The age-herald., 1900-04-08

stinging tail which formed the proper con- 1 tinuation of that odious head. It was a l strange conception to come from the brain 1 of my ma agnanlmous and high-souled l friend.
 'tDost thou see her-dost thou not see | her?" exclaimed Aurelia one day, running 1 into my room with eyes distended and hair i flowing like a spirit. I followed the direction of her eager hand and, looking out, saw that same elegant lady erterlng the gate.
 A minute later the servant brought up her card.
 Aurelia would not go down. l Mrs. Desmond desires to be excused this morning." said. cooly, to my caller
 "Indeedv' replied Mrs. Mountjoy. 'I re- gret it extremely, l assure you. It is some years since have met Mrs. Desmond, and it would give me great pleasure to re- | new her acquaintance" Mrs. Mountjoy was rising to go. l did not care to have any more to say to her than possible, and probably divininG my wishes, she continued moving toward the door and was soon gone. I confess I was more than surprised at such importantly from Mrs. Harold Mount joy. Her husband was old wealthy, and gentle; her position as a social leader, at present an enviable one, however unenvia- bly attained. Why she should specially care unless from some sinister motive, to renew her acquaintance with Aurelia, did not at first see clearly. But in an instant I re- membered her earnest and impressive man. her, as she bade Raymond adieu, that morning, and a great light illumined my mind. was more than ever determined that Mrs. Mountjoy should not succeed in this pernicious scheme of hers. Raymond called that evening. Aurelia happened to be upstairs at the time writ ing letter, so that employed the wished for opportunity of tete-a-tete with him.
 "A friend of yours called here today" l said, "who, it seefns, is also an old ac- quaintance of Aurelia's-Mrs. Mountjoy. She Is an interesting character, Do tell me about her"
 Raymond smiled the peculiar smile of a man of the world.
 "Yes. She and Aurelia were rivals once, I think" said he
 Do you know. Raymond" said l. "that I suspect that woman of designs upon your"
 Raymond looked embarrassed.
 "I was afraid of that, too, at one time, my dear friend, but Aurelia's noble coun- tenance and pure. ohild-like heart awoke me to my danger" said he, briefly. Her face is d perpetual joy"
 Raymond's declaration which followed short time after the above conversation, took Aurelia quite by surprise. I was not disappointed-nor, think, was he-that she gave him an unqualified refusal.
 "I am willing to be, nay, I am proud to be his friend, his sistereven, but l have been wife once, and it Is over-I cannot be again. said Aurelia, in talking over the affair with me "He says Easter and springtime are coming with fresh hopes, she faltered.
 It was nearly spring, and Aurelia return ed to her quiet home. Raymond came of ten to see me- and I knew that he had not forgotten Aurelia. Mir. Harold Mountjoy died that spring and left his widow free in the exercise of her peculiar talents. She frequented Raymond's studio more than ever, but to no effect. I passed her once or twice on the street, and her glance at me was malignant.
 AureMa wrote frequently, and I saw by her letters that her home was not to her what 1t had once been.
 "I am haunted" she wrote to me in the early autumn. .I have a want which noth- ing satisfies
 q lave told you More than I meant to, but not more than my heart often conn., pels me to think she wrote once.
 Of course. had no night to tell Raymond all this, Out l did say to him. one day: You are looking worn. Why don't you spend some of these glorious October days in the country? Run down with my love to Aurelia, and an invitation to some back and spend tho winter with me-" "Pn go," he said, "it will be the best medicine for me-" When he came back his countenance was radiant with joy.
 Are you we'll paid for going?" I ques- tioned him.
 Amply. She would give me no promise, Is @ jewel'
 When Easter came again, went down to Aurelia's wedding.