Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1898-04-21

tore OF annoyance.
''She Is not slckly. Her health. her
bodily health. ] mean, is uncommonly
strong"
Good. then 1t Is some moral defect:
an inclination to steal, or flirt, or lie:
neither of which care for, because
either Of them can cure her of with q
very little trouble"
Her defect Is no more a moral than
a physical one; in fact. Is mental"
"Ah! she is fool: beauties fire.
Quently are SO: for Nature. impartial
In her gifts. seldom bestOws any great
degree of genius and beauty on the
same individual. Be easy; l do not
value the girl the less for being a
ninny."
There. again, you are widely mis-
taken, tee girl is as remarEab bic for her
intelligence as for her good looks.''
We'll. then. what in the fiend's
name is the matter with her?''
You have heard of monOmania's? a
species of mental arrangement. in
which the victim is insane upon only
one subject?"
Certainly"
Fora has such a malady! With n
mind singulasiy strong and clear upon
all other subjects. she is decidedly
cracked on one. In word, she i!nag-
ines herself to be somebody else"
"A very common case in mOnomania!
l had wench once who imagined her
your girl fancy herself to beg
"Why, Mrs. Fu,ke Grevillc. formerly
MademOiselle AstIea De Glacie. who
fhn 1No1ln oFV l..
son.
Il recollect her; was In Washington
last winter. and saw her Mt the thea
ter-a beautiful blonde"
Yes; radiantly fair
"A star! l remember her we'll. And
remember how appropriate thought
her fantasti..al name. 'Astrea.'"
"Aou made her acquaintance. per-
haps: you cOnversed with her?" in
quired the captain, with visible uneasi-
ness fearing. most likely. that, dis-
@uised as AStrea was, her manner and
tone Of voice might betray her to one
who had known her formerly.
Not L. replied the stranger. Il
went very little into ladies' society,
and saw the reigning belle only at the
':heater, where she was pointed out to-
me: and afterward at the Capitol ard
at the Presidents levee. But what
could have put it into the head of your
girl to fancy herself that iady?'
ooh. who knows? She probably
heard Il great deal of Mademoiselle De
Glacie, especially about the time Of
her marriage with Colonel .Greville,
which was very much talked of; and
at that particular crisis my girl Fora
had brain fever, and dreamed of
nothing but the beautiful bride, the
iCea became fixed. 1t will wear Off in
time" answered the captain, with an
air Of Indifference.
''Oh. doubtless! And now, if you
please, we will take look at the girl.
have every confidence in your report,
captain. but I never conclude a pur-
chase without seeing my bargain"
''Oh. certainly: come with me. then"
answered the captain, and the voices
passed out Of hearing.
How rapidly one can think in ex-
IRENE peril! Astrea was appalled,; but
even in the midst of her CONSERVATION
decided upon her course of action. She
knew that she was quite helpless: that
resistance would be entirely useless.
She knew that the captain and his
crew were entirely ruthless. She.
therefore, placed her hopes upon this
would-be purchaser. She resolved to
be calm under the terrible ordeal that
awaited her; to be patient until she
should leave that fatal ship and reach
the land: then to make an appeal to
her purchaser: to explain her real po-
siticn and the diaboIical arts by which
she had been reduced to this degrade
ton: and to offer, in the name of her
guardian, ten times the amount Of the
purchase money on condition of being
restored to her friends. She had scarce
ly come to this conclusion. when the
cabin door was opened, and Venus en-
tered. threw her :Irms around the cap
tive and burst into tears, exclaiming:
''Cl.ile. you is done sold. or good as
sold: and Marse Captain done sent me
down here to fix yor I'D and bring You
on deck"'
Cro be COntinued1)