The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1898-02-19

"Is it nothing to you that my whole
happiness lies at your mercy? Am | only
one more of the many you have nirted
with, and then smiled aside as if they were
children? All! God never created any
creature more cruel than beautiful
couuette without heart! Do not deny it!
You have used every charm you possess to
make me love you, and have succeeded.
You shall listen to me now. I love you!
! love you! Nay, do not speak. | will
not take your final answer to-day. To-
morrow | will come for it. All, if it is
yes, | swear that you shall never regret
it. If it is No, then you will have sent
one more man to.ruin" and without
another word Jack Armstrong turned on
his heel and left abruptly. Hilda Phare
looked after his retraating figure with
vague sense of shame. She had won the
love of the "woman hater," but the victory
was leaving sting in even her hardened
coquette conscience, though she tried to
feel herself agglieved at his outhurst.
Gas if can help men falling in love
with me. cannot marry them all.
certainly do like Captain Armstrong, hut
don't like matrimony. | want to keep my
freedom a little longer first. A pretty girl
can at any time easily get engaged, but it
requires an ugly girl to easily get Olsen
gagged, SO that even beauty has its draw
backs" she concluded, with a little sUlt
laugh. Then, with the unconlessed desire
to drive the recent interview from her
mind, she took up a society paper and soon
forgot all the crumplcd rose leaves of her
happy careless life in the pleasure of read
ing description Of the dress the ''beauti-
full Miss Phare wore at the queens bali,
where, as the belle OF the season she was
the cynosure Of all eyes.
"My dear Hilda, have you heard the
dreadful news?" The girl looked up from
the comfortable wicker chair, where she
was reclining lazily under the shade Of the
old oak on the lawn.
NO. what news?" she asked indif-
ferently, for her portly aunt's face looked
more important than Mortified, as she stood
by her niece's side, holding large white
and green lined sunshade over her bare
head
Mrs. Chester shot her husband and that
pretty Miss Dene yesterday afternoon, and
then killed herself
so, how dreadful! What made her do
it?' exclaimed Hilda thoroughly reused
now, as she sat bolt upright in her chair.
''Well, it appears that she caught him
kissing this Miss Dene, to whom he had
been engaged before he married his wife
for her money. Fancy shooting both Of
them like thatr'
"What a wicked, cruel woman Mrs.
Chester must have been. 1t was only yes
terday morning rode over to Hill Hall to
see her new Paris dress. 1t is quite hoI-
Iible to think that have touched the hand
of a murderess and the girl gave shu,!-
der.
eyes, it is indeed. am so very sorry
for their poor little daughter, but of course
l can never allow Jessie and Pussie to play
with her again. must 90 now, for want
to write and tell your Aunt Mary all about
it, She will be so nterested-shocked, |
mean, " and she returned to the house with
that feeling of pleasurabe importance we
all experience when we are the first to tell
the news Of some calamity that has befallen
ouI friends.
Left to herself, Hilda sank !. =, in the
wicker chair and tried by reading to dis
tract her thoughts once more, but this time
from thinking of the tragedy at Hill Hail.
The heat, however, made her drowsy, and
the paper soon dropped on the grass from
the nerveless fingers and the lids soon
dropped over the beautiful eyes.
Suddenly choking sensation caught the
sleeper's throat She tried to move, but
could not. Was she dying-dying out
there alone on the lawn? She felt her
breath coming quicker and quicker, her
strength ebhiug faster and faster. Then
she seemed to lose all consciousness.
'Where was she now? Who were those
she asked one standing beside her
They are the souls Of the dead waiting
till the day dawns and the golden gates
are opened"
"Tlen must be dead, and those must
ba +hc ,atos &c buayo, +b,. l,,,.:e.l