Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1896-07-17
take advantage of your generosity"
ut is not generosity" cried Ronald,
sit is sheer selfishness!"

take advantage of your generosity"
1T is not generosity" cried Ronald.
sit is sheer selfishness"
But Violet showed no signs of Weld
! ing.
Il will not leave you unless you tell
me one thing" said Ronald. IF your
heart is free, l claim 1t; but If not, 1 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.
YES" she said, II do"
THAT is enough" said Ronald, hoarse-
ly, and dropping her hand he turned
and went.
ut is strange how ungrateful young
people are!" remarked Lady Maria, a
few days later, to the friends gathered
around her tea table. II had arranged
most suitable match for my nephew,
really done everything in my power to
promote 1t; and yet he actually came
here the other day and used the most
terrible language-said that I had
spoiled his life, and all kinds Of dread
full things; and now he has gone off
abroad, nobody knows where. Iam sure
l only hope that I 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
very materially to the infrmities of her
frame. But when at last he did reap
PEAR, 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 l ever did for
you was getting you out of that en-
tanglement!" she exclaimed fervently
when they met, for Lady Maria came Of
military stock. aud she knew that one
OF the most successful maneuvers is to
carry war into your enemy's quarters.
Ronald shot glance at her from
under his dark eyebrows. hut 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't say sol" remarked Ronald.
"Where are they living2"
in Worthing," 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 audacity to speak to her! Can
you believe it?"
II don't know" said Ronald; "but I
am going to Worthing this afternoon,
and 1 shall see whether she will speak
to mel"
ooh, my dear boy" cried Lady Maria,
in genuine distress. "Pray, pray don't
do anything foolish! You have no idea
low designing poor people are" but
here she ceased, for the sound of the
loudly closing door informed her that
She was alone.
"But why did you send me away?"
said Ronald, a few hours later, us he and
Violet stood together under the stars,
and heard the waves beating upon the
beach.
"Because thought, after what we
overheard, you felt yourself bound to
say what you did out of consideration
for me-"
$50 your pride came in the way, my
little one! Don't you know that pride
is one Of the deadly sins? However, l
can't preach to you now, because want
to ask you another question. If you
really have loved me oil along. why did
you tell such a dreadful lie?"
"a lie!" exclaimed Violet.
Eyes, a lie; regular big black one!
When asked you if you had loved nny-
one, you said yes. Now then, confess
at once, because I'm not going to let
you o1f'
He held her away from him SO that
he could look into her face, and waited
inexorably for her answer.
II saw that you would not listen to
any other objection" she said, land 1
thought thnt you were sacrificing your
self, and So"
Eyes, know all that" he interrupt
ed; "but you had no business to say
what you did! Unless, OF course, there
really was someone? Come now, tell
me-"
A flush came over her face, and as
she raised her eyes he could see her
tears shining in the starlight; he
grasped her hands more firmly in his
how, and looked down ut her from the
height of his six feet.
She tried to speak, but her quivering
voice would not be controlled, and with
agreatwave of love surging in his heart,
he drew her close to him.
"Who was it?" he whispered.
She turned to hide her face upon his
shoulder, and breathed her answer into
his ear bent down to catch it.
"You dear, blind boy, it was you'll
Household Words.