Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1895-04-18

blessed her increasingly, she ate ravenous-
IL Of the food brought her, and she insist
ed upon kissing Miss Coupons hand, a
proceeding to which the young lady sub
mittcd with concealed aversion.
At length Betty asked the name of her
visitor, and when it was given demanded
fercely, odd Bon Coupons gal?'
Miss Coupon replied rather haughtily
that her fathers name was Benjamin,
upon which old Betty was seized with a
fit Of silent, horrible laughter. 1t so
alarmed Miss Coupon, who fanced this
attack might be precursor of sudden
death, that she sent Zephine out for aid.
When the maid had left the room, the
old woman raised herself ON one elbow,
and fixing her fading eyes on Miss Coupon
said: "Ye think ye air old Ben Coupons
own gal, don't yer WAL, ask HIM A
fit of coughing broke her sentence, and sha
sank back exhausted.
That night Cynthia sought her father in
the library and briefly related her expert
ence of the day. She kept her proud ques-
tioning eyes upon her father as she talked
and saw to her horror, a strange ashen
hue steal over his rubicund face. When
she had finished, with broken and hum
bic manner, he said: g have always dread
come No, you are not my child
The room swan about the girl. Whose,
then am - she managed to ask. And
how should that dreadful old woman know
about me;'
"Cynthia," said Mr.. Coupon in low
voice, you are the child Of that old crca-
lures daughteri"
He expected tears, reproaches, swoon
perhaps, but Cynthia sat as if turned to
stone. At last she said in voice strange
" unlike her own, Tell me-ail.'
My wife and l woro childless. She
saw you, a beautiful littlo creature, run
ming about in rags, on ono of her charita
Bile visits to the east side. Your mother
readily relinquished you for q certain
sum. She died soon after This old wom-
an is noted character. Tho police have
kept her from troubling me- He could
say no more.
she, that horrible old woman, is my
mothers mother?"
Yes"
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.
l thought would be able to protect you
from this knowledge"
Forgive your" she murmured broken
ly. II bless you for saving me from a
frightful life, but don't you see it must
alter everything"'
What should 1t alter"
MY marriage. Have you told the
count Of this secretS'
'.Nou
We'll, you must. You will tell him,
too, that l release him from our engage
ment. Oh, you will sce papa He will
be very willing to be released. Even your
millions cannot gloss over this affair. y
Cynthia was right. The Count de Far
andolc relinquished the Coupon millions,
with a sigh He was desolated to lose this
fair American hciress, but the stain of il
legal birth and tho police record of his
fancce'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 n society, and pass
ing it's charmed portals reached the ears OF
q 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, well, what
natter She can never be anything to
me. She is too ambitious.
Nevertheless, when Easter morning
dawncd, among the myriad bouquets sent
to Miss Coupon there came one long stalk
Of lilies, white, odorous, stately, breath
ing 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 1t 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 a
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 fashionable church and then
for tho 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 priceless treasure, the love OF an
| honest mans heart and she had her re-
ward.
Miss Coupons maid was about to begin
| the my sterious rites Of the toilet when a
| servant knocked at the door, and Offering
abject apologies stated that there was a
| very dirty little boy below who insisted
| upon seeing the young lady. He says,
| Miss Cynthia, that be's sent by the old
| woman in Hester street, and that she's dy
| Ing and begs to see you. v
Miss Coupon hesitated a moment, look
ing at the silvery cloth and velvet lying in
| Inc s..In Va folds
! her beauty. Only IA moment 1t Is my
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