Year: 1879

eff anyone but yourself had told me
this, I would not have believed a word
of it." So said Percy Herbert to his
friend Harry Listen, as they smoked
their cigars outside the library window
Of the house they were staying at. It
seems perfectly incredible that a girl
ike Maud Hesketh could be what you
describe her."


"It is a fact, nevertheless, Percy; she
is a complete fortune-hunter, and, far
| from Disgusting the fact, rather boasts of
! IL than otherwise; it is not much more
| than a month since I saw her, and then
| she did not hesitate to speak her sentie


ments on the subject. I am glad I have
arrived in time, old fellow, as ] verify
| believe you are on the eve of falling in
! love with her"


q / do love her," said his friend slowly,
nd with q sigh; "and was vain and
foolish enough to think she cared some
thing for me. However, the charm is
now broken; for if there is one thing I
have q contempt for more than another
it is q mercenaTy woman. The woman |
marry must love me for myself alone,
and not for what I possess"


The above conversation was overheard
by Maud Hesketh herself, who had res
tired to the library for an hour or twO's
quiet reading; aud hearing her name
uttered by Percy Herbert. curiosity to
hear what he had 10 say about her made
her creep to the open window, where,
screened from observation by the heavy
curtains, she listened to all that was
said. Never was the old sdage, " List
eners hear no good of themselves" so
thoroughly verified as in this instance !;
and, overwhelmed with shame and dis
may, she fed to her own room, where,
locking her door, she gave way to a pas
sionate burst of tears, none the less Bit
ter for knowing that the accusation
brought against her was q true one, for
in thoughtless moment she bad uttered
the words which were now to part her
| from the man she loved better than life.
Maud Hesketh was the eldest of a
| large family, as poor as they were proud;
| for until the last two or three years their
| father had been man of large landed
property, but owing to the loss of 3
! chancery suit vas completely ruined
nothing remaining OF his great wealth
| but a few thousands. The crash had
been sudden and most unexpected, for


not only themselves but all their friends
! had regarded the winning of the suit as
certain and great indeed had been the
CONSERVATION when their loss became
known. The old home was given up,


and they retired to a secluded county
| town, where, unknown and unsought,
! except by few, they could live quietly
and cheaply. 1t was a great and a sad
! change for all, but for Maud especially,


who, not having been long introduced.


and always being made much of, not only
/ for her beauty and brightness. but also
tor her supposed wealth, the sudden


reverse of fortune was almost more than
she could bear--and she was often heard
to saw that never could she .i.arry any


man who could not restore to her all the
luxuries and pleasures she had lost. But


unfortunately she had made that remark
to Mr.. Liston, an utter stranger to her
! who, staying with a lady friend in the


neighb0rhOod, had come with her 10 call


upon the Heskeths; and who, hearing q


young girl make such q remark, and not
knowing the circumstances of the case


had very naturally drawn his own con-


clusions.


One of Maud's greatest friends was an


old school com panion, who was now mar


ried, and it was at her house that she
met Percy Herbert, a favorite cousin O'


Mrs. Carlyon's, who was very anxious


to bring about a match between the two





able wealth, and was considered a great
catch, so that when Maud first arrived
she congratulated herself upon her goOC
luck, and laid herself out to be as fasci
mating as possible. But before many
weeks had passed over her head, she made
} two discoveries-frst, that her heart wa


irretrievably gone; and, secondly, tha
: money had nothing to do with 1t; for j
was the man himself she was in Low.
with, so that it was dOubly CALLING to hel
to hear her former mercenary view
) brought to light, and to feel that not only


had she lost Percy Herbert's love, but


also his respect.


"Oh what must he think of NE
How he must despise me - said tn,


wretched girl; and burying her face il


her hands she thought long and earnest
ly as 10 the best way of proving the


falsity of Harry ListOn's opinion. "


know what I will dol" she exclaimed


" [ will play Mr.. Liston off against him
and let him see that I can firt with 6


poor man as well as a rich one"


So removing all traces OF tears, she


dressed herself for dinner with unusual
care. Never were tables SO completely
. turned on any one as they were on poor
Percy Herbers that evening; for evel
, since his friend had opened his eyes tC
I Maud's apparent deceit, he had beer


wondering how he could best give her K
understand that she need not for the
= future shower any OF her fascination


upon him; and now without giving hin


one opportunity of snubbing her she