The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-06-15
..IEONIE.,
Miss Cameron"

DOW window upon a garden flaming with
autumn tints and sunset glow. lifted pair
OF sort, dark eyes to Mrs. Tollman's face.
1t was an anxious face just at that moment.
and being unusually full of placid content.
the anxiety was very apparent to Leonie.
80, after her first careless glance, she
Strengthened herself in her low chair and
sad quietly, yet with every appearance OF
interest
What is the maiter?"
| An awkward pause followed that aues-
| ton. Mrs. Tollman fidgeted under the in
| curing chances of the dark eyes,
| cleared her throat twice. and finally said
| with nervous emphasis:
John Furber!''
! Miss Camerons face seemed &c freeze.
1t was very beautiful face. with pride for
| for leading expression. Sweetness lurked
| in the mouth, intellect beamed from the
radiant eyes, but pride Swallowed ALL 1t
| carried the small head gracefully erect, ii
| swept the folds of rich dresses with a regal
| motion, it touched the small patrician
! hands and was evident In the well mOdu-
| lated tones of the refined voice.
| "There!' Mrs Tollman said. despairing-
| ~. Eve made you mad already. and
| haven't said anything
| Il am not mad!" Leonie answered, and
| there certainly lurked smile in her mouth
at the good womans CONSERVATION. But
you have not told me yet what troubles
| you"
| ~ o-lt S-JOuH, MISS OdIHeTOu dHu~
| then rapidly, as il the words were forced
| by fear of her own inability to finish her
| self-appointed task, she hurried on. He s
| my nephew, miss as you know though his
| father Is rich man, very rich. and John
| is above his mothers place in her life.
| She's dead. and John was spoiled some
| where between the year she lied and two
years ago. l don't know where, but he
! took to bad ways. He was brought up an
| idler upon his fathers money, and from
| idleness to drinking, gambling and bad
way is an easy road. His father is a hard
man., and he thrust him out a year ago
| Disinherted him. He came here, for love
! him. I've nothing else to love; husband and
children in the graveyard so l love John. .
There a piteous pleading in the
| womans face, but LeOnie'S was blank,
! save for an air Of polite interest.
He was most desperate when he came
! here, but I've coaXed him up little. But
butch, Miss Cameron, you know what
| l want to say. You are beautiful, rich
! lady far above me in education and po-
siton, and only boarding here for coun-
| try quiet. I've no right to find fault, but
| -but-don't firt with John! He is In
| trouble, Respondent. disinherited, and he's
falling in love with you as fast as he can.
| 1 believe If you play with him. he will kill
! himself, body and SOUL"
| Fairly out Of breath with her own earnest
| utterance, Mrs. Tolman paused, looked
| pleadingly into Leonie Cameron's face The
expression or polite interest never WaVereQ,
as that young lady said:
IF l understand you Alright you wish
| me to ignore your nephew. 1t Is not easy,
as he is in your house. so l better leave it. "
"Goodness?" cried the widow; aghast at
| this Interpretation of her words, Il never
| meant that! Where could you find another
| boarding place near here?"
! Il can return to the city"
| 'Pve put my foot in it, John will never
forgive met said Mrs. Tollman. disconso-
| lately. But there was no sympathy in
! Leonie's face, and she turned away at
| ever.
And Leonie, sinking back in her chair
! again, looked at the sunset clouds and
variegated foliage, and thought. perhaps.
| it was time to return to the city. She had
| come to Scranford, weary with a round of
| fashionable life, tired of fiattery, dancing,
| flirting, and she had found rest and quiet
| under Mrs. Holmans motherly care. She
| was rich-richer far than the landlady had
| any idea of; but she had no near relatives,
hiring a second cousin to keep her lovely
! home and play propriety. Society con-
| stituted itself her amateur guardian. and
| lying back in her cushioned chair in the
| sunset glow, she wondered indolently what
| society would say about John Furber
| 1t would grant him rare perfection Of
! manly beauty Of face and form. and for
| give the evident traces of dissipation If
| it was known he was the son Of a rich
! man. educated at college. idle by profess
| sion. But in what holy horror it would
| turn away with uplifted hands when 1t
| was known that he was disinherited, with
| no home but a room in the house of a
| widowed aunt, eking out her narrow in
| come by taking boarders. 1t would smile
| at his biting sarcasm. his brilliant CONVEX
! sation; his cynical sneers, II he was re-
instated in his fathers favor, but how
| rude these would be in a poor man.
| Leonie, from thinking Of society's opin-
| ion, quite unconsciously glided into con-
| sidering her own. This dark-browed man
| had made fair portion Of her summer
| pleasure for three months, had been her
| cavalier In many country walks, drives
| and sails, had quoted poetry under shaded
trees, sung in a superb baritone upon
murmuring waters, looked into her eyes
on moonlit porch and whispered delicate
| ly-worded fattery. No more than many
another man had done! beauty and rich.
! Miss Cameron had looked upon more than
! one languishing sutton and forgotten him
when her amusement wearied her. Scarce
| ly a fiirt, for she encouraged no down.
| right love-making, but beautiful fascin-
| ating woman, who wounded hearts With
merely careless grace
| Musing in the sunlight. it was impressed
! upon the proud heart that unconsciously
| she had poisoned life that was already
| sinking. There were capabilities for better
| things than dissipation and suicide in John
Furber. and she shivered as she thought
he might be upon dangerous precipice,
waiting for the clasp of her hand to draw
him back or its repulse to thrust him over,
She passed in review her host of male
friends, and found none who had Weakened
her heart to hours Of such keen pleasure
as John Furber had given her. She tried
to recall one mind whose grasp Of intellect
had dwarfted her own as his had done, with
had met her fairly in so many arguments
and worsted her. and she could only re-
member soft fattery of her wonderful
mind" Finally, lifting her eyes with q
soft sigh, she saw him leaning against a
tree opposite the low window, looking at
her. vivid flush stained her cheek. as he
said:
What can you have been thinking Of?
You have not stirred for half an hour
Only that your eyes were open, should
have thought you were asleep
Your power Of observation is marvel
ous," she answered lightly. II was dream
ing!'
"Of what?"
1.-THE world in general my world in
particular. 1t is almost time I returned
there"
She was prepared for some polite show
Of regret, but not for the ghastly change
in his face. She shuddered, remember
ing his aunts words:
Going away! Why, of course you would
be soon," he said trying to speak careless
ly, while his eyes hungrily devoured her
face, and his white parched lips were
drawn as if in sharp physical pain.
Il have been here three months" she
said. feeling her own heart ache at his
misery.
Yes, yes! You will go. certainly"
And you," she said. very gently-"you
will be in the citv T nraSume I should ho