The Courier. (Genoa, Nev.) 1899-1904, 1902-01-17
being Stuart, is MorelandF'

Mary never knew what she said or
did. She only remembered dizzy SEN
sation, in her head, strong arm passed
around her, and voice, which fully
aroused her as 1t called her "Mary," and
asked IL she were faint. Just then Ida
entered the room, announcing tea, and
asking her IL she found 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 Morelanj
in the Mr.. Stuart who had SO puzzled
and mystified 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 ther1, 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 looks
natural. Who bought it?" and he drum
med few notes of a song.
"Mr. Moreland bought it. Wasn't he
kind?' said Jenny, who all the evening
had beea trying for q 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 to be thanked.
Rose and l are particular friends, and it
a 1nr1n1 a 1aol IF nil
purchase it for her-but," he added,
glancing at his watch, II must be excus-
ed now, as l promised to call upon my
ward"
who's thatf' asked Jenny, and
George replied that it wac a Miss Hern-
don, who had accompanied him from
New Orleans, to visit her aunt, Mrs.
Russell.
.'He 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"
Il think it would" was Georges brief
answer, while Mary's eyes flashed scorn-
fully upon the young man, who, rather
crestfallen, announced himself ready to
listen to Ida, whom he secretly styles IAN
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 if it were not George who
had paid her bills at Mount Holyoke.
What a silly GIRL" said Ida. "He was
perfectly able and more than willing, SC
why do you care?'
II do not like being so much indebted
to anyone" was Mary's reply, and yet
in her secret heart there was a 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 princey 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 a little pau.
per at Chicopee, she had felt unwilling
that George should know how destitut,
she was, and now in the time of heI
prosperity she was equally desirous that
he should, for a time at least, remain ig
norant of her present condition.
Ida said she, lifting her head from
the table, docs George know that | an
Mrs. Campbell's niecer
NO" answered Ida. II wanted to tel
him, but Aunt Martha said I'd better
not"
The news that George Moreland hat
returned and bought Rose Lincoln's piano
besides several other articles, spread
rapidly, and the day following his ar
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 ST
| i'll, and if 1t was not that which brought
| him home so soon: and then the conyer
sation turned upon Miss Herndon, tn,
| New Orleans lady who had that mornin:
appeared in the street; And don't yol
| think" said one OF the girls, "thnt Henr,
Lincoln was dancing attendance upor
her? If l were you," turning to Mary
I'D caution my sister to be n little war!
| of him. But let me see, their marriage
is to take place soon?'
Mary replied that the marriage wa
| postponed indefinitely, whereupon th'
girls exchanged meaning glances ant
| passed on. In less than twenty-fou
| hours half of Elias acquaintance wer'
| 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, carinI
| but little what reason was assigned 70
| the broken engagement, so that he go
| well out OF it, assumed a much-injure,
| air, but said ''he reckoned he should man
| age to survive" then, pulling his sharp
| pointed collar up another story, an'
brushing his pet mustache, wherein la.
most of his mind, he walked up street
| and, ringing at Mrs. RusselPs door. ask
| ed for Miss Herndon, who, vain as beau