The Topeka state journal., 1899-07-04
LOVERS RUSE.
TFrom the New york News.1

rock down upon me, and end II an
20, nonsense, Harry! You are d ltttlS eCIe
tIyspeptic. Come, have cigar ana IdCe
your troubles like a man. know What
the matter is: I've seen It all along, my
boy Let her go, say with her VI
aainous-IoOking foreigner"
OF course you've seen it Everybody s
seen how she has gone on, ana We
borne it all and said nothing until IasI
night when. as / had a right, askeu
an explanation, but wish hadn I; III III
sorry she explained it, for it all over
now. and she's free to have thaI con
founded Baron; wish he'd accidentally
shoot OF drown himself"
THAT never would do, Harry, for she
would go mourning all her days atter
him, in that case, and you WOuloH
stand half the chance you do now
wish You would make up your mind TO
let her go. She isn't worthy OF you m
yes. she is. You don't know her,
Fred. She is gentle and good. DuC am
bilious. She cant help it You see,
understand her. All her family are am
"0i thar's it, is it? Probably that. is
the way she explained her behavior
TO you last night?''
understand the real motive which mas
induced her to do as she has done II
is all owing to her bringing up she
sees better chance than can OFFER
and falls in love with that and theIe
stand her father and brothers, ready
to encourage the thing I see how II
Is"
Then what do you intend to do?"
~ m in hopes she viii become disgust
ed with the baron before it is too late.
He isn't much OF a fellow, and If 1t
wasn't for his title and money ms
chance would be small enough"
Then YOU don't think she loves him q
mo, I'm sure she does not
well all I've to say is that ImOgene
Lacy is a vain, mereenary, heartless
girl, unworthy OF the affection of my
friend, Harry Hammond
You don't don't know her, and that
Is why you talk So"
''Wen, perhaps I don't; however, I've
g plan to propose. which will show you
which way her heart turns; and if she
cares anything for YOU she VIII turn
her back square on the Baron and his
money-bags. Here, take cigar and
light it, while I make sure there IS no
danger of our conversation being over
heard"
DR. Frederick Mason opened the door
of his room and looked out, then he
examined the windows. and finding
the coast. clear, resumed his seat, and
for some time the two sat earnestly
talking in low. guarded tones.
The view is very fine there See how
the soft rays of the moon glimmer over
the lake, and the shadow of the over
hanging trees: o. how beautiful" and
Miss Lacy paused and gazed in silence
at the scene before her The baron
bent his dark eyes upon his fair COM
panion, and in low, soft accents, said;
You have de great love for de ma
tura."
20, yes There is so much of Won
drOus beauty to worship in the work of
the Divine Master. A scene like this
fills me with a. deep y,stills the world
" emotions of my nature, and whisp-
ers to my inward sense peace be with
thee
And you listen to de voice of de ma
ture, and you be still and happy; but
when ! look at you cannot hear the
voice of anything but mine heart crying
forever dat it loves you. Is there no
answer in your hearth"
Imogene stood with downcast look,
and made no answer. No light of love
beamed in her eyes, nor blush mantIed
her cheek. She was fully conscious that
her heart gave no extra throb, and yet
she was considering how to answer en-
coUragingly. She waited so long that
her companion spoke again:
Have you no word for me?''
You are very kind she said, softly,
with a little sigh.
And you. viii you be kind to me?"
"How can be otherwise?'
And you viii be my wife?' he asked,
eagerly bending down toward her Imo-
gene extended one hand toward him.
He caught it in a warm clasp and said,
quickly:
Il have your prOmise2"
" es," was the low reply, and, turn
ing away from the mOoE-lit-la1e, she
said:
There was a lonely bit Of woodland,
through which they must pass to gain
the main walk, and scarcely had they
entered this when a dark figure sprang
before them.
You money or your lifeI'' was the
demand, in rough accents, and with
shrek 1mOgene turned to her compan-
Ion for protection, but he was quite
busy in handing over his ready money,
and paid no heed to her terror.
lne n1g1WaKnan DCCkRted the bar
on's effects. and then turning to the
lady. he politely requested her to hand
over her jewels, but she was quite un-
able to do so. for overcome with fright
she had sunk upon the ground
The rObber presented a pistol at the
noble baron and requested him to rid
the lady of her superhuous ornaments,
and pass them to him.
For de life he must have desc" said
the trembling baron STOPPING over
1mOgene and removing her bracelets,
necklace. and earrings. Il have no
arms to fight for you Pardon me- and
he gave the jewels to the rObber: then,
taking hold Of one of Imogene's hands,
kie said;
Now we may 60"
Not so easy to tell tales. Stand off
there until I silence your tongue"
InCgene, glanCingg up. saw the pis-
tol ghmmering in the moonlight, knew
that the baron had dropped her hand
and fled away, and then a new figure
appeared upon the scene, and a voice
exclaimed:
What are you doing. you villain %
and she knew it was Harry Hammond
who grappled with the highwayman
and, forgetting everything else. she
sprang to her feet and rushed forward.
crying:
Harry Harry! He will kill youl"
and as long knife shone in the faint
light, and seemed to descend upon her
discarded lover, she tainted. When she
recovered her consciousness she found
herself reclining upon a grassy mound.
with Harry beside her, bathing her
temples with cool water from the lake
by which she stood so recently.
She lay quiet for a little while feel
ing quite safe and happy, and then be
ginning to realize her situation, she en-