The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1896-04-16

rope all these years with all that wealth
and not had lots of girls2 He Is prob
ably engaged or married by this time.
He will pick ost some great heiress for
a wife, not village girl like YOU" said
Kitty.
IsabeIs eyes blazed wrathfully.
"You think of nothing but your viii
lage clerks" she answered sneeringly;
"and they just suit your style and ap-
pearance, but l."
Here Isabel stopped and raised her
blonde head from the hammock pillow.
ard like to see the girl who would get
ahead of me If choose to exert myself
TO facinate Clyde Beecham; and ! do
choose" she added emphatically.
And, rising in her excitement from
the hammock, she paced the piazza
back and forth, her tall figure drawn up
and her white muslin gown sweeping
gracefully ::around her feet
81 have made up my mind" she went
on, "to bring Clyde Beecham to my
feet and marry him, and believe /
| would kill the girl that would dare come
between me and my purpose"
Kitty was accustomed to see her step
sister In tantrums on various occasions,
but this was entirely new, so she
thought best to ignore It, and asked
quietly:
l.. L
"Oh don't remember" replied Isabel,
ait is so long ago; but | believe he is
coming home next summer, so | will
wait till then, and mean to captiyate
him."
And Isabel looked at her shapely
white hands, which, In imagination, she
saw already covered with costly rings,
and admired her reflection in the win
dow pane, and hoped that the wealthy
young owner of Beecham Park would
give a grand ball and invite her to be
his partner in the opening dance. While
Kitty danced merrily down to the post
office and got her mail, half pleased in
| nCI tndl toohNJ laNC was
welcome sight to the handsome young
clerk behind the grated window bars,
and after the Office was closed, he would
stroll up the little cottage pathway and
and sit on the stoop, making himself
agreeable to her father and mother, and
received for his politeness to Isabel only
chilling replies and freszing little mods.
But he went away with the fair sum
mer time, and bade good by to Kitty at
the little garden gate.
kitty" he said in lovers voice, al
love you, dear, and If were able to sup
port you, would you be my little wife3"
And Kitty answered him with shy
happiness.
"Oh, don't care how poor you are"
"she whispered lovingly. IL shall never
love any one else and will wait for you
as long as live"
"Wken that fellow Beechsm comes
maybe he will make love to you and
want you for himself" said her lover
dolefully.
Indeed then he can't have me-" re-
torted she gaily. sand besides" she
added In whisper, Isabel has made up
her mind to capture him, and has threat
ened vengeance on any other girl that
gets him. But indeed | don't want
him." she added fondly, "she can have
him"
al don't think she'll get him." replied
he, taking Kitty in his arms and kissing
her tenderly; "for let me tell you a
secret, sweetheart" he whispered in her
ear, "Clyde Beecham Is already en-
gagged to the loveliest little girl in the
world"
Isabel found the village more deadly
dull than ever when the summer had
gone, and the dark and dreary winter
was close at hand. But her hope of vic.
tory suoyed her up.
"Only few more monthsw she would
mutter to herself. sand ! shall exercise
my power to win" She could scarcely
breathe for the ecstasy OF feeling her
thoughts produced. 81 shall have more
hope when Christmas is over" she kept
saying to herself.
But one day, just before Christmas, q
great excitement spread through the vii.
lage, for Beecham Park was all olive
and great preparations were being made
for the reception of the young master,
and cards of invitation had already
arrived at the Vane cottage for grand
ball on New Years eve.
Isabel was in delirium of Joy.
81 wonder" she kept on saying "whom
he will open the ball WITH"
"Oh, his best girl probably" answered
the merry Kitty, and Isabel hated her
worse than ever.
Isabel was in misery for fear her dress
, would not be fine enough, but Kitty
contented herself with a simple white
affair.
I'm not going to set my cap for him,
she declared. $50 he won't know VIVA,
dress | have on"
They drove in the carriage with their
: father and mother up the brilliantly
lighted avenue.
Celored lights were sparkling II
Y myriads on the spacious lawn, whit,
4 with its carpet of snow. The mansion
S was magnificent and the decoration
: superb.
!, They were among the early arrivals
S A footman In gorgeous livery opsae,
the door of their carriage, and whe,
thew entered the hall Xisty,s rost "a.