Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-03-23

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''You are engaged to him, then?
said Magdalen. Chow delightful %
''We are to be married in the
spring." said Charlotte, simpering
and blushing. Don't you think him
quite handsome?"
''Oh, very !'' said Magdalen, with
smile which, to an acute physiogno-
mist, would have expressed consider
ably more than sweet acquiescence.
''It's so fortunate we have met you
hear p prattled on Charlotte. ''Syd-
ney is quite charmed with you and
dear Miss Jessup."
81 hope we shall be able to make
your stay a little pleasanter," said
demure Magdalen.
And Charlotte was delighted at the
fortuitous chain of circumstances
which had thrown the two parties OF
tourists together in Rome under the
majestic shadow of st. Peters.
But one evening, at the Princess
Della Foria's, she came UNEXPECTEDLY
on Mr.. Sydney Egerton, on his knees
to Magdalen Jessup, i'll secluded
corner, VIII ere the loonlight sifted
down thro ugh gold -freighted orange.
boughs and pink thickets of oleanders.
She recoiled in angry dismay-al
most incredulity.
'Sydney p she exclaimed.
Magdalen's dark eyes glittered
triumphant defiance at her; mocking
smile scintillated around Magdalen's
full, scarlet lips.
"You have interrupted our little
tete-a-tete," she lightly said. 'Mr.
Fgerton has just laid his heart at my
feet He says he was mistaken in be-
lieving he could love you.
Sydney" walled out poor
| Charlotte, sis this true?'
''It is true," answered Egerton,
doggedly. rising from his knees, 81
love Miss Jessup, and Miss Jessup
only Ever since / have been thrown
into her societyI have discovered how
feeble was the tie that bound me to
you. Here and now 1 ask for my re.
lease"
Charlotte Courtenay grew deadly
pale. She grasped at carved marble
column for support.
''Quite scene - said Magdalen,
mockingly ''But if Miss Courtenay
had not so inopportunely interrupted
us, 1 would have given you my answer
Nor
"Magdalen Magdalen Oh, for
heavens sake p pleaded Egerton, in
an agony.
"No ~ mercilessly repeated the
girl. ~ never loved you, merely
lured you on for my own amusement
Do you think l could ever marry one
/ like you?"
The withering contempt in her voice
cut like knife, as she turned and
swept scornfully away. But at the
entrance of the court she paused at
Charlotte Courtenay's side.
"Take my vinaigrette," said she,
stopping over, NAY, never weep.
What is man s love worth? Do you
remember that night at the Seminary?
| Do you remember how cruel you
were? All you never thought the
! time might come when I, too, could
be cruel Do you remember how l
vowed vengeance? Well, this nights
work wipes away that vow-I am re.
venged p
Charlotte heard no more. The
oleander boughs swan before her vi.
sion-the white bars of the moonlight
were all blotted out. And when she
recovered, little group of the Prin.
cess Della Foria's serving
were rubbing her hands with camphor,
and tanning her.
Sydney Egerton left Rome the next
morning, and never saw Charlotte
Courtenay's face again. And old Miss
Jessup took her adopted daughter
away to the baths of Baden, as royalty
beautiful as ever, for Magdalen was
we'll content with her season in
Rome.
''Things generally contrive to
balance themselves in this world"
said the beautiful brunette. ''if only
one is content to wait long enough"
And Charlotte Courtenay had paid
dear for the arrogance and insolence
of that one hour of her girlhood. =
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