El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1901-02-06

ESCAPE. ~

Henry Millbrook's engagement to Bar
bara Esmond. the heiress, was the them
OF general club and congratula
ton. His friend Mr.. Percy wished sh
had a sister with half the money as Mil
brook sauntered away to get his pictur
taken for his ladylove.
Si2nor Fernelli. the artist, was at hom
and very glad to receive Mr.. Millbrook'
order.
AS Nillbrook sat waiting for Signo
Fernelli to bring out some specimens D
his art he saw through the open door
dark silk dress brush by and the pure
clear profile of a face that he well knew
barbara Esmond's face.
"Hello!' calculated our hero. Fer
nelli. who the deuce is that young lady
and how came she here?"
1T is the music mistress of Pauline
Delatour up stairs. She comes twice OF
the week and sings, my word, like g
nightingale"
WHO is Pauline Delatour?"
"A poor girl, signor, who sews on
dresses, but one day she will come out on
the stage-she will sing at the opera"
Harry Milibrook stared at Signor Fer.
nelli like one demented.
Which size did you say, sir?"
IL don't think I'll make a selection
today. I will call tomorrow"
And Mr.. Millbrook rushed headlong
down stairs. greatly to the surprise of
Signor Fernelli.
THE deuce!" he calculated to himself
as he strobe along the narrow street.
with difficulty restraining himself from
tumbling at every other step over the
babies who swarmed in the cutters. "a
music mistress! Giving lessons in such
a hole as that! Upon my word, I've come
previously near being taken in and done
for!"
He lifted his hat and wiped the chill
heads of perspiration from his forehead.
Barbara Esmond had futtered lightly
up the narrow staircase, all unconscious
of the eyes that were noting her through
Signor F'ernelli's partially opened door.
and entered a small room in the story
above. A pale young girl, with n sweet.
spirituelle face, sat at her sewing by the
window. She frightened up as the deli
cate figure came in.
Miss Esmond, it is so kind of you to
remember me so ~punctually."
Not at all kind. j am a genius wor-
shipper. Pauline. and / have discovered
the divine spark i'm you"
How shall l ever repay you. Miss Es-
mond?"
by cultivathg the talent heaven has
bestowed upon you. Nay. nay. pauline.
| am but following out a pet within"
The lesson was longer than usual that
day. Pauline and Miss Esmond were
both deeply interested. and it was nearly
twilight before Barbara emerged from
the house. closely yelled. and walked
swiftly through the darkening streets.
There's a note for you. Miss Bar
bara." said her housekeeper, as she sat
down to rest n minute or two in the re-
ception room of her own mansion before
she laid off her things.
"A note? Let me see it."
1t was very brief. but cruel as a blow.
Miss Esmond." it read. commencing
shortly and sternly, instead of the Dear
est Barbara she had expected.
Allow me to claim back the troth I have plight
ed to you. had supposed when | engaged myself
to you that was about to ally myself TO a lady,
not to a music mistress in Grove street. 1t will
scarcely be worth while for you to reply to this
letter. as I can never, under any circumstances.
forgive the deceit that has been practiced upon
me. Therefore I shall take it for granted that all
relations are ended between yourself and yours.
very respectfully. ii. MuLBRooK.
Barbara dropped the insulting letter.
with a sparkle in her black eyes. a curve
to her lip, which were wondrously elo-
quent.
The puppy" she muttered between
her set teeth. THE miserable poltroon,
How could l ever have fancied for a sin
gle second that l loved him? Reply to
this letter. OF course l shall not reply to
it,"
And Miss Esmond walked up stairs,
carrying her head high in the air, far.
far beyond the reach of Harry Mill
brooks petty spite.
That young man was seated at his
breakfast table next morning when Ru-
fus Kenward lounged in.
Hello. Millbrook. I've just heard a
little item about your ladylove, Miss Es-
mond. that is to my mind better than all
bnr bonds md vNhat ID -D,,
think? She's giving singing lessons to
my wife's little seamstresS. one Pauline
because the child has a glorious
voice. and can't afford to have it cultivat-
ed. Really. il isn't often that an heiress
like old Esmond's daughter stoops to per- |
form so toiling a benefit as that"
Harry Millbro0k had set down his
chocolate cup and was staring with
CLASSY eyes at Mr.. Kenward.
why. what's the matter?" demanded
gentleman somewhat shortly.
"N-nothing."
Dyspepsia, eh?"
mo. l tell you I'm well enough"
Harry had made a mistake-a mistake
that was likely to be fatal to his brilliant |
matrimonial aspirations.
why didn't ! wait? What the mis-
chief was i in such a hurry for?" he de-
manded of himself. without any very
satisfactory answer. as he hurried along |
The street toward Barbara's residence.
The boy might not have delivered the
note-Barbara might not have read it |
here were a thousand might nots." and
ne resolved to try his luck. even in Il for |
Orn hope.
"Is Miss Esmond at home?" he asked
of the old housekeeper who came to the |
miss Esmond wished me to say spe-
that she was never at home TO |
Millbrook any more" was the cold
reply. And thus Barbara escaped the