Year: 1877

It is an insult deep and deadly,
which / can never forgivel We part
here, at once and forever, Grosvenor
Strong"


The speaker, a tall, fine looking
woman, apparently some thirty years
Of age, turned from her companion with
a flushed face and flashing eyes, and
laid her hand upon the door.


Grosvenor Strong laid his own hand
upon hers. The touch was light and
trembling one, for the proud man was
deeply moved. AS he stood there beside
her struggling for composure before he
spoke, his broad chest heaved once or
twice, and his firm lip quivered. There
was also a dimness akin to tears In his
deep blue eyes. But this she did not
see.


"Stop one moment, AliciaW he
said at last. "That door once closed
between us shuts out your life from
mine as surely as the grave should dol
l am not naturally meek or humble
man, as you well know, and you haye
tried my temper and pride this evening
as they have never been tried before.
But can bear much from you, Alicia,
because love you. And So"


She dashed his hand away impetuous-
ly.


81, too, have my pride and my temper.
Grosvenor Strong, though you seem to
fancy that was born to submit patient
ly and quietly to all your exactiOns. l
tell you, sir, that what you have said to
me this night is nothing more or less
than an insult, which l will not
endure"


"GOd knows / did not mean it SO,
Alicia" he said sorrowfully.


Not needing him, she went out.


al have borne too long with your
pride and your imperious will, that
would convulse the world itself, rather
than be bent or broken will bear it
no longerl Our engagement is dissOl-
we'd from this moment, sir. And if l
ever forgive what you have said to me,
1t will be on my death bed, or at yours"


His blue eyes flashed fire. A sudden
color flushed the statuesque beauty of
his face, and the firm set of his mouth
grew flrmer still.


Gas you will, Madam" he muttered
between his clenched teeth.


And the next instant he snatched his
hat from the table, door opened and
closed violently, and he was gone.


Alicia Starr went slowly up to her
own room, and locking the door, sat
down and counted In solitude with
heaviness of heart the wages she had
received.


A widow, with an Independent
fortune, she had, till the previous year,
known nothing of love except its name.
She had regarded her husband, who
was many years her senior, with a calm
and quiet affection, which had merged
at his death, into a calm and decorous
regret.


Occupied by the management of the
large property he had left her, she turn
ed deaf ear to those who would glad
ly have come to WOO, till chance or fate
or very possibly the evil genius of her
life, threw Grosvenor Strong in her
way. He was lawyer, and to bin
she had confided the managemernpri
certain business matters connected De
her estate. Singularly handsoitior
wealthy, of good birth and with POLISH
ed courteous manners, the grave, stSof It
looking lawyer succeeded whSe MS sti
others had failed. In spite of hiSqkle h
leight years, and the colAness Of,
usual manner, he wen the prize which
kmany younger men would gladly have
won, and became the accepted lover Of
OpAe, beautiful and stately woman who
loved him with all the ardor of a
TROPICAL nature awakened to the
knowledge Of its own strength and fire
and feryor for the very first time. How
then did they quarrel, and chat so Bit
tcrly, do you ask.


Ah reader, well you know that ga
trife light as air" can breed dlssension
between those who love like this. The
cause itself was but slight. 1t was the
passionate, angry words, the cruel
sneers, the looks, almost of hatred,
from eyes that had only spoken love
before, that caused the parting; and
both were proud, too proud to yield.


So, after few days, the pretty villa
was partially closed, and left in the
care of two old servants, who were to
look after the saddle and carriage horses
and all the pets which tho mistress Of
the place had gathered round her from
time to time. And Mrs. Starts name
began to be seen here and there,
among the list of fashionable
arrivals and departures at watering
places and mountain resorts during
the summer. And Grosyenor Strong
remained In his own place, doing his
work, and meeting the gossip, the
rumors, the wondering looks, che skill
full inquiries of his friends and acquain-
tanees, as best he might-in silence,