Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1900-07-15
CHAPTER XVI.
Undercurrents.

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Undercurrents.
No, certainly Mrs. Aurelia Dexter did
not like Wilfred Erleston's secretary;
although for reasons of her own, it
suited her to affect the very opposite
sentiment Perhaps she was envious
and jealous of Mrs. Savile because she
was young and handsome. Perhaps
her attractions, her intimate position
and influence with the heir of Rock
wood, aroused the feminine envy Of
the woman obliged per force to count
herself passe; who was so changed that
even George Crewe had not recogniz-
ed her-changed from brilliant youth
full beauty to what she now was. And
though she rejoiced at the change for
safety's sake, telling herself weeks ago
and to-day that she was 80 glad he
would not know her a second time"
(whosoever ''he" might be-, still the
gladness was scarcely genuine. Rath-
er was it, as Lord Bacon says of the
fool who sayeth in his heart there is
no God, as though he rather sayeth it
by rote than that he doth believe 1t. ;"
So was it with Aurelia, save for the
matter of policy; for did the woman
ever exist who actually and genuinely
rejoiced that the beauty in which she
had once revelled was SO completely
gone that no one could possibly recog-
nize her for the same being? Assured
ly not. She stood that night, when
alone in her room, before the glass,
looking from a photo in her hand to
her reflection in the mirror, striving
to trace something more than dim
suggestion of a resemblance between
the two presentments, and strove in
vain. And what were her muttered
words as she so gazed?
ooh, if had but one half the youth
full beauty of this l could, l would
dare him to foil me for very shame's
sake if he interposed! With beauty I
could so easily get a rich husband now
with this opening, but as it is"-she
struck her hand savagely on the photo
down on the toilet-table and stamped
her foot-"that is impossible"
She locked the photo up in a small
desk and began taking off the cheap
secondhand jewelry which adorned
her.
But what luck that sent me here to
stumble on him of all people-he rich
now, l come down." with another
stamp. 'Tll pay off old scores a bit,
the hateful, proud aristocrat! I'll spoil
your game and that girls! I'll make
you cast down the dollars, Mr.. Wilfred
Erleston. If your ugly secret is to be
kept. He won't dare refuse and face
the consequences. But l guess I'll wait
till the last week of my stay before /
spring the NINE
She gathered up the ornaments and
put them in the bureau drawer where
she kept her trinkets. In doing this
her eyes fell on the small packet, still
unopened, in which Purday had wrap
ped the curious hair ear-pendants.
"Ah, those ear-drops," she said, half
aloud. Il must take them down to-
morrow in my pocket and offer them to
Mrs. Savile. She always wears regu-
lar long pendants, notice. She did
last night, and | may as we'll trade
them off If l can, at profit. I'll have
to get hold of her apart, though. If !
hate her, I'd like a few dollars of her
money"
But, the said getting hold of her
apart" was not an easy matter, and II
the woman had reckoned on getting a
chance the next day-Sunday-on their
way from church (the execrable bad
taste of which never occurred to her)
she was defeated at the outset, for
when she said TO the hostess at break
fast the next morning that 'she sup
posed she should see that charming
Mrs. Savile amongst the church party, "
Lady Flora opened her eyes wide
''Oh, dear. no. / wish she would.
But as yet she will not leave Wilfred
for so long time. She always goes to
the eight O'Clock celebration at our
lockwood church. where we CO. She
has the pony phaeton, so that she gets
home by the time wilfred is up
4Ah, yes. see / hope he's none the
worse for his appearance last even
ing?"
think not. thank you. His brother
has Just been In to see him. and that
vas the report be brought back from