The Washington bee., 1895-10-05

1T Is Mr.. WoessaAs niece. fsn't igfs
said he, Miss Lydia? Yes. 1t Is nina,
and I'm thousand times obliged to you.
[ must have fastened II in very CARELESS
| ly. And I value 1t very highly, too; ie
was gift from my father"
rs 1t worth great deal of money q"
asked Lydia. timidly lifting her sea-blue
eyes to his face.
About hundred dollars, suppose. +"
Il wish it was mime" said Lydia, with
a long sigh, as If she were thinking
aloud.
Yours. Why, it isn't lady,s orna-
ment.''
On. not the pin!' Lydia hastened to
explain, but the money-the hundred
dollars. Good-by. Here Is the carriage
waiting from Carhart Court"
VIII you let me drive you as far az
Wotton farm?" asked the stranger, cour.
teously.
And tired Lydia willingly consented.
The upshot was that when she entered
her uncle's presence she gave him a
oank bill representing the price Of the
prize colt"
Where did thee get this money.
cmld?" solemnly asked Uncle Joshua.
IL borrowed it," confessed Lydia
Don't ask me any more questions, un.
Gle. I'll pay IL back if I have to pick
Diackberrfes at four cents quart all
sumner ..1 ]
ism business Of scampering about on
horseback, Lydia, after this" severely
spoke Aunt Rebecca.
But, aunt, the old fortune-seller told
me that my fortune would one day be
made by a."
Lydia st5pped abruptly as she remem-
bered how the diamond horseshoe had
glittered on the floor at her feet that day,
Her color rose, her heart beat. =
Thee must remember, Lydia" admon-
ished Aunt Rebecca, that all OWNERS
and fortune-tellers are snares Of Satan"
Yes, Aunt Rebecca," murmured the
girl.
But from that day an inscrutable
change came over the character Of her
LIE
The pleasant summer sunshine had
faded out Of the land. The Saratoga
hotels were closed; gay Newport was de-
serted
And Mrs. Blythe. sitting in the yellow
light of her jonquil silk curtains, was
smiling over card which Matilda had
just brought in.
Dear Algy" she murmured "I knew
he would Gomez
She glided into the white-and-gold
drawing room. all gracious cordiality.
You recreant cavalier!" she smiled
i've half a mind to scold you. and
yet
DO 1 deserve that title?" Mr.. Vane
asked. For you are the first person ID
whom 1 have told the great happiness of
my life. Oh, 1 see you don't understand
me! Come from behind the draperies,
Lydia, and help me to explain matters to
your mother
And Lydia. blue-eyed and fair-tressed,
came.
1--WE are married, mamma" said
Lydia, "Algy and I. And we sail for
Europe in the Comandra, at noon. Won't
you kiss me, mamma. and wish me joy?''
Mrs. Blythe kissed Lydia-and Algy,
too-and wished them Joy.
But this was the severest ordeal to
which she had ever been put. A mother
in-law instead of bride! This was
hardly what she had looked forward 70.
But. even In that trying moment she
noticed the slttering pin which fastened
Lydia's lace bonnet-strings-a quaint de-
vice Of tiny diamonds-and remembered
what the girl had once said about for
tune-teller and horseshoe.
Mamma didn't look quite pleased.
Algy." said the bride, when they were
back in the carriage, driving to the
steamers wharf. do you suppose she
is yexed because we DIDN'T take her into.
our confdence?"
II dare say" remarked Mr. Vane,
that no mother likes to lose her child
SO suddenly. least Of all, darling, so
sweet a treasure as you
And neither Of the two suspected what
poisoned dagger was that day ranking
in the breast of Mrs. Rosamond Blythe.