The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1900-02-03
gelett Story.
A ROYAL WOMAN.


have been born at that time was stand
ing conundrum to Miss Dale-scarcely less
difficult to solve than why she should have
been born at all And, then. too, this
day was the anniversary of her engage
ment, and the date of her loss.
Sixteen years ago bethrothed to the man
of her choice, fifteen years ago parted,
not BY death-that would have been light
in comparison-but by Well, she
never let the words escape her lips so We
will pass them over also.
He had loved another; he never could
have loved her; So it was all right in the
largest sense, aud Miss Dale felt like a
reprobate whenever bitter though hts Of hel
old lover crowded into her mind True,
man who had professed SO much might
have manfully explained his change OF
feeling, instead Of abruptly ceasing to visit
her and marrying another; but the mantle
of Miss Dale charity vas large enough tC
cover even this delinquency, and the no
bic, large bearted woman went her way
as brayely as she could
Everybody said that Doctor Leigh had
! fyrsakeu Miss Dale from motives of ezpe
dieucy. Miss Clarendon, the Young lady
he had married. was the only daughter Of
very wealthy and popular physician,
and. besides the money his daughter would
inherit. was the practice, which musi
necessarily fall into the hands Of his son-
{ in-law.
Tha, Doctor Leigh was ambitious Miss
I Dale knew. but ,omeway she never could
/ bring herself i1 belieye thsi he had thus
/ sid himself Had be not on lnuumerable
occasions expressed his horror Of marriages
/ ii convenience Aud ye; while Miss Dale
4 dii not oycrrate her ewu character, she
coali uo; help compare most uHiaTorabiy
. the woman he had married with the wo-
man be had deserted and for this there
( was gn0al reason.
/ Mis- Clarendon was recognized belle
at the tame Of her marriage. She cared
/ for nothing anirr heaven but socislv. and
I this fact everybody who kucw her at all
! wa- acquainted with She was petite.
/ graceful, coquest'sh possessed Of excellent
+ taste m ire-sins-in short, a social butter
/ U.s. With no. a single domestic rrochyify.
The first llms poclor Leigh and Miss
{ Dale had mes siuys the doctor marriage
/ uss precisely year after their no,, SIN
( eular parting. ani on the 6rsg of January
( She had dressed herself 90 recciyc call, A.
( usual. for Miss Dale wAs one It che women
F vho cauli suffer aud ~, s,rlsSle--could
lie and laakc no sisn
Her elegant psriars never booked more
+ cheerful and the h1stes. vas never usoTg
/ charming 90 her guests as on th's. to hes,
{ ihe .ad4,-l day ol she wear.
Of caarsc Doc;or Lc,gh woai nos ssh
a,su her. she sid te herself At every ns~
+ riuz It the bsls aud ,c, understand &c sae
F eoull ual Something kePs whispering 60
Z her that be woali coine. in spite % the
/ constant pro;cs, of her rya-oa-
That something Vas l0ycs true intui
T tiou. as Stable and unyrrlaz IN is rule
/ uycr the heart A. the law Of srayiiatlou to
the world
When 8, last be did arrive, Miss Dale
T knew be xAs spproachins before his band
[ touched the bcll. and, while she waited
( hi, eutrance. schoulssl her heart 60 meos
Z him wish the indifference their chasse
I position demanded
Miss Dale
Doctor Isigh
/ That was ali. Their hands met. and
( ,heir syes searched each other. faces.
( Miss Dale was smiling, courteous, ap-
Parently happy With the mos, profound
/ yoli,euess and most thorough indifference
she pointed 20 a seat
Docsor Leigh was pale and clrew1ru.
almost haEsari For an instant Miss
Dale heart was filled with loy-but Only
/ for an instant He had suffcTe,l-was
/ suffering She had not borne all the sor
row But this feeling was short lived
( Ii died almos, a, is birth, aud the next
/ sentiment was one Of such tender pits
/ that it required all her self possession to
I keep FROM showing him that IN no respee,
| had she sweryed from her frst allegiance
but pride aud principle did its work, and
/ the most critical observer would never have
/ guessed, As Miss Dale sat BY her ola lover.
I thar she had ever cared a whit more for
him than any other man in the room. Ii
vas evident at once that Doctor Leigh .
visit vas not Of the usual New Year :
type.
II trust you will excuse me for calling
| TO day he At last remarked, when his
companion was quite a, liberty to listen.
"Doctor Leigh viii always be welcome
she replied, a. the gentleman hesi,ated.
let us have no common places, please,
ne answered Il have come ou very
sad errand Pardon me if | ask you to
90 with me to another room.
Il cannot leave my guests, Doctor
Leigh, she said, with dignity. If your
message i important, let me hear it now
I We shall not be overheard
Then you think you are strong enough
to hear what have to tell you in this
| crowd p
II am strong enough for anything
she replied, looking straight into her com
| paniou eyes.
Very well, then. was summoned
an hour ago to the bedside Of your friend
Hugh Claverick
'He is ill?' Miss Dale inquired, with
out emotion.
He Is dying + was the quick response
dying, Miss Dale, and he wants you
Poor Hugh | feared as much when
saw him last will change my dress
and 20 at once, if you will be kind enough
to take me there
As Miss Dale excused herself to her
guest, and made ready to accompany him,
the doctor asked himself over and over
again what this could mean She had
received this announcement with perfect
self-possesson, which, the doctor felt con
fdent, was not the result of an effort
When she returned to the parlor they
were quite alone. She drew on her gloves
eoolly, saying as she did SO
''You have not told me anything of the
circumstances, Doctor Leigh. This last
trouble is the result of another impru-
dence, | suppose ?
Doctor Leigh could bear this no longer
He rose suddenly, and with face from
which every particle of color had fed