Year: 1874

| But loy shall not perish WiIher away"
ANON


Beatrice Vernon, returning from hel
stolen interview in the forest with the dis
guised Nane Evelyn, as the evening
shadows came down upon the sol tary land
scape, urged on quickly to reach the villa
ere she was missed, and a search instituted
for her


To an ordinary observer no more than
light care troubled her mind yet there
was thoughtful scheaming going on within.
As she was reused from her fit of abstrac-
ton at the tea-table by some query Of
Colonel Adams, she found 1t quite dith-
cult task to collect her scattered wits to-
gether.


"You we're saying p she gently insin-
uated


Il was saying that it was really pleasant
to have TIE tea-table so very homelIke and
quiet as it now is.


Yes, was all the lady replied, and then
she reused herself u be so entertaining
that the Colonel was fairly charmed with
her


Myrtle, coming into the library after a
book IN the latter part of the evening, was
.Oout to withdraw in some confusion and
Taste as she saw her father 5 arm encircllng
Miss Durand's waist, while the scene
struck her as being most demOnstratIve
and love-like


Myrtle, her father called 10 her.


She re-entered, timidly, a jealous emo
ton prevailing her mind, as she compre-
hended the situation in full.


1T is time that you should know, If you
are not already aware, Of the fact, said
Colonel Adams that | intend to intro
duco into our home, as my wife, Miss
Durand."


MYRTLE caught her breath, and silently
stood looking down.


''You have never disputed my wisdom
Of action in other regards, Myrtle. You
do not condemn me in this q


"No, she faltered.


And have you no welcome for your
new mother r. he asked.


Despite herself, at the mention of a word
so dear to her, and rendered so by assocla-
tions Of memory only, but still clinging
and tender ones, Myrtle Adams burst into
tears.


Poor Myrtle - murmered, softly, Miss
Durand, as she arose and wound her arm
c4ressingly around the young girls waist /;
''can you not think Of me kindly q


Myrtle released herself from the false,
deceiver's embrace.


Il cannot understand it now, she said;
give me little time to realize what 1t Is
to lose an only parent.


Colonel Adams repeated her words IN
surprise.


1T is the same thing" said Myrtle, a
slight tinge of bitterness coming into her
voice. Il have no farther right to you If
you marry again.


''You are absurd" said her father ;
nothing can ever separate us. Do not
give way to such foolish emotions as these.


And so Myrtle left the room in strange
ly confused maze. Despite herself she was
not at all satisfied with herself or with fhe
turn which affairs had taken. Powerless
to cope with the woman who had stolen
her fathers love, and as 10th to believe
Miss Durand an evil woman, although
there were certain evidences of her having
done what was wrong, she resolved to go
to no one for comfort or advice. She only
sat in her lovely little room, engaged IN
the very deepest meditation.


She did not bitterly believe that it was
pure intrigue which had so successfully led
her fsther to love this lady visitor. She
was not unjust enough to believe IN any
evil until she was satisfied that it existed.
In all her solitude and care her mind
naturally turned to the past, and despite
all the adverse circumstances in such 9
belief, she trusted fondly to the hope that
a love for her had always been evinced BY
Eugene Allerton.


Where in all the broad world was he
the only man whom she had ever loved
the man whose entire life, since the briei
visit in the mining regions, had been q
mystery In her inmost soul was a low
| for him so fervent, so tender, that she
would willingly have given up her all fol
him-an to have had one hours converse
ton with him.


1t was not until few days later that i
became generally known that the wedding
| of Colonel Adams and Miss Durand was t.
be very informal, and that week. Man,
wondered at the abrupt announcement
but the Colonel was too contented in tn,
contemplation of the marriage 10 pay an,
attention to the excellent gossip of tn
village.


A few guests only were invited. Myrtl
was subdued and quiet, and Miss Duran'
rather sedate, yet below all her assumed
coolness was . smoldering FIRE of impa
thence, for she did not know Shat unkint
fate might thrust . barrier between he
and the end she vas now resolved to gain


Fate distant, yet not 80 far a. to rende
the distance entirely safe for her, ma
wild with the pent-up agony OF WRONGS
life. beat the iron bars and fought madl
for freedom-for liberty TO confront th
woman who had ruined his entire life an
wrecked him, a he deemed, forever, b
her fnlseness and her deceit.