Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1906-02-23

the closed doors at hosamond GraY's
picture. This self-torture, which kept
her love and her pain alive, became a
sort of religious duty to her.
WAS l not right to leave him?" shs
would say to herself, almost with tri.
umph, "since he loved her so much. and
could never, by any effort have set me
in her place? Are not all the mistakes
of this world made by the women who
struggle for mans love which there is
no hope of their getting? Better to let
it 60"
There was glass-doored cabinet in
the corner Of the octagon room. 1t
was filled up to the tOpmOst shelf with
specimens of old cut glass. 1t was part
of Kittens duty to dust the glass and
the shelves, and to replace these valua-
bic objects in order in their places. Kit
ten, mounted upon low pair of steps,
was carefully dusting an old goblet Of
greenish-hued crystal, which she knew
better than Mrs. Succurden could tell
her, was of untold value, being absolute
ly unique and unreplaceable; she was
still dreaming about Brian's youth. about
the beautiful girl whom he had loved
long ago. a
She could hear Mrs Succurden's voice
talking volubly, and with a certain agi-
tation and animation which was unusual
to her, and as the voices drew nearer,
she was able to distinguish the house
keepers words. =
This way, miss-dear me- beg your
pardon-ma am | should have said! You
havan't tIn
-dearie me, to think Of seeing you here
again after all these years. 1t do seem
strange indeed! And to think of your
living so near, too-only at Dunsterton,
and your never having come over to see
the old place before"
well, | have been a long time, GER
talnly, in coming to see you, Mrs. Sue
curden," replied n clear, crisp voice, with
pleasant ring in it, pre-eminently the
voice of lady, as Kitten was instantly
aware, and how great is the charm of a
refined and well bred voice. 81 owe it
to my shame, but to-day, | had a fancy
to bring my friend, Col. Trefusis, to
look at the vicarage gables and at the
dear old church, and as We were so near,
why, | could not resist the temptation
of coming on across the park"
Along the old path miss-ma am. l
mean! All, how many a time I've seen
you come springing up the slope with
your light stepsr'
They were well within the room by
now. The tall lady in her long fur cloak,
and the slight figured gentleman little
behind her, looking about him with
keen, kindly blue eyes, and behind them
both, Mrs. Snccurden, in her white cap
and black silk gown, with her basket
of keys in her hands. Kitten. from heI
vantage ground at the top of the steps
could see the group who invaded hel
solitude, while they were unaware of hel
presence.
You have a great deal of glass here.
said the gentleman to Mrs. Succurden
"Ah, you would like to go over tn,
houses, no doubt, SIR" replied the house
keeper, Il will see if | can find tn,
head gardener; he is generally about Il
this hour"
She led the way out Of the room; th'
gentleman went with her. The lady il
the long fur cloak made no effort to fol
low them. She was left alone standing
10y the window where Kitten had $,
often stood with her back to the room
and her eyes rivetted upon the gre!
church tower.
Rosamond moved from the window a
length; then she did exactly what Kit
ten herself had done hundreds of times
She went straight to the mantelpiece
and opened the brass doors of the paint
ed miniature. She took it down from
its place and gazei long and earnestl,
at the lovely face. bright with youtl
and happiness, that smiled back ut her.
She turned away from the fireplace
leaving the doors of the picture wild
open. Then Kitten saw her face, an,
behind it that other face, that was tn
same, only not the same. The beautifu
features were unaltered, the eyes wer
as lovely, the proud pose of the hea,
was unmistakable, only that in the lvin
woman the curves of the laughing mout
of the pictured one were dropped an,
saddened. and the hand of sorrow an,
suffering had swept like storm clou
over the once bright and fearless brow
But all that Kitten realized at that mo
ment was one thing alone. This wa
Rosamond Earle, whom Brian Desmon
loved!
The room swan round her. her wide
open eyes grew dark and dazed with I'm
speakable pain and anguish, then came
crash, and the sharp ring of broken glas
as the medieval goblet fell shattere,
into a thousand atoms upon the parque
flooring, then dull, heavy thud, and
little darkrobed form slipped suddenl
down from the top of the steps into
huddled mass upon the ground
Cro be continued)
|
Getting His Moneys Worth.