Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1895-02-16
Sold Tferself.
ny MRS. Z. BURKE COLLINS.

diamonds beautiful. glittering
diamonds would give one half Of
my life to own such gems as these
And Isabel Wayne turned over the
heaps of shining gems before her with
a hand that tremlled eagerly. a
beautiful woman, poor and ambitious,
her whole heart was engrossed with Il
mad dream of wealth and station, lew
els and costly attire, and to live in Il
fine mansion these all seemed To her
the highest happiness that could be
allotted to mortals. Yet she was only
a paid companion to Mrs. Vance, a
peevish, invalid, who possessing all
these things so much desired by Isabel,
would in turn have given them all in
exchange for health and contentment
money. money! painted the girl
eagerly, rs she turned over Mrs
Nance's diamonds reluctantly, ere she
replaced them in their velvet ca.ket,
"what would not give for Wealth.
Would you give yourself, Miss
Wayne?
The voice, though low, was not a
pleasant one she glanced up with a
start of terror An elderly man stood
beside her, man whose face was not
prepossessing, with its small gray eyes
and iron-gray hair and beard and
rather sensual mouth. The rich col
or famed up into Isabel Wayne's
olive cheeks, and then faded away to
ashen whiteness Had her chance
come to her at last? For Horace
Parke was millionaire brother
of her employer.
Miss Wayne-lsahel y he contn-
ued, laying one pudy hand upon her
slender white one. II have been long
waiting for an opportunity to speak
of-ot my love for you. Will YOU
marry me, Isabel?"
Could itb possible! Yes, her chance
had come at last. True she was al
ready engaged To Mark Westyood but
he was only poor book keeper and
il would be suicidal to link her fate to
his. No-no-she must have wealth
and position, and all the IuxurieS that
would be hers rs the wife of Horace
Parke. He was a childless wilower.
and although the world limited that he
had broken the gentle heart OF his
wife by studied cruelty, he was mil
lionaire, YOU will remember, and the
world forgot 10 condemn But Isabel
Wayne was not thinking of this as she
stood before the rich man, her sweet
face downcast and blushing; she was
thinking of the grand possibilities be-
fore her. Refuse Horace Parke? Why.
she would sooner die than madlv throw
away this glittering opportunity-no
-nol for dozen Mark Westwood,.
She lifted her dark eyes at last to the
red face OF her elderly suitor. and
answered softly;
Il will he Your wife -
And then magnificent diamond
was slipped upon her finger, and a
kiss from the millionaire lips followed
it, and then the door closed behind his
ungainly figure, and Isabel was alone.
The first thing she did was to take her
handkerchief and angrily wipe the kiss
from her hand as though the contract
Of his lips was poison; then she turned
the splenpid diamond slowly around
Upon her finger, her eyes sparkling
excitedly.
"MagniIicenir' y she painted in eager.
breathleSs admiration; "hOw dread
fully mean and poor Marks plain
gold band looks beside il. Yet Mark
himself compared to Mr. Parke. Ugh,
the contrast is striking: for Mark
is 50 handsome and manly while the
other l'-sEe shudlered slightly-"I
feel as il snake had crawed over ne
whenever his hand touches mine -
She saw Mark that very night. and
coolly proceeded to break the bond
between them. She iored him; YES,
she did not deny that, but she was
tired of poverty, and-well, she had
decided to throw him over, and marry
Mr.. Parke. The young mainland
some and distihgU,, though only poor
book keeper listened quietly too man
ly to demonstrate with the heariless
woman.
But when she hal finished there was
an odd little smile lowering around
his handsome mouth. The smile and
the strange expression Of his face near
" maddened Isabel What did it
mean?
There was no outburst of sorrow, ~
even Il spoken regret he listened
courtecusly, quietly. a gentleman
would but never by word or i'm did
he cnvimcr the sorrow that must have
overilowed his heart