The DeLamar nugget. [volume] (DeLamar, Idaho) 1891-1900, 1896-08-21

check shall be sent to you"
Ronald drew back a step, his cheel
growing pale beneath its bronze; hi.
hands clenched inyoluntarily, and for i
moment Violet expected to sec him dasl
out upon the conspirators; but theii
Voices We're already receding in the dis
tancc, and as he looked around he saw
the anguish. in her face.
''yiolet, Violet" he cried, selling hei
hands in his, "you know nothing Of
this Iswear it with my dying BREATH"
She drew her hands away, and turned
to escape, but he followed her.
81 have not much to offer" he said,
''but all have is at your feet"
She quickly looked up, and light of
gratitude came into her eyes.
"IIow good you are" she said.
! Ronald looked at he1in bewilderment:
the words were not what he had ex-
peeted.
"You do not understand" he said.
Il want you to be my wife"
II do understand" she answered,
gently, land honor you for asking me,
after what has happened; but Twill not
take advantage of your generosity"
st is not generosity" cried Ronald.
ut is sheer selishnessi"
But Violet showed no signs of yield
ing.
81 will not leave you unless you tell
me one thing" said Ronald. IF your
heart is free, claim it; but if not, will
never trouble you again. Violet, tell
me, do you love anyone?"
She looked at him with q face that
grew pale under his gaze.
Eyes" she said, 81 do"
"That is enough" said Ronald, hoarse-
ly, and dropping her hand he turned
and went.
sit is strange how ungrateful young
people arc!" remarked Lady Maria, G
few days later, TO the friends gathered
around her tea table. 81 had arranged
a most suitable match for my nephew,
really done everything in my power to
promote it; and yet he actually came
here the other day and used the most
terrible language-said that 1 had
spoiled his life, and all kinds of dread
full things; and now he has gone off
abroad, nobody knows where. I am sure
1 only hope that shall never see him
again"
Lady Maria's wish seemed likely to
be fulfilled for five long years came and
went, bringing no news of Ronald; and
though five years could not take the
bloom from her cheek, nor the gold
from her hair, they could, and did add
al 10 1,a IF
frame. But when at last he did reap
rear, she was willing to overlook the
past in spite of her resentment, for
Ronald had found his way into profit
able foreign partnership, and instead OF
fame he brought back money.
"One of the best things ever did for
you was getting you out of that en-
tanglcmentl" she exclaimed fervently
when they met, for Lady Maria came OF
military stock, and she knew that ono
of the most successful maneuycrs is to !
carry war into your enemy's quarters.
Ronald shot glance ut her from
under his dark eyebrows, but said moth
ing. and she continued gayly:
"Mr. Harvey went bankrupt year or
two after you went away, and they are
quite in POOR circumstances now. That
upstart girl waits upon the dodgers, ]
believe
You don say sol" remarked Ronald.
"Whcrc are they living?"
'In Worihing," said Lady Maria, de-
eeived by his GOODNESS. Lady Henning
ton was there last month, and she told
me that she saw Mrs. Harvey on the
parade, and that the woman actually
had the auGacity to speak to her! Can
you believe it,"
81 dent l:now," said Ronald; "but
am roing to Worthing this afternoon,
and shall see whether she will speak
to met"
"Ok, my dear boy!" cried Lady Maria.
in genuine distress. "Pray, pray don't
10 anything foolish! You have no idea
how designing poor people are" but
here she ceased, for the sound of the
oudly closing door informed her thai
she was alone.
"But why did you send me away?"
said Ronald, few hours later, as he and
Violet stood together under the stars,
md heard the waves beating upon the
beach.
because I thought, after what we
overheard, you felt yourself bound to
ay what you did out of consideration
or me-"
$50 your pride came in the way, my
title one! Don't you know that pride
S one of the deadly sins? However,
ant preach to you now, because want
o ask you another question. If you
eally have loved me all along, why did
'ou tell such dreadful lie?"
81 lie!" exclaimed Violet.
"Yes. lie; regular big black onei
When asked you if you had loved any
ne, you said yes. Now then, confess I
t once, because I'm not going to let