Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1899-04-06
HER BLUNDER.
BY w. X.

BY W. x.
Carolyn yernet WIS OF that order OF
women TO whom their admirers are
won't to apply such adjectives as re
;al." magnificent imperial"
Many lovers sought to win her, and
many were disappointed when rumor
announced her engagement 10 young
frank Reade.
To be sure, Frank vas handsome as a
prince. and brilliant as TO wit and tai
.nts; was poor. hadn't even "expecta-
ions
! Early orphaned OF both his parents.
ne was educated for the law by a rich
. uncle, who made it understood that
aid education was al he meant to give
Frank
| His presumptive heir was another
nephew, Franks cousin.
! Well these considerations had their
! weight with Miss vernet, and she had
| hesitated before accepting the young
| lawyer: but his attractions of mind
| and person proved too much for her
worldly wisdom, and it was an engage
| ment.
| Only she stipulated that il should be
| 40 more until Frank should have suf-
| dcient income to support her in good
| style.
or course Frank must needs go away
to seek his fortune. He went TO Eu-
| rope and for u month Carolyn was in
| consolable.
However, this did not last long: and
at the end of a month Carolyn had so
far recovered from her grief as TO ac-
cept an invitation 70 Mrs. De Smiths
| soiree.
AT that soiree She met Albert Reade.
| that unfortunate cousin OF Frank.
Mr. Reade was a rather good-looking
young man. She saw at once that he
| was destined TO become her adorer.
Besides, he was Franks cousin: rea-
son enough why she should like him.
Still. she did not speak to him of
Frank; neither did Mr.. Reade allude TO
his cousin. But Albert was ignorant of
Miss Vernet's engagement to Frank.
He began, from their first meeting, to
devote himself 10 Der: and Miss Yer
net, not being blind, especially to such
attentions, did not mistake ii, yet she
did not discourage him.
And when occasionally she heard
some comment from society" not hat-
tering to her constancy, she said, in
dignantly:
"Of course, she must go about with
some one: and who would be a more
proper escort than Franks cousin"
So she continued TO go about" with
Albert Reade. and society continued to
talk about them to its hearts content
OF course, you see the sequel: Caro-
Ign loved Frank. Under the fascination
of his presence she had yielded her
selfishness, but now that he was gone.
| worldliness had resumed its sway, and
ambition began to suggest that Albert
was better match than Frank.
Society that astute and consider
ate body. had long foreseen the event,
and was not in the least surprised
when Miss Vernet authorized the in
formation that she was soon to marry
! Albert Reade; and society thought it a
very sensible proceeding.
/ And Carolyn married Albert Reade.
They went to live with Uncle jenkins,
| who gave the bride set of diamonds.
and did the handsome thing generally;
and somebody good enough to
send to Frank, in Europe. a paper con-
tanning the marriage notice. What a
| crushing blow to all his hopes that
notice was-he never told to any one.
He did not return home and society
was left to forget or remember him as
| ii would
1t chose to remer Der him, for Caro-
Ign, riding on ferryboat. about two
years after her marriage, heard a lady
and gentleman at her side eonversing
| as follows:
Il suppose Maria told you about her
| friend, Frank Reade's good fortune?"
queried the lady.
No; what about him? understand
| that he was rather unfortunate at one
time
You mean about his engagement to
| that Miss-Vincent was It'll suppose.
Yes, he did take her INCONSISTENCY very
badly, Maria says. They say she was a
great beauty. and men are silly about a
pretty face-beggins your pardon. mon
| ami
Granted" laughed the gentleman
Proceed"
| Well you know as soon as he was
safely out of the way she married a
rich man, some relation to Frank
Reade, l believe"
Yes, | have heard all about that
We'll, now comes the sequel Frank
| went to Switzerland on some wild
| goose chase, and while there saved the
| life of a certain rich, benevolent, child
less gentleman. Well. the benevolent
| old gentleman insisted on taking his
| brave young preseTver home to Eng
| land with him; then he adopted him
| and now he has capped the climax by
/ dying and leaving his immense for
| tune, Internationally. to Frank, Now,
won't that be bitter pill 10 the faith
| less beauty"
Carolyn heard no more. but she had
/ heard enough, and later the story had
| plenty of confirmation. 1t was bitter
| pill TO her But the worst was not yet
In the course of nature Uncle Jen-
| kins died and was buried, and his law
yer came to read the will TO the heir
presumptive. With serene satisfaction
Mr. and Mrs. Reade listened TO the fol-
lowing:
Il give and bequ~ath to my nephew
Albert Reade, all the property of
which | die possessed amounting
Here the lawyer paused TO wipe his
spectacies-
Amounting to five thousand dollars.
invested in" ETC., etc.
That was all, Uncle jenkins appar-
ent wealth had been all a sham, and
Carolyn had sold herself for five thou
sand dollars, She had lost not only a
J! true and loving heart. but what was Of
more value-a prjncely fortune.