The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1899-11-18
RlaCkrlnail. . .



Marie"
Il have, mamzsle, hat he insists on
seeing You
The beautiful Irene Riverside gave vent
to an exclamation of petuIency, and said
"Then tell him will be down in few
minutes" Her maid went to do her mis-
tress' bidding. THANK heaven" solilo-
quized Irene, though her mouth was full
of hairpins and she spoke with difficulty
her words sounded like Hank hea ms. {"
"Thank heavens, in three days more
shall become the bride of the Count de
Inhocksy, and never more shall lie both
cred with these vulgar Americans for then
shall be in beautiful Paris, far, far from
this country"
fastening her toilet, Irene descended to
the reception room, which looked quite
respectable, for mother had long since re-
moved the dinner dishes and placed the
red cloth on the dining table. In the
room was man, a sinister person. who did
not even rise as Irene entered. Said he:
cam addressing Miss Iren- Riverside,
the tiancee OF the rich Count de Inhocksy,
of Pdris?'
That's what you're doing" replied
Irene
The beautiful Miss Riverside, over
whose charms Of face and figure the papers
have been raving?'
SIS it necessary for you to ask" replied
Irene for she was modest withal
"H'mr' said the man. "And. as |
understand it, thi Count of yours is a man
OF very fine old family, aud, il you will
pardon me, a very jealous man, also; so
jealous in faot, that he has bought up all
the photographs Of you that you have ever
had taken, that none gazing on your
pictured charms, may fall in love with you
and become his rival. y
Someone must have told you," replied
Irene.
81 learned it, replied the man. "But
the Count has not purchased all the photo
graphs of YOU He waited the effect Of
his words They were as he expected
The beautiful girl fell on her knees before
him, her hands clasped in supplcation.
at is as you say" she moaned. "There
was one one little picture taken of me,
and, oh such harmless thing-there was
no wrong intended in it, swear. In fact,
it was not my doing at all The picture
was taken without my consent, and -"
The man laughed, "Ha, ha!' THAT'S
what they all say" he laughed again.
"But it is So" moaned Irene, the tears
falling fast, and making an awful spot on
the carpet 81 swear it But if the
Count were to know of the existence OF
this photograph in another's hands, it
would be the end OF our engagement, and
my ruin"
He shall know it," said the man, ''for
have it here So saying, he exhibited a
small package. Irene made futile effort
to rescue it from his grasp, but he put his
hand behind his back, and laughed dis
dainfully. Gle shall have it, proud Irene
Riverside, - said he, fiendishly, unless"
"Name your price, cried the miserable
girl. II have no money, but some dia-
monds given me by the Count. They are
yours if"
st is bargain" interrupted the man.
"Here is the picture. Where are the
diamonds
|. enc tore them from her beautiful neck
They were the real thing.
The bargain was made. The man open
ed the front door and rushed out, and as
he vanished, Irene fell on the floor in a
faint.
Saved" she cried, as she fell. In an
instant she recovered and rose to her feet.
A terrible doubt seized her. "What if
this were not the picture, after all?' she
cried. Hastily tearing off the wrapper
from the packet she peered at its contents.
Gan is right, she cried, joyously. at
is the fatal picture, taken nineteen years
ago" And she read from the inscription
on the back of the photograph, which was
that o, baby girl in very babyish dis
habile:
"Llttre Irene Riverside, aged months
Ra.srG from her birth on Snoozsr'a infants
food