The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-26

happened 10 De opposite Eugenla 8
 room.
 He had stood there but an instant
 when he caught the sound of his name,
 and, looking up, saw that the ven
 tilator over the door opposite was
 turned back. so that everything said within, though spoken in low tone,
 could be distinctly heard without It
 was Eugenia who was speaking, and
 what she said chained him to the spot. And what if MT. Hastings did give
 me the piano?" said Eugenia. If he
 marres me. as I intend he shall, what
 will be the difference? I never knew before that scheming mothers objected ] to their daughters receiving costly presents from the gentlemen to whom they were engaged. If l am not en-
 gagged. I intend to be-and pretty soon
 too But l was only testing. MT. Hast
 ings did not buy the piano for mel
 bought it myself and if you will in-
 dorse this draft I will pay for it'' Mrs
 Deane uttered some incoherent words
 of astonishment and dissent, but Eu-
 genia went on: T knew there was nc
 surer way to win the old miser than
 to throw Dora in his face" and told of
 the letter she had sent.
 Grown suddenly very conscientious haven't you?" she sneered. after talk
 ing every year the remittances sent for Doras benefit. Go on and sign that
 draft. The piano is all I want out Of
 1t. and I shouldn't be so particularly
 anxious about that except I want to fo1, ,; 1 to do." Which she never shall, so help me heaven!'' muttered Howard as he moved softly and swiftly from the place and sought the fresh air out of doors. where he breathed more freely,
 as if just escaping from the poisonous atmosphere of deadly upas tree. But
 she might have duped me-" he thought,
 flor I am but human" Eugenia waited in vain for MT. Hastings to come and escort her to the concert and returned to Dunwood in exceeding i'll humor.
 That night, all through the silent hours,
 there shone a glimmering light from the
 room where Howard Hastings sat brood ing upon what he had heard and med!- tating upon the best means of remov- ing Dora from the influence of her heart less cousin. Slowly over him. too, came
 memories of the little brown-faced girl who, when his home was cheerless, had come to him with her kindly acts and gentle ways, diffusing over all an air Of
 comfort and filling his home with sun light. Then he remembered how Ella before she died. had bade him care for Dora. Dora was almost woman now. The result of his cogitations was that he visited his sister in New York, Mrs. Elliot. the charitable woman who had first brought him to Dora Deane on that dreary New Years morning when they found her asleep beside her dead
 mother. Howard had found out that Dora was the same as the forlorn or phan of the tenement house and had she would continue the good work she began so long ago and take Dora to live
 with her. Mrs. Elliot readily consented
 and asked: And. my brother. do you love Dora Deane?' Love Dora Deane!" he exclaimed, what put such. a notion into your head?'', As he went away he
 kept repeating to himself as if in doubt
 Love Dora Deane?'' When the propo-
 sition was made to Mrs Deane to let
 Dora go she demurred but Eugenia said
 Let her go. Uncle Nat wanted. us to send her to boarding school. Going to
 Mrs. Elliot's will amount tc the same
 thing and we can spend the rest of the
 money" YH So Dora went to live with Howards
 sister. and under the guidance of that lady rapidly developed into a beautiful
 and cultured young woman. Meantime
 Howard Hastings put into effect a plan which he had made for the punishment
 of Eugenia. He gave out that he was 10 travel for some months in Europe, but really set out on voyage to uncle Nat in India. Before he sailed he had come
 to the conclusion that. perhaps. his sis- ter was right and that he did Hove Dora Deens." Eugenia vas much vexed
 at Hastingg departure. but did not de-