The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1902-06-18
A GILDED SIN.
BY CHARLOTTE N. BREAMB.
CHAPTER ".

first been inclined to look upon the
whole matter as a misfortune, now
began to think otherwise. She thought
to herself that the next season Sne
would be more popular than ever. She
would be mother Of one OF the falreSt
blondes and chaperon OF one OF the
most beautiful brunetteS. She saw
that the two girls would never De
rivals. their style differed so greatly,
and she began to take great interest,"
in Veronica. She went to her husband
and told him that she must have carte
blanche for Veronica's wardrobe,
siIt is all very we'll" said her lady
ship, "to look like picture: but dress
ing like one is quite different mat
ter. Your ward must dress like other
people, Sir Jasper. l suppose she can
have what money she likeS?'
Certainly" replied Sir Jasper: she
is an heiress, have told you. She
must be treated as one;' and soon al
terwar6 he placed in her hands a check
for three hundred pounds. we can
arrange later on he added, ABOUT
her yearly allowance-at present pur-
chase for her everything that she re-
Quires."
"Her wants are legion said Lady
Brandon: ''she has literally nothing,
except few picturesque OLD dresses
that would look very nice IN an Ola
curiosity shop"
Lady Brandon set to work at once.
She knew too well the effect OF dreSS
to offer to transform Veronica lnto d
fashionable English lady. Everything
she purchased was made after some
picturesque Venetian fashion. and Slr
JASPER was pleased when he saw 1t. =.
"You have preserved the unltles,
he said to his wife, with one OF those
rare smiles that so altered the express
sion of his face.
AS for Veronica herself, she could
not understand such attention:
''All this for me"' she cried. when
she saw the lace, the silks, the yeIvetS,
the thousand little elegancies that
make up a lady'S toilet-fanS and Snp-
pers, gloves and SunShades.
Then Sir Jasper brought her some
superb jewels-a set Of rubies tha.
suited her dark 'lovelineSs, a set OF
coralS and a suit Of diamonds. Ine
girl raised her wondering face to his
when he showed them to her.
why do you doall this for me-" she
asked.
He looked down at her. She was
looking at him with dead Giulia's love-
lit eyes. ~.
am your guardian. You will know
more some day."
She took his hand and kissed it in
her strange, impulsive fashion.
'::You are very good to me, and am
very grateful, she said.
But it seemed to him that Giulla $
lips had touched him. He shrunH
back, pale and trembling.
Never do that again, chlld' he
said-''never again"
She glanced at him quickly, not IN
6erstanding. How should she? 49,
"Have yexed you?" she asked. Il
am sorry for you are so kind.
'eYou have not yexed me, Veronica,
he said. why should you have done so:
English people are unused to showing
emotion-yourS startled me. l am
pleased that you like the jewels. l shall
be glad to see you wear them Wler
your black dresses are laid aside"
Bv the middle of December Veronica
was quite at home. How she lovec
Katherine. She had a strange, vague
underlined sentiment about Sir jasper
"a feeling that even she herse1 coulC
not understand. She was grateful t(
Lady Brandon: she would have done
ANYTHING for her. But it was hathe
rine whom she loved-the beautiful
dainty, capriciouS young helreSS-
Katherine, who had been the first love
to her. There was something almost
pathetic in the way which she followed
herab and waited upon her. She
would have served her almost on ne
knees. She watched her every look
waited for her every word. Lady
Brandon was amused by it. Sir Jaspe'
was panied.
She had been introduced to most Q
their friends and neighborS: the beautl
full Venetian girl whose face was
study, whose voice was like music, wa:
admired by all who saw her. She wen
with Katherine to ali the balls, the
soirees, the parties in the nelghoor
hood where they reigned as queens
There was no Jealousy, no rivalry oe
tween them. How could there be
when Veronica worshiped her brillar
young sister.
So Christmas came, and it was; a
usual, kept up in right good Engllsi
style at Queens Chace. Every man
woman. and child on the estate wa
the happier for its coming. and rlchej5
SirJasper was most liberal. The friend
had invited came, and amongs
them was Alton. Lord Wynleigh, WIZ
had decided not to leave Queen,
Chace until he had won the hand OF 1t
heiress. He conquered after a lev
days hard seige: the lovely, Wllu
girl had plighted her trotn TO nm
and he knew that she would keep l
sacred until death. Ii was a prett,
love-story. coming to crisis on Christ
mas-eye, as he held her under the mis-
tletoe and demanded the forfeit.
Give me something else, Kate, n
said. "a kiss from you is indeed
great favor, but l want somethln!
more"
What do YOU want?" she asked.
Il want your love, your promise l
be my wife, your troth-plight. | wan
YOU, my darling to be my own fOreve
and ever. What do you say
The sweet flushed face dropped be
fore his. the blue eyes could not NEE
his own. the sweet lips opened, but h
did not hear the faint whisper tha
came from them.
"Kate," he said, what do you say
You know, my darling, if | though
YOU did not love me, l would go ava
now from out of the light OF your swee
presence, and I would-weI. l shouL(
be worth nothing ali the rest OF N