Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1901-12-27
HAWTHORNE EsMERALDA COUNTY, DECEMBER
being Stuart, is Morelandr

sation, in her head, strong arm passed
around her, and voice, which fully
aroused her as II called her MARY" and
asked II she were faint. just then Ida
entered the room, announcing tea, and
asking her II she founl "Mr. Stuart
much changed At the tea table Mary
sat opposite George and every time she
raised her eyes she met his fixed upon
her, with an expression so like that OF
the picture In the golden locket which
she still wore that she wondered she had
not before recognized George Moreand
in the Mr.. Stuart who had so puzzled
and mystihed her
During the evening William Bender
called. and soon after Henry Lincoln also
came in, frowning gloomily when he saw
how near to each other were William
and his sister, while he jealousy watch.
ed them, still keeping an eye upon George
and Mary. At last, complaining of feel
ing blue he asked Ida to play. at the
same time sauntering toward the music
room, where stood his sisters piano,
Upon my word" said he, this looss
natural. Who bought ity" and he drum
med few notes of a song.
MIR. Moreland bought it. Wasn't he
kindY' said Jenny, who all the evening
had been trying for chance to thank
George but now when she attempted to
do so he prevented her by saying:
"Oh, don't-don't-I can imagine all
you wish to say and hate 70 be thanked.
Rose and | are particular friends, and il
afforded me great deal of pleasure to
purchase it for her-but," he added,
glancing at his watch, 81 must be excus-
ed now. as | promised to call upon my
ward"
who's that?" asked Jenny, and
George replied that it wac n Miss Hcrn-
don, who had accompanied him from
New Orleans, to visit her aunt, Mrs
Russell.
'IIe says she's an heiress, and very
beautiful" rejoined Ida, seating herself
at the piano.
Instantly catching at the words heir
ess' and beautiful" Henry started up,
asking 'if it would be against all the
rules Of propriety for him to call upon
her thus early"
81 think it would" was Georges brief
answer, while Mary's eyes flashed seorn-
fully upon the young man, who, rather
crestfallen, announced himself ready to
listen to Ida, whom he secretly styles "an
old maid," because since his first remem-
brance she had treated him with perfect
Indifference.
That night before retiring the three
girls sat down by the cheerful fire in
Mary's room to talk over the events Of
the day, when Mary suddenly asked Ida
to tell her truly IL it were not George who
had paid her bills Mt Mount Holyoke.
"What silly girl" said Ida. 'He was
perfectly able and more than willing, so
why do you carer"
81 do not like being so much indebted
to anyone" was Mary's reply, and yet
in her secret heart there was strange
feeling of pleasure In the idea that
George had thus cared for her, for would
he have done SO if She dared not fin
ish that question even to herself-dared
not ask if she hoped that George More
land loved her one-half as well as she
began to think she had always loved him.
Why should he, with his handsome per-
son and princely fortune, love one so un-
worthy and so much beneath him? And
then, for the first time, she thought of
her changed position since last they met.
Then she was poor, obscure school mis-
tress-now fattered, caressed and an
heiress. Years before, when little pau
per at Chicopee, she had felt unwilling
that George should know how destitute
she was, and now in the time of her
prosperity she was equally desirous that
he should, for time at least, remain ig-
norant of her present condition.
Ia oh bar hand from
the table, "does George know that | am
Mrs. Campbell's nieceT'
NO" answered Ida. Il wanted to tell
him, but Aunt Martha said I'd better
not"
The news that George Moreland had
returned and bought Rose Lincoln's piano
besides several other articles, spread
rapidly, and the day following his mr.
rival Mary and Ida were stopped in the
street by a group Of their companions,
who were eager to know how George
bore the news that his betrothed was so
i'll, and If it was not that which brought
him home so soon; and then the conver-
sation turned upon Miss Herndon, the
New Orleans lady who had that morning
appeared in the street; And don't you
think" said one Of the girls, that Henry
Lincoln was dancing attendance upon
her? If l were you," turning to Mary
1'd caution my sister to be a little wary
of him. But let me see, their marriage
Is to take place soonT'
Mary replied that the marriage was
postponed indefinitely, whereupon the
girls exchanged meaning glances anc
passed on. In less than twenty-four
hours half of Elias acquantances We're
talking Of her discarding Henry on ac-
count of his fathers failure, and saying
"that they expected it, twas like her"
Ere long the report, in the shape of
coincidence, reached Henry, who, caring
but little what reason was assigned for
the broken engagement, so that he got
well out OF it, assumed a much-injuree
air, but said ''he reckoned he should man
age to survive;" then, pulling his sharp
pointed collar up another story, and
brushing his pet mustache, wherein lay
most of his mind, he walked up street,
and, ringing at Mrs. Russelrs door, ask
ed for Miss Herndon, who, vain as beau
tiful, suffered his attentions, not because
she liked him in the least, but because