laura Nitternore may have ac-
5 counted for this. Or Thornton may
II I t... 1..... .....t.D- a,,1 snEnnhlAffea7sl
as usual. Al any rate they were every
where togcther-which initiated very
: much in favor of the count. Still re-
u tanning some Of the rights OF a friend
Of the family even though he had
q abandoned all professions TO the hane
y OF the hostess. Thornton was ~ fhs
counts side when he was presented Il
= Miss Nittcmore. He saw the varying
expression Of surprise. terror and dc
q termination in her face. He. perhaps
@ he alone. heard he. gasp limos mar
q ticulaiciy: "Eaoul." For the iirS
n time in his life he was brilliant enough
10 divine the truth. and by cle,eri
II oxerturning table loaded with Howe
he turned silence into confusion. sns
e pense into laughter and climax int
&c anti-cliinax. Miss Nittemorr. ieanin
= upon the arm of tle im~pertnrbahl
Count Kanolky. was enabled To cseaf
ih from the laughing throng. While Mau
w buchanan helped the supposedly M
he fortunate Thornton TO rescue th
flowers.
~ Miss Wittsmorc and the count strolle
away TO a remote corner of the la,Ni
NJ They had the appearance of being %
,, fricnds--or old enemies.
- $50 she said. opening the convcrsi
OF ton when they had reached q seat III
ey der an old shade tree. so you ha,
M dared. i.aoul. to come even TO my hoti'
and under an assumed name. rs IL
ra iiancc Of my %nicce?"
% .Yes." he laughed. with n shrug of n
little. h~alf-stooping shoulders. Il ha'
~ dared. IL il but a little trick in II
= came. 1t is nothing. You see il WI
ms cry convenient 10 leave France in
hc when did. | needed money and though
II would I've as well To take il from Anne
" leans. a. from Others. And ! could ~
l ask a better opportunity than being il
troduced as the iiance 81 your niece
"You donoi mean" gasped Witt
N more. a~nNions.y. ito marry Maud?
well. not now" he answered
did intend 10. until ! discovered til
IN. YOU were q feature in the game. lhs
T, became too complicated a matter
bother with. All | want. you nnce
stand. is money
-You have sunk SO low ms that?
"oh.- he replied with a d~isagreeai
laugh. II have sunk much lower III
. that. In fact. 7 am improving my STA
ton daily. As you see. ! am the fan
OF a beautiful and rich young girl
will release her. But YOU must help
in return. want money. ! have =
tanned notes from one of your set. a
understand? ] must not be interior
with. or everything shall be known"
lgh ''Aou dare to threaten me. then. WI
ma The exposurc Of your " infamy !.
nch Certainly. That is a card that ne
: al tails to win with wnmen Not known
red. hat you were the Miss Wittemore