Los Angeles herald., 1907-01-06

| by the news of her fathers ruin and sudden
death
! A few months later she had read the announce.
ment of her lovers marriage, and for time she
had thought bitterly that he had only loved her
money. But later on she learned that she had
misudged him, and that jealous womans lie
had thrust them apart.
The scrap of paper was blotted with tears.
Her hot, passionate tears had fallen upon it twen-
ty years ago.
She laid it aside, and took up the veil, which,
after moments hesitation she unioded, and
flung over her head She wanted TO see herself
in il for once It was her farewell to IL. And
after all, she did not look old, for forty, she
stood before the glass. She looked, indeed, far
younger than she knew, and the face framed IN
the falling lace had calm beauty of its own.
There were no gray threads in her abundant dark
hair, and scarcely any wrinkles under her clear
dark eyes But she did not see herself as others
saw her. She was her own most severe critic
'What would they say downstairs" she won
dered sadly. "if they could see me posing before
the glass in ths-an old maid of fortyl" And
she folded it up again with sigh 81 did not
want to part with it, yet | ought not to grudge
the sacrifice. | have saved that boy for his
mother | believe! He will keep to the straight
path in future; and | think he begins to sec now
that God watches the 'aimless feet "
dad, what do you think of ths?"
Colonel Bennett lowered his newspaper and
surveyed his daughter, who stood before him.
arayed in Clemence Royston's treasured veil.
her pretty face dimplng and bushing under the
creamy folds of the lace.
"How much did you pay for that?" he inquired
dryy, trying in vain to look stern. at must have
cost pretty penny"
at isn't paid for yet I>want you to give it to
me for my wedding present Do buy it. dad!
would rather far have this than the diamond
bracelet you promised me! And Aunt Carrie
brought it this afternoon approval as the shop
keepers say. She says that the lady who wants
to sell it is an old maid and very poor and
wouldn't have parted with it if she had not been
in urgent need of money. 1t was an heirloom in
her family, and I'm sure there is a romance con-
nected with it, for see what | found between the
pieces of tissue paper in which it was wrapped
an old, yellow, tear-stained note in mans writ
ing-uncommonly like yours. by the way We
really ought to send it back to her, though she
might be embarrassed, perhaps poor old thing,"
The colonel had taken the faded scrap of paper
held out for his inspection. All the healthy color
went out of his bronzed face as he looked down
at it, and for long minute he neither spoke
nor stirred At last he folded it up slowly.
"You have the address of the lady to whom
the veil belongs, | suppose?" he said in a voice
that did not sound like his own "This must 20
back to her at once"
"But you are not going to rush off without
your dinner, surely?" his daughter exclaimed when
he went out soon afterwards.
81 may be back to dinner, or I NAV be late,
he said curtly. Don't wait for me. Ethel"
He jumped into passing hanson and reached
the boarding house Just as its inhabitants were
trooping downstairs in response to the call of the
dinner gong.
Clemence came to him in the deserted drawing
room, calm and dignifed. He stood with his