Entered at the Post Office as New York. N. Y., at Second Class Mail Rates. _ I. . . March 13, 1883.

 

 

 

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N0174. VOL VII. PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY BEADLE AND ADAMS, 98 WILLIAM ST., N. Y. PRICE, 5 CENTS

THE EB

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  OR. THE MYSTERY OF THE
‘ 4 9 TURN EN V EU‘H’E.

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’1 v I  .‘jrl'.  4‘ ; ha,’ ‘ "V a.‘ It I
 ,- , The Mystery of the lion Envelope.
" " BY F‘s PARSONS modem”

" CHAPTER 1.

pm roan ENVELOPE.

' morning had denied so pleasan

rend rare y cool, that most of the visitors a

.. 1 Manor, had availed themselves of it, to

r .  or ride, leaving the

'* fiefi-‘windswe t

  

est—Agnes Gardiner. 
7. , I , stylish elder lady skim-

 .médriightiy through a new novel,_while her
,Ccom'panion, a handsome girl, dressed in adainty
V morningdress of lavender-tinted ,organdy that
' * well became the clear, exquisite pallor of her
. com lexion, assorted some bright Silks, With
‘ whi‘ she was embrondermg.
,, ' Presently the delicious quiet was broken by

\ rvant.
rs, Mrs. Wilde,  two for Miss
deftl ‘cli ing the

wish herlit le em rolde
m mamma; that is ed I

 well-preserv

r.
I , T1 7 nuke,” smiled
, V ‘endsgfthe’envelopes

sermon
Ah! no, one is from Rachel l” and the

“..
, ‘: he,'demf“,'fi  .4 ~  ,
l‘ « “Essays ._ __yously‘ iiy‘o  n
. you were leaving us all inconsqlable." . .
r ,"0h!’.m%oonscienoey is. lute easy on that
,’score,Mr. an Alst,‘ and“ . W7 e will eag— ‘
‘ lain my abrupt departure. It i catch this
egood-b , Mrs? ilde.” 5 H .
."Go -by; dear, and be sure tol get back by
Wednesday. ’ . , - l
“ And will you not give me those pansies—or
one, 0111 one, to cherish until your return?”
begged . Van Alst, soft} , as the driver gave
the ribbons to the restless rses‘. ,. 3
Miss Gardiner-milled, one of her superb, daz-
zlin smiles but she colored a trifle, too,ldespite
the oroug ess-with which she was accustomed
to hold her emotionsinhand, as she tore the pan-
sies away from her belt and gave them to the
gleader; then the carriage Whirled them apart;
at all the time that it hurried her to the de ‘t,
and all the time the train was steaming ong
the river banks toward the hot and dusty me-
tropolis, she was thi ' g of, or trying not to
think of, Carl Van diets last words; for the
man had come nearer to winning her love than
any other she had ever known; and she believed
that he loved her; and she was not unused to
men’s-flatteries, either. '
It was after two o’clock when Miss Gardiner I
arrived at the Grand CentralDe%t,iand took a
n on

“118 carriage direct to the hotel on

 , dremedto Meadow Grange,
p: N. :g” whence Mrs. Gardiner had remailed

and Agnes Gardiner had ’

an entire colle V course at

, :aftengra nation, Miss W

 Grange, the fine old homestead

a ers, and. later, Agnes had gone to

to act as bridemai’d upon theloccasion
ysson

to her dau hter.
Rachel V allbrid

  
  
  
    
  
  
   
  
  
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
  

misses"... and't e friends

ced that the Lyssons were
for a stay of several years,
air w y from 1:

es to mee them there.
said Agnes; when both
. their correspondence, “1
wedgately; can a carnage

n
I will ring for James.
on, , whatever. order you ' to
.hlhsihut areyou sure you really must
-‘ business, can you not tele
business entirely, thou ,
tutransacta little for her; but my
Rachel Lvssop, is i
u Eumpe. S e is to
_  some years, and as I have not
herz‘jsinoe her marriage, I desire to spend a
’: two with her.” . .
dear!" cried Mrs. Wilde, in. gen,-
“xtershow long’do you mean toleave

I  _' : .Wednesday night,” laughed 
 ,‘I’his letter is somewhat latein
assessments“ '
'r’ _‘ , ‘ a V6 ,wn

 ‘ Bail Thursday.” ’

to starting for

 

to spare you,”
slide, with assumed comical re-
ope you will enjoy yourself; fny
ed A as, sheheste
.mfi‘hgsélm for the
, Eel! an hour later just as Miss Gardiner was
.1 Wherplaceinthe herhandsome
‘ ' ' Mfllhsuiteumrel covered
t of c ip—with
 bloom and  gs
velvet that the wearer so well knew 
the act-sculptured beauty of her
id en tram dust and cinders under
it u the cushions, and the
. kid gloves hiding
. hitenees but not the aha
flue hands, Mr. Van Alst and

from)th walk to the village. , . _
Gardiner surely

  
  

     
 
 

_' (hay for two days," htly answered 

" xgsfilgt?"

 

 

where, with her mother, she was in the 52bit o}
spending the winter months. There she was
immediately shown to a pleasant room, over-
looking the’park: and after dispatching a note
announcing her arrival-to Mrs. L sson, who
was to stop with some distant role we other
husband's, she proceeded to unpack her sachel
andegut the contents, in the‘ bureau. All; she
pull \ Open the upper-drawer'she’peered,i;i
omdonsly .tosee iiany‘rubbish‘hadbeen pol: ,

away in tscorners by  latest occupants of
the room; for'the apartment woe-one ordinarily
used for transient guests. There was only» a

8

hairpin  two, and a  envelope, bearin the

l
“Mas. Eunl’. Came
' .2 “Southern  n

1 Agnes commencedtransi’erring hertra m ,
the sachel into the drawer, and meanw ile fell
to idly wondering where theSouthern Hotel "
and why the letter to Mra.‘Elise P. Chau‘dor he
not been addressed to the hotel where she evi-

.dently had stop ' , Then she thought shemight
not have read t e name aright, and so glanced
at the envelope-again. This time she noticed the
postmark—4t was St. Louis, Mo, .April 22, 9
a. M. So this. uthern Hotel was in St. Louis.
’Agnes tossed‘t ' pager into one of the side-
boxes upon the to o the bureau, and, her ar-
ran ements comp eted, went down to order her
lune eon. ‘ ’. l. ‘

It was a most elegant  woman—liesom
and seductively graeeiu ' in or every move-
ment, with an exéuisitel -molded figure, the
voluptuous outlines of w 'ch no costume could
conceal—who walked into the almost deserted
dinin -salon, andrordered her dainty luncheon,
of cod chicken, potatoes a la Saratoga, iced .
and pitted olives, 0 my ale, and Charlotte
rah” Thldn’ hidemrq’ ' laspedh ‘n'saa

e ow go an horse, c or w
zndaoollar of the same handed the silk an
lisse plaiting atrher threat; the delicate blue of
the {groin andtheglll blacksilkcostume eon-
trés g. finely: wi‘ t colorless purit of
00m lexion that was one of the beautiful
Ga [’3 tchauns. Then her hair—in its

fall): lustrousngom 2‘th a; “naught” giver-d
 excessively beconfigg in t egway she
“’ ifl’h‘fi” “t “hhism a.“
a‘ '- 6 ea rai
cog low. ’Eentacevvyvns a perfect oval, with
clear-cut, b h7bred' teamree: almost hte
dark line of row;jdeep violet eyes—e es

held a thousand v expressionsun er their
1391? darkening sweepin‘ ashes; a delicate nose,
with sensitive n ' that spoke swift] av

shade 'of'pride, or disdain, or anger, at -
fled the ' 1’s soul; abeautiful chin and a scar-
“ let mout bow-s , with thin lips [curving
over limitless test --a month ordinarilymather
mobile and elding, but with lines about it that
could settle to a still immiitableness. ,
. ‘ mamma- hed 'heiligllie substantial '
part : unc an v as regarding, . a v
» «downy inthatxv ‘ and
.  ; «totes! seed is. so-
 V 7 V as W eetrestauda,howledgeo time
to an 1.. wondering which   inseam

 

x ,
, w \ 

N. .’ _ x ,, V r M: 'w

I , a ,,

“MEDAW am e

Imusth awe. so -b to ouall, w 
vi y y ; and that yot will'come instantlytd us. 1%
m h I Mthlus and'join our
g ta-o ny- r. yssonseousins,
Oomeassoon asyou get’this. ‘

r l " .

Agnes ate her peachemv‘and d
to meet her triend. “ .
te when the earring
her hotel that night, and she Went to
her room, locked the door, dismbed b  '
of the lamps in the square, wound ‘
and put it and her
10v:j and went to

her hat

ketbook under here (" ‘:
and'almost immedia " ' ”'

Before sunrise the noises in the
Miss Gardiner, floating upward,
open window, to ears accustomed to country
quiet; but the horizon above the piles of stone
and brick reflected rosily the ruddyeastern sky,
and she started up under a momentary impres-
sion that the hour was later.
a tremor of pain a1” g’ 
_ e crisp rustlin of T
w ch her right hand was clenc ‘ ‘
to have become positively numb.

smoothed it—and read:

opened t bureau-box wh ch she had '
/ n , .

this envelope the

. , , _ ‘ptiness. In T
astonishment she tried afloat her door, and ‘ ”
examined her watch and pocket»
that her room had not been entered duringflae
night- Evidently she hadbeen its undisturbed ,
pomsor, and she could entertain but one theory
concerning this peculiar incident. In her sleep
tten up, opened and closed the» be
ed the torn envelope

her, and all without awakening; y

never been lmown‘to talk or walk in her ex
zduringallherlife.‘ t bod high 1
epeculiarl- . ya tt its 3
thathsd effected-berm con '- to.  ‘
its of . a lifetime and with a povggrr at con-,-

' Gardiner asked hers?
, as she returned to bed
drove away further sleep.-

.mltflhes‘tu‘e

te gueetion that
am an '
1‘ tefiec y

 

 

‘ iamoramsmr.‘
M‘eecondday of Agnes’s  :9, ';
(ion with her former friend, was _ nt in? ‘ '
round of sightseeing; and with '
lei-iesand museums, and bustle  ‘

   
 
  
  
 
 
  
    

igree bracelets, otdead ‘ ‘9

 

our common mother, 

in l .‘ .  ‘ l
g‘ hot now, because the incident 
choiogical interest,  1 mean u

neon . .
mine! What anlim

opinion ‘of * our usband,
g he arm within
the went down to th

,
t otthe parlor, wb enact!

   
  

 

 

' u I m
ytoeni

MGM-diner, a1.
gYYI

" ‘ .   deep impressing; upon your
8,. p .

I masses
' ‘ there an

  that I wonde an
V sometiin over tugs which, after all, they

'   I,

' ' Rachel had quite recovered her

 

 

' thus

muhie tobave kept you so like your old self. I
feel as if you, rather than I, must be the youn-
ger of. the two.” ‘ \

Rachel gave a little. start, the color in her
cheeks lessened;:her‘eyes,fell, and her husband
answered for her, while Agnes mentally chas-
tised herself for having made astupid speech.

“ No trouble that I can avert ever comes near
Rachel, yourmay be sure, Miss Agnes; but not
much can ever have come near you, that

u
' should intimate that .you feel like anything at

a‘most‘ beautiful and youthful woman.” \
“ Oh,rplease do not quite overwhelm me, Mr.
Lysson Agnes lightly responded. “I shall be

I : twenty-two early next sprin ! No very terri-

ble age, I admit though it most seemeso to
me! As to troullle—well, we are not quite as

 rich as I would like to be.”

“ Certainly an evil thatit is in your power, if

A j in any one’séoto remedy; at least, if our heart
, is a wall- ,
C which we live,” retarted

red one, asbecomes e age in

Mr. Lysson, as he took

I color and her
came by the time their was established in
the coolest corner of ' g—salon, and an
obsequious waiter was taking the Order for the
.choieest of dinners; and she made no delay in

, gayly demanding a fulfillmentof Agnes’s prom.
ice to tell of “at e, something funny ” she had

donethat mornmg. . '

“What, is Miss Agnes going to regale us
.with a? story i” .

_" Yes, a story, Eric! Concerning some of her
own doings, too. It is sure to be entertaining,
gape your very best attention.” '

‘ ~01, ray let us save it, to hearoverthewal-
the wine.” . -

r el, I am ahnost inclined tosay I,

 tell, on the incident, it mllappear so

a tnflh

the ladies in to dinner.

sh

absurd after such a prefatory notice;

onlym kindness of heart makes metake ity

on . , you. confessed tohave inher ted
4 that and I will mitigate your sen—

tones to the easier ty of waiting, as Mr.

Lyman suggests, "

one,” la.

' y have to save the
story 0y with our—fruit, since we cannot
have the ,‘ walnuts ’ Tennyson sings.”

“ Oh, well, do there is no choice left me, I’ll
make.  of necessity, and submit with

“a.  twill be aided in a great degree by
turtle «soup and fish boiled in Wine,” cried Miss
‘_‘ I remember what a‘gour-
made you be, Rachel, concernin fish
boiled in wine, or served with wine sauce. on’t
you .know'that we used always to order that

111: a holiday in town?”

when we . ,
V“ Ind ” I remember; but I’tp‘ol: it as brain-

‘ {WMWaysl You haven‘t for tten how we

onflshday

 pass our plates up. fora:
at  p ' / ' ' ‘

  

" 
seated Mr. methlng‘thatsun-

Hg Lysson‘. I “

l . or aroused your ' endosityi You
Weights brain maintains a certaln amount

0?! activity. even while the body sleeps; the im—
‘ . may have been greater than you at the
'm3 imagined, and deepened and disturbed you
“file? @119 mental, occupation of the do was
hyslcal rest had common ” ,
“I was ’10 fisurprised ‘iu the least; nor was
to arouse y curiosity, exec t
’ 6 way, as one w ,

r eir”1'ealth0ught6 to, where

u“ U

‘  m Weathers ‘  a omBroadway
sextet theGrand"  ‘ ‘- * ’

i “‘N t-thlsene; it  totem.
Q7 ” ‘ _ ‘ :Iaoutigld‘Was thereon

 

faded, rom her

 

     

  

el gavea taint cry, and all the 513w
fwefileaving a frightful 51‘ y,
fallow tin 9. Even . Lysson looked strange-
Y

startll ,» ,
g“Whatisiti What isthemattefi’cried

A es.

3‘“My dear Miss Gardiner. do not be alarmed.
You have, rhaps, all unintentionally, put into
our hands t elost thread of a terrible mystelgy;
and m doing this on have inadverten y
mailed a. wound whic is yet sorely sensitive.
I see that it is tune we were starting for
Thomgs's. Rachel, love, do you feel quite like
80mg ~
Rachel assented, mechanically; and as the
party arose from the table, Mr Lysson said:

“1‘ » marrow, Miss Agnes, if you will allow
me, 1 .- :1 look at that envelope and‘make some
inquin  concerning it; and perhaps Mrs. Lys-
son will tell yousolnething of the; events it re-

“ ”. odd looki

1 .
her friend. «1W Agnes can
sure to doso.”

confldin at
pusng be

 

CHAPTER III. .
run urs'rnnr. _ I,
Tim hall was full, without being crowded;
the audience was eel the orchestra at its

90“,
best, and the selections deligth Both Rachel J

and as highellyecultivated musical
tas an enjoyed to fulLthe charmed
drau t of Thomas’s ex isite. music. -

' “ westrollinto egardentoran lose:-
a claret?” suggested Mr. Ilysson, during one or
the intermissxons. “Your ladies will hardly

care for anythin else, I presumv e, as I
a drive through 516 park and a supper at! Mount
Saint Vincent when we leave here. , '
upon the tleman, the ladies fol-
lowed other promo rs to the garden, and se-
lected a table where they could eat an ice with-
out losing the music, when it recommenced. In
taking her place at the table, Agnes dropped
herfan, adaintyto of satin and pearl; a on-
tleman, rislng return tothe hall, pi ed
it up an politely restored it to her: but one of
the bail pearl slicks was broken. ' -
l .“I regret that the fall has broken it," he

(1. .
“Oh, thank you, sir! I think. that may be
repaired.” ‘ , ' \ - ,
Agnes: bowed, and the gentleman moved
away with his comélanions—a petite, glowm -
faced brunette, an a fair, stately glr1,.w1t
startlingly-golden hair. Their. escort was. a
hmdSOme men. lookin much‘younger than his
nearly sixty years, an  face perplexed Ag-
nes with its vague likeness to some oneshe had
known or seen. '
v 5‘ Agnes,” asked Mrs. Lysson, “was that fair
youn ladyfat Vassar?" .
“I ve no recollection of her.” '
“Her face in ressed me as one that! had
seen; on] I thin I should be abletoidentify
that glo golden hair.” '
,“I thought‘all feminines knew how easily
auch‘ lorious golden hair’ htbeobtainedl
“ l‘ Youreall aretoo onoursexl
Whybereadytobe vesuchmiserahledeeeits
ofenyoneuntll i-—-I mayhaveseena
picture of which 8 e reminded me.” ‘
“ I think ‘
cied,"8aid Miss Gardiner.
faceseemed familiartome,’yetlam positive I
have never seen him before. , ,
“Youmayhaveseeu somemeverynke
’hi ’” persisted Rachel. - I ' _
“ so,” staid Agnes, indiflerentlydle-

missing theaubjec .

The drive to Mount Faint Vincenm
the sweetdewiness an coolness of
underthepurple August sides, andgoldenAn-
gust , Was delightful after the warmth'and
glitter of the concert hall. ., ,

‘Asawaiterledthepartytoasupper-roomin
the yrestaurant, thaton‘ce had been the quiet
:_ V 16mg! Sisters of tChal'ity, saggtleman and;

wo es passed on‘ hair we. 9 r carnage
~the trio whiehhad been disc atThomass.

“I know her nowl?’ exclaimed Mrs. L

‘ the ranch. Next month heals going   
oceansineeeaaiy

 

referring to the level b1 asthe enterfi

the alcove assigned ~ltiem3ndfi’8he isyBlanohe

Lorrimer, and was Elise’s chum for a mat

V” n' H“   Elihmwi'. 3‘
“WWW  »  a as; .v 

augmshw,wl   "
r  . ‘J, ,\« l" ‘. _

 

x,-

   
  
    

l.,

  
 
  

“FLA. : ‘1 V I   , L ‘1‘  I  I,   .M  iv V I  r 1 , ‘1 I ,h. f»... y....r,.,,_.:_;...,._.7.....- ,....y..‘.y “.m...’  . .. .v,n.z..lz....n‘

     can 

“Raehel,:-I bellow   handsomernnd ' My dear-4” sai’ 4    *fShe entered assar thexfall afterour gradual;

. younger allthe time Mr. Lyssou must have pleadingl . x “ . ‘- . , 0' - ' .tlongyou nevereaw her-i” ~ . _ .   ,« .
> y , religiously protected you from every shade of J‘Yeagrilrs. EliseP. Ghandor."~ \ “No: she did not eomeon toryour ,

“ It was her first year, and father tie

would
very badly, but 3 6 never dreamed of anything
but submission. 1! it had been I shoal-l
have packed my trunk and star , mullet
them storm as thefihose when I got home!
We all imposed on ise’s yielding
even. I, who loved her so dearly l”

' )7 "

Would niake such a break. in her studies” he  
not allow it. « Poor little Elise! She teat“ ' ‘

“Youcanhardlyreproachwyourself,3a if” ';

Mr. Lysson saidgently. “ ea.ch
gum: for the’best that Elise should

indeed, ow can one tell yet what ,we

have douei You know nothing of the at“ I

fair, Agnes; and as ou never saw
cannot imagine who ‘ av tmid, gentle. pro
little thing she was. Father an mothorm

very fond of her; but father never made  r 1   .,
and mother is‘searcely we V ‘

    

ch03, .
ought tiat‘
,  L. l“ \
‘yii'eshwe thoughtso. How 

ciates of us gir

to wife mfimoWdaw

eElise,so ewesm m «M ..

mostmorelikemy childythan myysistar-M a. ,1
WenttoVassarl”   U

n wasso ot m ,
Wham. 3%.:qu We...“ '

me e v ‘

toolingtomein the    
ate wa ,thoughshehzrlld’nointimate V
'usm glrlshave. Sheseemedtollve

; H":

entered ;Ihadalread met , and
mumthznvfinter _ oettledin V _ V
During the following summer 
and mudtableendgaythatwdm
alldalighted with her spirits. v '
“Thatwasattheend

We several visitors besides,

make it pleasan' t tor her. Among ,

Mr. Guy (ghandon—I may have mentioned. K 
e o ‘

insom my lettels." , r r .; Myer; _ 
“I thinknot; I tail to recall the  ,‘g ,
was“ w e... a... , p...  - ‘
ewasaw ygen ., --
itch and part1 French by .  ,_’
Rachel, , y more than trifling with Ashe
cold ,meJler husbanth utupcm

“an ve highly connec On both sida. ‘
was abou thirty, and exceedingly fine. _ ,
ing. Erlc always admired him ‘ , l . .

 

“That was atly owing to his  .
Miss Agnes. gewas a th 11 V Z 1 
and among his own sex one (3% 

most ‘
genial en I ever met. With ladies hem In?
olined :3 be rather reserved). courtmfis *  ~

“But he never was to line, Eric, “meal,

mired her from the first,
came excellent friends; the h
the least conscious of his ,

Before sheth any he begged that I"

new
conveytoher the otter of his hand. we
‘told her she looked quite frightened, ' 

on 

gtlgmstuotlethimtthiggfwche‘ '

ougun enm. «vanadium ‘
audit desirable  5M!
towait awhile before really dismissing " -

‘”_,
hehadsaidthatshewastotake lent or. "
'todecide upon’her answer. Butp W

and!

,“ .Chandorfl ' ’
“Heseemed
' was y there new _ .. \
“HewenttoColoradoforhl§§realth,miie
 become 
Shel? raisin : apartnerw'ant. ,
businem anghave made a fine 7
wilflwent to Enfind oncea yeardmtmmde
vel- home,” ‘ en 
tostay, Behasnotcrossedthe
inthatyearhemetElise.”  p
“ But Elise changed her mind in 
him!” questioned Agnes, gaging
thenameupon theenvelope
“Yes; orwe changed it for hay”.
L -with hitter, mountain-gs...

  
        
     

:1 ‘
within herself. Thefall afterIcam'ehntncm’

less?” , _ .V ,

‘Y dudngthelatterpartctthe  ,  

1.3 so 
.thgm~mga* .3

tin"
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ultecutup,"   "

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:

MK

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of her mm m   7 Li,

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\.

 

. x

m—

 

.. -- . -. a...

   
 

,  ,f , anddse'l» fan
W . "'i listen! soget lel" total]
. ‘thecause of her lo“: spirits; but she Would not
   Mmali_ thin , and evidentl sodreaded being
 , . slogan-it; me are up 'oning her. Guy
 ‘ ‘ i, J came eitentothe ouse,.and shea afraid
I .efhim,too,atflrst;buthewasque y t
iii-his attentions, and one night, after she had
twice refused him, he told us that‘he had at last
 won her consent to marry him, and desired a
'  ' eedy wedding; thinking that to take her
»   would be the best thin for her health.
It was arranged that he shoul accompan us
 immediately to Chicago and remain t ere
undisthe weddin . That ni ht I went to her
' - room to congratu ate her, an found her crying.
And from the time of her engagement to her
" mania a, she never voluntarily reierred to it,
rnor magic any answer to congratulations.”
 ' “Did ounever think that Elise loved some
one she;

‘ 7 “Often, at first; but she hadnever mentioned

‘ ~ the name of any gentleman she had met or ad-
 " -~ ' “mired; she corroswnded with no one; and she
sf    teld'm nothin . hat was there to do but let
 N f 4' matters taket irconrse, when it seemed aide—
»firable match, and that a sea-voyage, a. tour
through Eurcg‘e, meeting with new unint—
ences and role ves, and the tenderness o a de-

prbve somew

 
  
  
   
    
  

 

 

~ «

“morbidnesai”

‘- I'V’“ We certainl all thought, even Mr. White.
' -Wallbridge, the her marriage to a man like
” to her,” said Mr. Lysson. .
‘1  f‘i““Afid‘h0 doubt, to a degree, you were quite

 ‘
H  l 9" No! I think we were all wrcn ,” asserted
1 Rachel, “only we could not see'i then. The
night of the nineteenth of April I went into her
 itc late, to kissaher good-night. She
wasgy 5; upon the bed. and had been ng,
* thought it best to take no notice, an she
I piadc no effort to detain me. The next eve-
.' r sing they waremarried, and started for St.
‘ ’ ‘ upon the late ni, ht train, on their waytc
 Orleans where ny had some matters to
4  before going North. And-we have never

 seen her-sincel” , . 4
’ ' Rachel's forced uiet gave way, and she cried
' ‘ -. solidly; and, thong Miss Gardiner’s calm, sym-
“  k L thetic face- ave no sign of the curiosity she
‘ _  " t to know -t e conclusion of their history, Mr.
, . ‘- Lyman let his wife’s rief have its way, and
/ ' / vely told the last t- ewastotell concom-
‘  tragaiey which, after being;h enveloped
is We m stery or more an a year,
suddenlyy'stirred the current of their

‘ ‘t ,. breakfasted, the morning
. in t. Louis, (in I
‘ .  business that We d detain him
. ‘ £36  13:15 Eliseuto rest}, aha they

~ span n urne g, an s ewes
r thoroughly in need of quiet arid sleep after the
L of icgeriages arid cars,

arturea e rcame, v

' w Pfiandor, and a. servant dellfer
;  it to her in room. When Guy returned
mesmtnot in he hotel; nor have her hus-

  new
 u“) .

chestnut

 . morning..pr 22d.

 

.v  a“: noun, AND a: vaasan. V

fl  ter portion ofthelr liveshad
cage,- one of the ayest and
 ' ‘  lute of-Amer cities, el and
’1- “k - . * Wallbridge had been asstrictly reared-as
v » , it brought t1? under the ancient and Puritan
; ‘ , ,ofa ewEnglandhome.
Purfian '

had come from the sternest of

e was devoted to business, un-

eme»; in Will, and some in his 
man of brains. and conscience rather than a.
- Somewhat late in life he had

\

   

 

 of

    

a. , .,Yorker.~_
3‘7.   Wallbridge soon learned that she must
V'thrm 11 ttld ' to a. 1
- “i "  an so 9 m rec use, a.
1 ' . j a dcgoteo; the latter‘tzo condii
 , being the accompanimen one o
  chronic invalidism and religious
tuna developed a '
 wttuilmand under this and her
"K7 ; ignited  -- ty and selfsdanial, she hid
 m. * , * and melt amounts.
 too ~ scrupulous care ‘ot.

x.. 

   

he: two» 3 and  as- as , .
- in. j... on.
me what hadwa

voted husband, must  the surest cure for her :

chandor was the best thing that could hap- ’confld

went out to ;

' " andfiiendshadthesli latest clewtoher:
m, s we: ,

“ "  the rather, giddy daughter of a well-to- ,

‘~mew , Buthewasnotthemanto‘

. changed in any mental or moral degree by,
_ , .

and ViQWS entirely to her has I

 

   
   

  ~  '  walla   “9%
time a ,_ ,3 .. - - _, their we r , ‘ *~
3d a. 31W , I . ' , Elise Wallbridgejs first room—mate at coll '
in The Wallbridges lived in a‘handmehouse was Blanche .a beean blonds .
finely sittmted and. conforiably furnished but offeventeen. , _ ;
without anytraces of elegance orl . ’l‘he r , I hog-W0 51131] Set an 0109‘? togethfl’y and! »
“gagged no style and the QM“ hkeeac otherimmtansely ” was her avowalto 
brid or was this because hewas mggar‘ d1 s13°u 0'10 ‘:13 a i 
concigningthe wealth he hadaccumulated'hz Jill-mm”! Mmmm‘flta” 9374’?“

gave large sums in charities—even in char! as
that were never pu ; he no expense
in educati his daughters,
music—th chief recreation and comfort—was
indulged to any monetary extent' but be
believed that money expended on on show,
or worldly amusements was money 11 teous-
1y used; and he allowed no parties nor gayetica
in his house. neither did he countenance any by
lettin his daughters attend them. \
Radial, inheriting much of her father’s un-

‘elding will, made no
Egonism to his views" but Elise was of quite a
erent disposition. blinglng and affectionate,
but excessively shy and sensitiv hers was a
nature to develop naturally only u an atmos-
giere of boundless love and tendemst s, apathy.
car by year, she become reticent f-con-
tained, submissiver obeying all commands and
acoeptmg all belie s she was told were fifiilat,
without a word-of dissent or an expression t t
betrayed her own mind and heart. V Her home-
influences, especially the tem meat of her
mother, tended to repel rather an to invite her
once; and so, used to living within herself,
and bendi in outward Observances to any
strong‘will but came in contact with her own,
while she cherished noflrm inward faith, Elise
Wallbridg'e lacked all those safe-guards that are
Elegant .with most girls when surrounded by

Nation ,
Rachel Wallbrldgc was nineteen when she
camehomeattheerid of herthird schoolyear
and found the littlefsifter she had'left a
grown a rarely grace a young woman.
“ Why Elise, pet, you change so each year I
duodmdscarcelycan realize it isyou.
nd whet abeauty you are gettingto be, fairy.
ma, herearefourkisses, one for each

well an howls» pal”

“hour father VerywoiL‘Rachel; he always
is;butIama martyr to ill-health, as you well
know.- I trynot to complain; it ismy cross,

some luncheon or Rachel; it is too long for her
to wait until dinner.”
AsElise vanished fromtheroom, Mrs. Wall-
brid resumed:
“ am surgised, Rachel, at r want of
judgment in lling ylour sister is beautiful;
will 'make'ervain,andvanityisa

onaense, momma: instead of making girls

gives them a roper pride and self-
mspecttotelthemof meritsandletthem
know that their friends notice and admire
them. Elisenor lwill everbespoiled through
any tee much praise we have received at

“I have endeavored. to do my dot byyou,
according to my light,” said. Mrs. allbridgu,
severely. “I am sure you cannot complain
that on have lacked excellent Christian and
This life is of little account,
been to fit you for the life to

come. 7 I
. “ O that is all very well, mamma,” returned
Racho calmly, but with knitted brows, “ if
. you choose to believe it; but most oung peopile

‘this present life! And sin Elise and [are of

the wicked generation who esire to be happy

while inhabiting this terrestrial globe, we could

have dispensed with quite so much reli '
. I cannot honestly say that

 

am

child’s nature is so frozen, that no one knows

stowed u n one side of our natures, and the

. other, will not result in any evil to Elise which
I will call for bitter repentance.”

Surprised at this treason to tradition and ar-
rental wisdom, Mrs. Wallbridge expressed t at
L surprise in her usual fretful way; but she was a

i

v n
f gility of her.- own theories and

3 when a

year later,  dreamy, flower-

", . . ohm utmosphm-e of
y of“ r    life'in
a world of”  it.  doubtful whether

.l‘fi‘, .

 
  

s

,;;

    

‘.,,V ‘1

secretofherutteran-i

quarter I have been away. I hope you are .

willhesoperverseastotakealitte interest n1

training

greatly the better for it, and was for Elise, the I
with too supreme a belief in the infalll~ ;

acts to long re- T '
naturally peovislr and i member this repro‘achful outbreak. So that l he,

and their love for E

andIamresinedtobearit. E1ise,goorder ‘

;, swere‘d liillsea lancing eh 1
her older an gtatelier c0313; .
little flatterer! What pretty com- " .
believe that "
ion can tolerate my presence an even like me. x ,
Wallbrid oi” *

 

I

l

l

i
l
|

what underlies the submissive surface of her life. I
I only hope that the excessive care you, have be- r

utterlrneg ect with which you have treated the 1

I
i

 

 

with snap that: dainty blushes; 

nion.
“Why, you

pliments you pay! Do you real]

“ Why not? said Elise, smiling. “ They are
all stran rs to me here,and you seemvery
nice. W y should we not be friends? 1am
sure,” she added, hesitatingly, “ one could not
hel admiring you.” ~

lanche crossed the room and stole her arm v :

about Elise’s waist and stood looking out upon
the lovely surroundipgs of their new borne and
“$333 wfim‘h‘ he?“ 13"" wagered
mu mte on e a

and satisfied with each other-Famine was

sionately fond of the beautiful;'and thou it 5

been a. repressed sensibility it had become

so potent a. power in her nature that it could 

influence her more surely than any ‘rehg‘ious
doctrine or moral law; unfortunately this trait,

like all the best ones of her character, was -.
However“ " '4'

wholl uncultured and ungoverned.
in its’liflect n her liking for Blanche Lo -
mer, it seem

a. fair sample of a. self-respectin
American girl. But it was that gill

ly with a' mother-of- 1
mi whiteness and roamh'
deep- lue

complexion~all

lise’s references.
With lgiss Lorrimer Elise felt more ateese
mums any youn
capting her sister e
that in her room-mate she had foundanasso

clubs who would neither exact nor repel her ’ 

confidence, and who would thrust upon» her no
fiewuasviewsthatshe mustconfesstoga

\o . to
and Agnes Gar-
diner, the , nevertheless, lik
ciety, an were deemed somewhat exclusive

the other collegians. '

onto

ck y
omewi

an

$Plil'masayrid htth' ould iii
evermn wa w Wortia
too late to write and get this dedgifl’, you
mustmakeyourown. Doyoncase‘togo ' \L

“ I should enjoy it very much. I haveodreadm ‘ 

ed to stay here alone."
you care to go and accept to invitati as i
you haveaperfé’ct right to do. ii will 

all the rest.

The next night found Elise and Miss  ' .

Fifth avenue, upon a fashionable street in
New York, receiving the greetin s of an ele-
ant lady, a faded likeness of 6, beautiful
lanche. , , ‘ .
“ ydarlin I am so glad to see you! and
this is your end? I, am delighted hugged»
ve consented [to be, our guest,  9.114
bridge, and 1 ho \‘we shall be able- tomake you:

hag WhiIeWi..us.'f , l. , ». 
r  ou'I am sureyou willflfsaid Elisa,

   

,r'] a

\
.«l { 

 

but admirineg as 

icsof“

likely todo her littleharm. Miss ~
- Lorrlmer,.though fashionable and worldly, was . 
honorable \34
V anche was 
beautiful—4mmeg beautiful—tall and state‘ 

as like the 
when it smiles forth mm storm- 
clouds that vehiddenitandam ofvivid» 
ly don hair—that she made so easy acouquest ‘ ‘

 

lad she had known, or _ 

She was conscious" _

each others so- ‘
by

. ,.: v,» >«».,.,

 

me, to—morrow for the holidaygfi ‘  l
“ Go home with you! What’wouid  

(_
’5

“Then that decides it. I' have invited you, ’ 5?

i.

a handsome brown-stone mansion. just ‘west 4‘,

  
   
   
   
  

i

1

x

 

 

 

   

 

   
   
 
  
   
    
 
 
 

 
  

!

Blanche," andm midwillhcl" ou
dress for dinner.y Alan will dineévzith

'1 “ Who is Alan?” aired Elise, a trifle nervous-

, 1?. as the lrla ascended the broad stairway.

’ ‘5 He is fir. A
_ .Mr. Van, Alst—my uncle marriage, and my
r , guardian—~were roster and rother.”
,.  “And shall we meeliyour guardian, too?”
“Oh, no; he is in
r , do, visiting his father,'whc is very old.
Gertrude is delicate, and she is being treated by
’  celebrated German physicians. My other
Consul, who lives with us, Issalene Sanfrey, you
_ W111 almost know, you have so often heard me

‘ , Speak of her. We are e. dreadfully mixed up
set of relations, but you may et us straighten-
ed out aftera time,’ laughed lanche.

bliss Lorrimer knew well how to highten her
four beauty into the most dealing charmfulness,
cud for this was given to affecting black cos:
tumes; but to-night she came down to dinner in'
is“: ’ ’3 dressof pale ink relieved here and there by
E , {I touch of blac velvet, with wide bands of o -
“171th black onyx snugly encircling her w itc
 . throat and bare arms, and a jet of aigrette shin—
, .  “gin her golden hair.

x; f. , . esido her, Elise Wallbridge looked such a
 fftlxnid little birdling, with her dream brown

I eyes, and her shy, sweet face, as de icate in

' feature and coloring as the wild hnemone when
first it dares the caresses of April winds and
then faintly blushes at their tumultuous kisses.

,5" She wore a dress out high at the throat, with
' long sleeves, and lainly made; but it was of
all}: of that indescribable shade which is neither

H slate, nbr drab, nor gray, nor lavender, but par-
}.J - lakes of: the color of cach, with a faint rosy
 {glamour warming its scdatmcss; and it was re-
: ' g :2 Love by a belt ribbon, and a cluster of loops at

the throat, of rich, deep pink. Her rippling fair

I fll‘rownhair was ccmbed to show the entire shape
’V . tf  pretty head, and caught at her neck with
 - ’ ‘1 bevv of the bright ribbon, whence. it fell to her

" ‘- ‘ boulders in a curling‘mass. 
v , After all, Elise loo ed very sweet, and every
I i I ch an’exqu‘mte little lady as she walked into
tbs gelatin] arlors and heard her hostess say:

~ There‘s, WE] brid  g‘orrence.”

g anccsyyut cefull u to
acknow dge the introductionfifii, as .Ke ' w-
" /' .cd', there came a look of such rapt, intense ad-
miration, into her face as

tor the man who was its objgct, and that sent a

thrill of hot jealousy and hatred through the
’ little brunette who stood near him awaiting her

in}? to be presented to her cousin’s _ t.

., I am delighted to meet Miss 
. Terrence said, his fine voice and marve

933758 intensifying the polite speech.

And I am ver pleased at being ableto know

’89 many cf Blane e’s friends; and it is all so

pm and um xpcctedl”

. “Our family is" not entirely represented at;

;_ herein Issaluc,” said Miss Lorrimer, int uo-

gs « 33 her small, dark-faced cousin with a courtesy
 , - hilocflzetieremignicusness. d l d

-:" ._ ‘ as we were acquainte , a rea y,

  Wallbridge,” Issalene Sanirey said, com-

; -~ Kingfcry‘vard; and two little hands met in as

,  1 ya friendly clasg as if the owner of

g already deci ed in her heart that

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 
    
 

 

canes. r
' “Sinée‘ll' use on] human admitted to
z the delight at dining {.5 might, Miss Wall—
:-  . budge. my aunt has conferred upon me the do
:1; ” onor of taking you down to din-
. Elise» t her tiny hand n .800 i
"1-, mantle arm, and answeredfgzmiig rt 8
 _ [‘lt .is‘very kind of Mrs. Lcriimer to- me ”
"with, such admiration of Alan all the while
...’Shining in her soft eyes, that he could but
; ‘ $110039 to bend his splendid face toward her and
 mgrmur, softly: ‘~

mam:

 
  
   

* er’i:fe'§i t!” thfull d

 , a 910 wra. yan men.
 w  exclaimed, Issalene Saufrey, obElise,
; .‘ mWrngm baralclk i0: llier and tf?;llih.8i‘r‘lliultl Alan
.e’  . n ove wi a w cad-
ai mired: him in such a shamefully o a manner !”

 

 

 ' t fifteen, this litte ssionate
'  82"  a. WEmD’SflUlffgnf wag,

 - h“ o arti ce an n or now-
‘ “18° 01 ‘ . .‘d and. fashio’nahle convention-

    
    
   
 

 W £11)!!er with Elise, who knew

,  . a never been
 in am  or can??? filialdcl‘stimd her
3*! Mom.  woollen! anddisgulso

. gmrp, _ V,
  nuns. 
 W ' ‘; ‘ .r 7 , l I _, r



 have the room next.

lan Torrance. His mother and, : '

urope, with my cousin-

could not fail to flat-‘3,

.181? Western girl should be mortal

to me, also! i assure you," I never was“

v timer.

 

nastier oak;

 

an pom . .ble enjoyment into the Whitman vacaa

{amusiflliee’s first evening in this new gay world

almost like a sweet dream. But later in
evenin Alan remarkedtotBlanche:

“And your friend join in all your pro-'
posedamusementsl  an uninitiated,
artless little thing.” 4

“ 0h, she has been - brought up a regu
lilttle Puritan! But she hfs few '

es concemin engaging n a e y, agine.
it all eventsgshe is so yielding that she Will
afqui’esce in all our plans, and onpr the nov-
0 t . . '

‘yGood-night, Miss Wallbridge,". Alan said,
then crossing toEIise: “I am commg to 'take
you young ladies to drive to-morrow mommg.”

The gir glanced up, but did not speak.

“Your face tells me you are glad,” he said,
bending over her and speaking low. “You pa
me a great compliment. I wxsh I could th
you enough. Good-night a ain, and the pleas-
antest dreams to you. An now, vouchsafe to
me one more glance of these sweet, tru
6 es. . *

yFluslhing to an exquisite hue, Elise raised her
innocent eyes, momently, to the handsome ones
above her, and then let them shyly droop, quite .
unconscious that she had looked into the eyes of
the man who was to influence her future life,
for its all of good or evil.

‘ CHAPTER VI.
THE LITTIIJE PURITAN.

WHEN the young ladies awoke the next morn-
ing they found that a heavy snow had fallen
during the night. Indeed, it was still snowmg
when they gathered in the prett breakfast-
room, where Mrs. Lorrimer awaite them, seat-
ed before a blazing grate fire, her feet upon a
hassock, reading the morning pa r, from which
she lanced to greet them cheer-i y. ‘ '

“ od-mornmg, youn$ Indies. I hope you
rested well, my dear?” to has. -

“Oh, vary; thank you!” ‘

“And we’re quite ready for breakfast, mam-
ma, so please put aside your paper. You know
the proverbial appetites of boarding—school girls
must 13,9 thoroughly appeased when they are at
home. ‘ ,

“Well, I hope yours will be this mornin ,"
said Mrs. Lorrimer, smilin , as in answer to e
bell she touched a servant rought in chocolate,
and muflius, and savory steaks of venison smok-
ing in the midst of quivering ruby mounds of
current-jelly. and crisp grammes, and golden
mouth; a‘l‘l 1;» Alain-“:11 _d here at eleven, to

e on oraseig -m e.

“ flow glorious l” exclaimed Issalcne. -

“ And it is ten o’clock now,” said Blanche.
“Mamma, you doynot mean to so. thatAlan
has been here before ten o’clock! t could
have aroused him to such unwanted energy?” *

“ The respect of a sleigh-ride with three

oung ladies” Is not that enough?” asked Issa-
one.

“ He is not given to crucif 'ng his love of ease
for any woman,” said Blah e, dryly, who was
fond enough, in her way, of Alan; but not at all
oblivious to his faults. A

“I am sure you need not call him indolent.
He is no more so than any wealthy oung so-
ciet man,” cried Issalene, a trifiehot y. r
t; is you who have called him that, my

H

“And you forget that Miss Wallbndge .18 a
new-comer,” continued Isealene. “Perhaps she
is the attraction.” . .

Blanche turned toward her mother smiling; It
was so ridiculous to think of little Elise be '
an attraction to handsome, courted Alan Ton
rence. But, Elise was not smiling; she
can ht the look that had been in lssalene’s eyes
as a e uttered those last words, and it had thrill-
ed her with fear and a surety that under Miss
Sanfrey’s seeming friendliness was a nature not ‘
quite as pleasant. She could not know that the
young Cuban hated every woman who won a

 

smile from Alan Terrencegthat she had loved

him with an impetuous assion—a passion that
not’ one of the familyfilot Alan himself, 
suspected—since, an a little home-Sick child,
grieving for the Southern home and fond par-
ents she had left~ehe had come among her
Northern relatives, to receive her education.
“Alan sent a note, my doors,” said Mrs. Lon
“ He says you are to wrap up well. It
is scold snow, promisingto last some days."
“ Scmuch the better,” said Blanche, "we may
have sleighing all the holidays.” , , '<
girls, hastened, to their rooms from the
newest-table venereal: arrayed in _ thick

, ,. V . a
Wméofirlmdont  ~  come to-

and   lam.

 

l

v

,j . con. no. moaned?  unimportaan 1:

 
 

. of her fancies and

   
    

in

my

  
  
  
 
  
  
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
    
  
 
   
    
     
  
  
  
 
  

.flufly shawl of scarlet Woohdrom which , 
'ha?t:§3rgk hekrait 3}” or V maid and l “
a w po some -  ;, 
Blanche followed suit by using mutiny white 3 “t ’
wrap, with dainty blue ribbons , it in « ‘ '
defiance of the crystals falling thick outside. a _ 
Elise wore a hoe and hat of seal-akin, the rich, '-’
dark brown settingofl her shy, little fair hum; , .'
but Blanche made her take a soft white bur- _ . ,
neose, to throw over head and ears in case the z x ”
storm did not soon cease, or the ride prove an _
very cold one. They reached the lower hali- , 7
we. gustasthesleigh was drawn uptothedottf; , _ ,4;
on”; our prancing horses stamped down a .
soft snow and shock a shower of music  ’\.-
their littering bells. T -

“Is all bring them home in time for dinner -
and the theater,” cried Alan.

“And ask Mr. Arslan and Mr. Jafl'rey to dine 
with us,” returned Mrs. Lorrimemas she watch» «'
gldthfi merry party getting their places in they _ {I -'

exg

Before Elise had'half-decided which ' ntle—
man was Mr. Jeffrey and which Mr. 8.11,.80 ‘-
gay and rasEid had been the greeting and  ’ ’ V ,;

actions, 8 found herself byrAlan Torren V w
side, upon the center seat of the sleigh and al- I.
most buried undera pile of furry robes. The -. "
horses swung round upon Fifth avonue, and'in .
an instant more they were flying. through the
white city to a. clear sweet chorus cf bells, With
ringing echoes floating far up and. down the
avenue andaloug many a side street, and a cloud
of crystals whirling Wildliy about. ‘ . ‘ .

But, what was the win and the snow to three 
gay girls and three gallant cavaliers, n 1: one of '.
whom had ever been calleduponto bulfe act-cm;
save for pleasure, nor had ever known a you! r '.
sorrow upon the pathway of life? Blinder»,-
tainly, never gave a the t to the rude, blasts
that caused her cheeks to loom ruddily, nor to ;'
the fine cutting flakes that flew in her face and ’ V -
gywdered whitelg her fun. She scarcelyheeded ~' J

r"

lanche’s entree that she would wrap herself
in the burnoose; ut Alan did it for her, in his .
graceful, tender fashion, bringing his face so
near to hers, as he'wcund the about her“ '3 ’
shoulders, that she could feel his arm breath ,, .-‘~'
flutter a nst her check; at which 'her  " ,
th’rob so hotly that she could scarcely answer  ,
his_ next words without a telltale tremor inflict “ .
voxce.  L r 
Thntride—dash ibrou‘htho rk ‘ 
wide boulevard, anndg along 15 e wage ~,~
—was toEliseaseasonofecstas . Issalene' t ‘ ,_
her escort wasinfrontof them, lanéhe and Mr. ’ _  ,
Jaflrey back; Alan andElisewereleftquite“ , r, .“ ~
themselves, and never once gave thought , a
an ht but each other. '
Tom-once had received a .su rior‘ r
tion, was a" fastidious reader and a rilliantccm, .
versafionalistzmoreover he was ath‘oro-  - '
of the world, versed in its intrigues, con‘v   r 
with human nature; an insouciant, lrro ‘ " '   v } “
man, but polished and fatali tender-inflow 
ners toward women. And man,   - 
geenycoumgfbgldmany belles find  .
yasoore erwomen   '
had flamed while it amused him, an 
at when it wearied him, was thel‘Egnce  a,

  

 

was to awaken the sleeping soul of W
maiden. ' ' '. ,
He pointed out toher the finest landscapesz‘hfc  
awards made pictures of a bit of broken ' ‘
or a dilapidated cottage; he talked of books, ‘
admins, andrpaintin and m eEliza talk .' ' ‘
ofC' goof ass”, erm hex-studies, 
erself. Isle discovered the charmed entrance- ? .~
to her dreamslife, he sympathized with her re— 1,
mance, played, upon her ‘ onatc love 
beauty: :1 act, baredthe thegto sealed   .
passxo'nan madehim 
her nature’s master. ’ ‘ ~ " "

Not that Alan accomplished all. this during a 
that one drive; but when Elise’s tarry  ‘ ‘
gay life he helped to make for her was ended,  _, =

ehaew that she was—-in soul and love—worn: 
pletely his; he know, too, that if he‘bad  m ,
ever known love, he loved the littl Puritan. f t’ -

And the “ ' ning of the end commenced‘ a v

 

under sto — skies, in a  sleigh; ~» “ “ L
I  ,

being rap1 ly drawn to on
thepartyweretoenjoya" sle beg I a,
dinner.” The ladies, for all the excitement 
fun of a drive in a snow—stomp, were .
ready tolnxuriate in the coaeiye warmth ] :
hote parlor. By the time't y hadtgutf  
theirwra andarrangedtbeirtoilets,‘e a “
tlemen ' them, and lssalere  ,7
a lively waltz, to which Blanche and her  .3, ~
were speedily. dancing. ' , ' . ; a was? 
“ worm 31m rewrote, Miss Wailmdgcl"
agkyedahgt -. ' 4 ~ .' .-  1"

      
     
  
 
 

 

 

    
      
   
    
   
  
   
   
 
    
 
   
 
  
   
   
 
   
   
  
   
  
  
   
     
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
   
   
  
    
   
  
  
  
 
 
    
 
 
  
 
  
  
     
 
   
     
    
   
  
  
  
   
  
 

     
  

  

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,r,., .1,. , -‘»,,,~-. /

 

 

 

.’.1_’,IM. *

* westerns never-danced ex ‘6 occasion: ills lendid‘ . eebcntl‘verym'cartc hers, and 5 *- “Yet; therewasthelhtt‘erg’fldidd calf-i“ If  
” segue” I eel-girl.”    _ ‘ . hislfipps whispgrin from under- his handsome she’had been killed, or had put‘angc‘ha tuber , *
 Am}. am I tobe mated thug cavalier] - mustache what ed a startled look into her oWn life, it seems to me almost imposable‘that ' ’
r? '5 Vegflfie, I’m not‘ a school—girl?” laughed 133:, soft brown eyes and intense flames oi; color into no clew to the fact should have beenldiscovered,
 ,, ,fngou at. too much of a‘fairy. not to waltz‘ her cheeks. It seemed that they would never ‘_ while her movements and whereabouts if liv— .
“nicely, w ether you have danced often or sel— tire of their delicious pastime, and at last Issa- ingncould easily be concealed. ‘ But I should _ j
', ‘ (loin. Ii ameyou I know”. Come and try. " lene ceased playing. ' th. k it much more like] that she went away x l
._  ,And, Elise could not resist the gentle" pressure “Thanks, Issal Have I let you tire rourselfi With some person, than t t she was forcibly
r ,of the pleader’s firm hand, her the eyes that * Wallbridge,‘ you dance‘ admira ly: but carried away.”_ ' ' v v i a 
Isaid so much more than his lips. She gave her— you are warm; come to the window. ” “ Agnes!” cried Rachel, in mingled anger and ; 
., _,self up to his arms—to an unnecessarily close , They stood some, minutes within the shadow re roach, “ you sule do not think that Elise.
 . deans—and found waltzing with Alan Terrence ‘ 0f the lace curtains. softly talking, While 1868- V0 “Timmy 010 3‘11 “‘1 Who could have been
’ rmslan added drop in the draught of bliss he lene passionately longed to know what they g in St. Louis is at she knew? This letter was
‘3 ' ,’ Was holding to her lips. I were sa ing. ‘ j mailed there.” ’ . ;
' With  of partners, and change of mm Blan e was asleep, and the. Cuban girl crept i “Rachel. dear, it seems to me that so corms; Ii

'  sic’ians, the

.-
l.

 

I ancing continued until a waiter softly toward the window, in time to healI and yieldino' a girl was just the person be- 

j « summonedem party to a, wen—laid dinner in-a, Alan’s last words as he put aside the lace. , come a victim to a man’s intrigues. If she he l: , .

g , small private parlor, to which the hungry ri- ‘.‘ Remember, you have pledged your honor to loved, and her lover had been also to her, and. "
' ; ‘ “ ders did ample justice. It was four o’clock do as IWiSh.” then, manhkev OaPI'ICiOIISly 00Ver his rim '.

f  when the party left Yonkers—the storm was The, next morningyAlan and Blanche went just when it Was lost to him, what easier ban z
'7 “ over and the day ending ina gfirgeous sunset. with Miss W allbridge’ to the Jersey City depot, for him to follow her, and coax. frighten, or doc ' i:
. -. , ‘ “ Think i, this is Christmas vol” cried Isa- and saw her safely started on her journey to cciveatimid girl into submitting tohis will?” , 
‘~  lens. :‘1‘ How are we to spend it!” . Chitgo. As the . drove homeward, Alan men‘ “ This is not him a man’s hand, said Rachel, " ’ ‘~
'_ a 7:“ Ahthe Fifth Avenue; I have a, box en. tlon , casually, hat he thought of taking 3 her eyes upon the envelo . ' ' ~ 
 1 ’  ,” answered Terrence. “ Do you like the run out of town for a do. or two. “.I is a disguised ban probably, my dear," I. V
, “I “enter!” he asked, turning to Elise. That night he walks into a hotel in Phila. said Mr. Lysson. ‘
', * “I have never been." ‘ delphia. ' “ Well, we must be going, Rachel. Let us , ;
| ‘ “Little Puritan!” he said, lightly, recalling ‘ You received my telegram, Howtcnr’ he bane, that Mr. Lysson will are learned- some— 
like Lorrimer’s words. i asked of the clerk. t of importance by the time we return.” ‘ "

4,; :Elise’s soft eyesthrew a swift glance upward, . “ Yes, Mr. Terrence; we sent a riyate car- “ hat immediate stepsdid-Mr. Ghandor take '1?
 d; ite the caressin, tone of his voice, mags for the lady, and she has the andsomes’t to discover Elis ?” she continued, as with Ra- ‘ w,
.‘~ canswered her ook: sui of rooms in he hotel.” ‘ ‘ chei, she enters the carriage to go on their 

 " u‘ ;_ if It was a pet name, if you win pardon my “Thanks- then Iknow the room. All right.” round of'errands. . , I g:
. “Emumption in dag-mgr) say so, 1 was think. He hastened to an elegant parlor, softglg opened “He had the hotel searched,and the polic’e “ a;
V  how. sweet, and hi; you were, and how and closed the door; and was gree with a and a detective notified, and sent to father and 
 ‘ , ('ghtful your confession was, fox-1t affords me frightened little or . to us to know if we had“ written her. He visited, 
r the opportunity to open the doors of man-led do. ‘ Elise darling? ‘ the railways, and telegraphed descri one of 9~

‘, ’htsto you.” “Cuban!” ’ ~. r ‘ her to all rincipal towns. Inde he did 
p ‘ ,‘ Then you think I will= go!” said Elise, with , , ev hing, t on and since that could be done 
1a pretty touch of archnessh ‘ ,z / I to o tain information and conceal the matter « 
' = ’ I ‘Iam sure you will. You are too kind will. CHAPTER m from unpleasant Pubnth- He. 1101' faith”; “01‘ ' '
 make me unhappgm ‘ m THREAD FOLLOWEPv , Elise, had any known enemies, and weknew _. 5;;
 blushed and 3m ed and moved 1,6,. v THE second night of Agnes Gardiner 3 visit in perfectly an her muamtaficesy ' , , v 
. pi face, s New York was an undisturbed one. She slept “ What Papers do you think she burned u n' “
. 3W 3 Blanche 10mm“, and em 185819“ soundly and awakened late upon Wednesday he,- weddm ailigEhgwldight she [not have ad

r , I 4

 

 

 were whollyusedtosuch com liments morning? and 88,8116 made her, toilet her some love , ' "
f sand oodld accept them with brilliant reparth “1°” “55 were bully engaged “filth the 3mg “ We learned all that we could from Vassar;
 Wallbrl'dge could only sit d flush an 9h° ‘1 heard the Prevmufi fivenmg- Intbe but her room-mate for the second i was
tremble under the all they mean to her. Ah! 501.1001 days: 1191’ chum had frequently SPOken 0‘ ve all htly acquaintedwith her. e wrote , 
this Christmasrtide she was to drink deeply of E11801 and Agnes knell." Well how “vow? to iss gLorrimer, who had been in Europe dur»‘
-   the/cup of love, little dreaming how deadly was Rachel 1°V°d 91' um” “when. - ing the early part of that year: Elise nt her
’ the draught ' r WW had become 915 8mm” What influ- first Christmas holidays with her. , Bu she had .,
[ "Thedays fled—each crowded with some new 81106 had Workefl subtlJQIY and “rely in th“ never known of Elise receivin attentions from 
“gatemwtwfrom Christmas Eve to the night heart.“ 33h" “mid, $351171“? girl wrender 1191‘, any gentleman, nor communfoating with any ‘ 
’ f  ‘- New Year, the time for farewslls. On the morb‘d’ “’83” 0f hf?’ We“ 0‘ any fat“ at one but her own family.” ' , - . ' '
.. Blanche and Elise would return to Vas- seventeem Had 8h? wronged her hush“ 01' ‘ “ It is all , 3W,” said  thouth
 reenactment, informal little party had been wronged by blunt—For Agnes was not“ tully,asthey ghted at Arnold’s. . ' _ 
’gl‘ihered to spend the email: with them. , . e11 prepared to accept any man as immaculate, At luncheon, Mr. Lysson announced that he , :a
v  “latter H, of it found film Tonence and merely upon hearsay ewdenoe, and the Guy thought-the torn envelope had afl'orded hima . 
 the (1,119th the library. . I Chandor mlght not have beenwholly blamelesse possmle claw to Engels whereabouts. He had . 
2"1‘; _ ’ we say our good—byes here,” be 5116 thought—Had She 00111311de Home gm made a list of the persons whohad occupied that xi
said; v‘  t will be so much nicer than in the pub Crime» 01‘ been the Victim Of 0119? ,Had 311019“ Emicular room, for the last sixteen months. 1‘
f, f  adepgt to—momw.. You win not $0,. Guy Chandor for some other lover s sake or be- ‘ ncemjng the antecedents of some he hula}.
 after you arelgom awa l” cause 8313091109 had become unbearable? was ready satisfied himself and crossed the names
,1

 

or any“, My. .ml ’ E1138 answered, she alive or dead? ' ’ _ 4 from the list' others he, had still to investi ' tot , l
 a87an that was almost a sob. ‘ “om I. ,But to none of these questions couldlhssGer- but, from thé clerk, beheld received onedesgci‘ip: 
 ’2 , I diner find an answer. She even could not 1510,], and some news, that seemed to warrant,
 you for that assurance, little one. frame ammflartheory 03 her own 0030911“ his making nnther-searchintothecase. ‘ i I
  now you will give me one kiss, term “‘8‘ the  And (183131179 the utter luck 01 “Early 11 June, a lady bearing the name'of‘V v :
maybe}:  have said good-by 3",, superstition “1 he” nature, 53 9119 t the “111' Mrs. E. P. Stanford, came here from Washing». ' '

g‘ ‘
{$1

n.3,.

 

 

‘ “ " ' - tuned “New!” in“ he” '9‘” .W-ent down ton, to meet her husband who e ted to f: 3
«#011, all)!” / . to her breakfast, she is to wondering why it rive in New York from m,me same 5:;  s
. Elliot One. birdie? Not one?” / had fallen to harlot to restore to Ehse 8 friends with, her. ,He was a steamer late, and the My 7 

' 353% No!”

, y and husband @KOEible 01W“ the girl’s fate- occupied that room until his mini, when the .‘ 
em me why gn ~

you little Mm,» he said, A Rachel and es had agreed to nd.the : tookalargerapartment and remained here for; . V1,:

  m a he, dist“ Si; mornin in attendingtosome trifling s op mg 3 three or four weeks. The ntleman was 01mg i
'  silent Elise burstintotears, and end his” Gardiner 'had (hardly finish hail; handsome, and apparen y wealth ; alyld” eh; ,
took hcrln hisarins. \ momma meal before she was lowed by the. lad very small and fair, and had ’ght-bmwnfl 

 

'   on love me, on know that ion Lyssone. M cur y hair, and scarcely left her me until her , ,2
etc , shall I tell you a syecretr—a secret tyhat “If Miss Agnes Willfirnst me with the linear- husband came, having all her to tile served ,
,,1 6 two may share yet awhile?” he whisp W519 (I‘OGUIPGW HOW _m her posseSSion, said I there. You seetheinitials of the lady’s name 
p “ I love you'i,”and he gave her scores Eric, ‘ I W111 not detam you 193198, but 111359“ and the description of her are suggestive. of » 
*off  instead.“ the one ‘for which he had report of my researches to you at luncheon l Elise.” , ~ , 
' i , ' , - “Very well, we W111 meet you hem 815 011° z “And- what has become of her?” asked Ra~ ' “1;;
 eels; secret was quite safe with Elise Wall- o’clock,’ proposed Agnee “ I must/16W? W E chel excitedly. . ' ‘s r
 She would sooner have thought of out.» by the afternoon expre and 331 913110“ to “That is for me to find out, my dear. .The' "E
gofl her hand than of M'iting to either of her 'kQOW, before I Start, V?th 61‘ t?“ b“? 0‘ 8&1”? gentleman told the clerk that they intended ‘ '
~ other love; evento Rains] she couldnot W111 P1“)VB 0‘ any”an 13W m hm" spending the summer in to _,’ but desired to»,
" , f t so thrilled her dor’s whereabouts. hve in flat privacy. He mks they took a a
once. ' '

   
  
 
  
    
  
   
   
  
   
   
   
 

 

 

’5
we ‘1: eased an emotion th . ’ ‘1‘
 Ffindwhén the summer vacatioii came, “Then you believe she is alive?” questioned fur-[fish I L 4%
‘ Eli en-route‘toChicago, spent one night Rachel, 68891453, ' . “ But how are 5011 to find them out in“ one, 1:1
the  ,_ ers and again met her lover, no “ D0 not 7 0111 ram Agnes, as quickly ~ day, Eric?” Bach asked, despondingly. _ 
‘ , tellxherattachment forAlan save the “ Why . we be“ though“ sometimes that “A directory will not aid you ” , (1 Agnes.
'* ; 'ttle Cuban. , . perhapss e was so unha 3’ she took her life: “And the are/more likely to , ve Obtained ,
Welling Alan took Blanche and Elise‘to or {1le I think 90- com Guy W111 “03 the house advertisement than through an a ’
rt, but ,Isealene was still intheparlors believe that she was really unhappy and un- ” ~ ‘ ' ' '

» they returned ‘

   
     

“gen 1 a I I» 

 . , , _ .. ,willin towel-whim” ' “ Ihavetbou ht' andacti, u natu' 

 like I said, It  you pg” , u VV‘llat is Mr. CWWS  0,, bade bytth oferk’ I havamggly mtg; I: 
. 86 u '

 a , , I Twafimmfl Mm imam stag-yr, mun-ed Miss _ . work ts, whoaresearoh the respectable

 ted, by the.  VI, ' saw her last , “lslsveryh for aroma WWW ofwwmifiismfl  113i“
 . . . . . . §. ghogtwmtethiuk .MSM'MI , he  whom rbave‘md .
Whiter gm ' ‘ w l '  y

  
    
  
  
 
 

 

 
   

  

    

 

  



‘ I

 

wl‘mampacactdahwcmmoj '«totheheliet ,h‘mmgxas ,wher’eth
31mm .  an enamels-em: ~an  'ltwe. 
L      

    

  

 

 

     

 “Yes several rso but all gentlemen as
.  "g R  willzsee,” whom. ysson, handing her ’his

{ '7 ,Miss Gardiner": eyes ran rapidly down’ the

, e.

. , ,lnfiflarl Van Alstl” she exclaimed.

l . I . “ Some one thatoyou know?) asked Rachel.
* « ’ ', “ Yes, a friend
, . ' Manor. .
 “ThenIsupposewemaycrosshisnameofl

. the list, as one who oculd have no possible con-

‘  ' motion with Elise,” said Mr. L 85011.

 ' “ .“Of course!” said Agnes. “ es nt mostof
Q: :hischildhood. and cons1derable not is later life

5 ,' ’  where he was married and lost his
 e. ' .
a "Evidentl Mr. Carle Alst is a subject
fraught withyinterest to Miss Agnes,” Eric said,
O

 , said Agnes, calmly superior to any
 “ I am very much interested in him.”
~ ’ “Agnes! I’m so glad! Whyduiyounottall
us before?” cried Rachel.
“ Tell you what?”
r _ _‘ “About yourself and Mr. Van Alstl”
’-’ - , toizl'l'herejsnothing to tell, except what I have
3; ' . , , oul * . I '
"' I,  ‘ «6111" said Rachel. disappointedly. “But
' "  ,that means considerable, coming from you. I
shall soon be expecting further news.”
“ Great expectations occasionally have a
downfall,” laughed Aggs; and yet—she seemed
 ~ I 190890 Carl Van Alst’s utiful eyes looking into
, . x, r -‘ hers, and hear the subtle, tender intonations of
x 2"  v  voice as he talked with her—and felt her
» :’ calm cool blood grow warmer as she thought of
the meaning words he must speak soon. But
i v she resolutel banished the beautiful vision.
-_ I, I “ Will on to me, Mr. Lysson whgeyou think
a,  ’ ,oneot latestoccu _ ts of No. may not
‘3. " havehoen more likely have left the envelope
’- _,' . inihggmggrtthgan a'pedrs:n who build the rloom
574’,‘ I 9791‘ 11 ago course t eenveo ,
. ' itself, £5 been .in some one’s ’ ‘on If;
‘  but it doesnozhs‘eerg to me lthat
, n ying in t rawer. on .
Would not one. of the maids have thrown It

i , V v . out!”
1"  “Ihave three reasons for thinkin the lad
, left‘it. . In cleaning the rooms of angestablishsr
merit th' the servants would not be as par-
»  . :tlcular, as pr vate servants,to clean the rub-
, y / 5 r» bish from every nook. They might clean out a
‘ ‘- v  drawer full of waste, while a few stra articles
, ' _Would beleft for weeks. Then gent amen, oc~
* ‘, e . cupylng the room transiently, would not bother
I ‘ much with bureau
not opentmm at all. Aud,last1 , if you look
 at the envelope, you wi see that the
, ,. , ‘Itern en hasbeen twice narrowly emailed over,
.S f mrotecj theopening, as if some sm ' article
‘- carried init;ausetowhich a
. woman waild be much more likely todevote an

  

”"Q:

l , ‘.
x

l 9'

' ’ 9113610919 than a man.”
, *   ingenious ar ments,” laughed Miss
  ‘ Itwould quite amusingif your

"  wheel-nix: the wa s of women should
" Prgfirdtogether E libel.” y
. o szsppl Acard, sir; the gentleman
‘- wgld like seeyou immediately, sir.” '
ric exciised himself, and presently returned
talcum! 7 cs. 1
_ I “The tenfordsarefound!” hesaid.
a}, _ nan. sranroan.‘ , '
" ._ I ousuretheya-mthe same,ch ask-
hll'” '  e '
 t  Bazaars as I can be, my dear,untl1 I see

I . , .5: “ And when will ygu do that?”
-~.  , “F1 think we had tter drive there lanmedi-
.. , Iggely tiger lgncheon. Miss Agnes, will you 
a r us. ’ ‘
“ 01 thanks- onwill have to ewe mes!
sacheléégmi  It? attemilltgeandkmy

' , sson w so '

Egggdefgw for  tInhag betéer manic;
;. men meet one o ran ntral
\ D5301}, lager  developments gr! bid

'- , have

 

; L“

memedi'atelymutlfer

t Waterway a, e e 

   
  
   

“tins? .
‘ Ithereszuvtsotyowseurehz” 7

’1:-

    

     

.f so   ‘ér‘taa"  toheat
v Wilde Manor all t” nfiulgnht, it mirage-sea that the

mine, and a guest at Wilde .

Were—very likely would '

ya I . m ‘  M
ch nd‘ifweshenldbedetaluodl’lquewfia'

‘Lyssons should prosecute their
earning the
her" business in' ion, and that the friends
should , meet at Forty-second street in time
to allow for a brief, conversation befOre the

l inquiri

- departure of the train which was to take Agnes

back to the hospitable mansion she was Visit-

in . :

Rachel and Eric were speedily driven to a
pleasant house in West— street, where they

oped to find—ah, they hardl dared to own to
their own hearts who or what Now that for a
little time they were unrestraéned b
ence of atth party, or the r ief 0 an occu-
pation, however ~triv1al their' hopes, an fears,
and excitement seemed intensified a hundred-
fold. Was Mrs. E. P. Stanford identical‘with
Mrs. E. P. Chandorl If so, who was the man
she called husband? And when and where had
she met him? And by what meanshad he in-
duced her to leave home, friends and bride-

groom?
B the time the carriage stopped at No. 137
Rae el’s cheeks were alternate y flushed and
id with expec

tation.
“ Shall ou askfor her, or for him?” she ques-
tioned of ric. ‘ . I
l “ For Mr. Stanford, because Icanwaive send-
inghim any name or card.”
ut Mr. Stanford was not at'home, and the
waitress did not think Mrs. Stanford would see

‘ the visitors.

“Her health is vexgeddelicate, sir; and she
won’t scarcely see no y; though to be sure
there’s" not many as comes to see her- So un-
less you. be very great friends of hers it’s not

much use to~take her the card.”

“‘You might try,” said Eric,
“ she may desire to see us. Stayl will write
her a line.” ’

Under Mr. and Mrs. Eric Lysson he wrote:

“ Im lore of Mrs. E. P, Stanford to grant them a
brief ntervieW’P on a subject of momentous impor-
tance to them.’ r

The visitors, were ushered into the parlor,
which Rachel paced in the most intense and un-
disguised impatience and excitement. “ In deli-
cate health. ’ “ Won’t see nobod .” “ Not
many as comes to see her.” Ha these sen-
tences referred to Elise Chandor 6‘ Was her
sister really under the same roof with her, once
more? And what sorrows did the- servant?!
awkward sentences .foreshadowi Such were
the thoughts, flitting wildly through Mrs. Lys-
son’s mind, and that her husband made no effort

moment of their search, whatever itmight he,
could calm the feverish anxiety that made tu-
mult in his wife’s heart.

Presently the servant returned.

‘ “Mrs. Stanford essays you’re to walk
her boodtcre," she d, murdering her
with perfect equanimity. '

Eric and Rachel followed with quickened
pulses to a beautiful room n n the next floor.

t was odorous with quan ities of exquisite
‘flowers; upon a table stood a silver epergne
heaped With luxurious fruit of every clime;

ictures, books, brie—brao—ornaments in crys-

1, silver, enamel, bronze—ware scattered pro-
fusely everywhere, a cottage-piano occupied

into
such

draped in~the most delicious hue of rosepink
silk, to correspond with the hangings of the
room, and the Moquet carpet strewn thickly

cantl togard’the beautiful, tiny couch. ‘
es; e—~ ‘

There was the openin of adoor. Rachel ut-
tered a little cry an sprung ’up with out-
stretched hands. Il‘hen she sunk back into her
chair, mute" and colorless. Even Mr. Itvsson
with difficulty preServed perfect control of him-

. self at this moment when all their hopes and
speculations were put to the test. ‘

-, The lady who had entered the room was not
Elise Chandor, but an utter stranger

claimed an interview with her—41 Slight, little
creature, draped in a costly trailing r0530!
lace and ribbons—it was easy to see. hows
casual description of her might answer to 0118
of Elise. In stature she was very like; and her
complexion was daintily {any and her hair-—
‘ that wasoaught back from her face by a jew-
eledhershouldensinalooee
muss—swag  but {thud
mores! ‘81

I.

 

   

’..“. ."'"v“‘
. x l ,
.v ".

   

  V ,
,r I A V "itodeepensiiam‘iesutiecs; "

as con- _
Stanfords,>while’Agnes completed .

  

.,Ly‘s$n, who was standin
es,

the «pres- A

leasantly;‘
.Ithinkhegotonat Baltimoreor 

tol check, knowing full well that only the do. I.

one corner, and in another wasa wicker cradle,

with blushing rose-buds. '

“ Was that wh the hotel-clerk su ,
that you try to 1111 out the Stanfords h
their physician?” asked Rachel, glancing ’ ’ J

As she stood regarding these people who had ,

 

 how  b stemming?
, . r “v ‘ _ » “  ;
academia 

 

  3r )‘4  V ._, ,j»:

I. WW,“ €368!er

prise, wonderment curiosity, depictedin-iher; 
ace, but‘none of liliise’s‘ shy, hrinking on. "y  ‘
Ind :andsaimand  

s
eed, thctlgh she looked wear .
her eyes were dark-circled, as  with~pain  ? 1,3,:
weepmg, there wasra perfectly selffcontained I v ~:
air about her‘ even a. suspicion of amusement. ’ . ‘
lurked about her pretty mouth, as she slowly
advanced a step or so nearer thestran 1:5. ,  ‘ *
“Thisis Mrs. Stanford, I presume? said‘Mr.‘ ,.

 
 
 
    
   
 
 
 
 
 
  
    
 
 
  
  
    
     
      
  
 
  
  
  
   
   
  
  
  
   
  
    
  
   
   
 
    
    
   

     

 

I am Mrs. Stafford. Won’t you sit,
down? You have somethin to say to me? -I
cannot imagine what it she dbe.”‘ 4nd shore-4 
garded him with a comic air of cur-1051 . ‘ i ’
“Not as much as Mrs. Lysson an I had __
hoped' for we were so foolish as to believe 
you ht prove to be a lost friend of ours.” ' ,
“I? ow ftmnyl”said the little lady; 
her face brightened and lost some of its weafll‘isy;l x
look, as if even the novelty of this call was" 
evontful relief to her ordinary hie. f , ' ~ 1‘
“Butyoumaybe able to helpus to find this, ./
friend,” continued Eric. '   _ ".3
Mrs. Stanford raised her eyebrows in ;
lief and shrugged her little shoulders.  
gaging):- the action impressed Rachel as bemg a 
toodemonstrative. . _ V
“ You occupied for a few days, in June last, ‘ ‘ V 
room tWentgtwo, at , otel, on Union '
Square. A! rward an envelope was, found in
that room, addressed to Mrs. Elese R Ghanaian”. I
“ h, yes, I know; I threw it there—in one of , v»-
the bureau drawers, I think. 13 Mrs.  
your lost friend?” ‘  . V ' '
a Yes.” I ,
" Then I can tell on nothinth her.” ‘ .6
. “Yet the enveope was in your posses?

axon?” _ _
“O astrangergaveittomel Iwhscomi 
from ashington m a draWing‘room car, an ,.

 

 

My collar came unpinned, and the pin stuck in.
my throat; and when I went to fix it, I pullele
at a string of little carved $1.1 beads, and
broke the elastic, and they 1' all, over the
floor. I had worn them since I, was a'little
chil aild wantedthto stave them. 
man e me er emu 'an e 

P“ g“ .32. Was...

a letter out of that envel . ‘ V 1;
in it as we found them. asked I might  -.
them right in it, because .it was easy to 1 cl "
over the end ofit and carry them in in -~ 
sohe veit‘tome. , Whenl reached. [a ,V w
and ggfi them, I threw the envelopeinths‘
drawer left it there.” - ' ‘ ~  '
“Then you know nothinfimwhatever of the.
lady whosename wasupon envelopei’t, 
‘ Of course not; only it was funny first hot,”
name should have'been Elise 1’. My 
Vglise game, only I always go by the  oil
“ sister’s name is Elise Prentice,” ,
Rachel, speaking for the first time. i '  I,
“0b, is Mrs. Chandqr your sister!” 
the  girl. ' , “1 ;, ~2
“ es.

“And she is lost! How could shelgstj'
Mrs. Stanford asked, in the most interested and ;

childlike manner. . , j _ , _ 
hardl know,” M}; 1m 
‘th'é was 

  

 

v .

“ “was .
answe or _
not unlike ourself; indeed, the _ I 
given me 0 on was what ledusto 
youmi htbe enticalmthEhseuShern , V .
aMr. yChandor-—”~ \ -" ,' x ~ 
“Guy Chandorl” cried Mn. Stanford, 
aviolent start. . ‘ .»
“Yes; do you knowthegentleman?” ‘ , . 
“Oh, no; at These heard the name; it. _
rather an odd one: and whatdid yousay 
came of her?" . - ‘ vg‘. _
“ShewentasfarasStLouisonhei-j  I.
trip, and then disappeared andhas 
heard of since.” ‘ ,  . g,
“ Poor Mr. Chandor!” said the  lady,
pitifully, the shadow of her own sorrow 
ing to he; greasyi‘f“£nd he does not 
becameo 18 e4 
“ Niki nor do} any agfxi 113:1 friends V 
now agine ow yo ywe a.  
fivhemmrmisedh; that theenvegope-direoted, ~ , to
or n ourpossesszom. ,  .4. ,
“Yes; and hzw sad that! know.‘ 
about it! Do you think the gentleman 

av ittom'eknowsl” -, . , V
g «it seems almost 19 that he “should

rag

, _ anthTNew'York ,‘

   
  
  
   
 

 

 

 

x      

”,ffd:l“ :: i \F fi‘dth. 7
m '

 

  
  
  
   
  
  
 
 
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
  
   
 
    
 
  
    
  
  
 
    
  
    
   
   
   
   
 
  
   
  
    
 

, ./" if", _ ,, :. ,l‘H . I ."v"- I
 «we toa‘erseyCi , he wanted to escort me,
‘ he SigiNewY'ork was such, a large cit for a
, . -’, x } lady to go about in alone.
'w , all arran ments, and told me w
.,L UIamufth try”
a  o ecoun .
, “ Then this is not- our home?”
‘fNo. I had no ome,” she said, with naive
*’ "f li'reedom,’ “ until I married Clyde. Then we
r. ’ lived inseveral cities until‘ he had to go to Eu-
rope; when he came back I met him here. We
‘ shall stay here until we can go to Clyde’s home
—our home-in France. Clyde is there now.”
 3 T . “ And he has left you all alone?” said Rachel,
. g In surprise. , ' . .
3,,“ Yes,” said the girl her cheeks flaming sud-
y“ deuly, and her e es darkening angrily. f‘He
, cannot help it! is ugly old father Will die be-
' ‘forelong and then he will be his own master;
but now he would et disinherited if he were to
 " ‘y be had marri a ballad—singer from a va-
‘, ; 'et'v troupe! But, my Clyde loves me very
 nmuéhl He is sorry enough to leave me and
2’? Here a. flood of tears succeeded the an-
» gar. “ He has only been no two weeks and it
* seems ears! But we she. be happy some day!”
 “she'ad ed, with a sob. ,
  ? ~ ‘.‘ God grant it ” said Rachel,solemnly, cross-
' ing the room an kissing the tiny forlorn little
:mefln V
, Presently Mrs. Stanford had dried her eyes.
. _ “ I am very sorry that I cannot tell you more
,. Q’hibout that wentleman," she said. “ But‘l’ll tell
v you what Ibhave, if you think it wouldbeof an
[1113s to you' a paper—covered novel upon Wthl
~ ' ‘ the name of the hotel where I was

t to do, and

' he wrote
. {going and where it was situated, so that I could
1‘ “not at wrong, Shall I give on that?”
 , “ f' you would be so kind,’ said MrJLysson,
:“it might help us to identify the man.”
A Mm. Stanford passed into the next room,
». where a nurse in white cap and 21 ron was pac-
ingto and fro with a baby in or arms; she
stopped to caress the infant, and soon returned
:with the book.
I . .3 _.“ I will tear oflthis cover and you can take
 it With' ou. Thegentleman had ark e es and
 g-brown air, and a brown beard; and don’t
.‘ thinkhe‘wasavery lar e or small man; per-
,“ «hops, about like you. e looked and dressed a,
" little like a'foreigner, but he had no accent and
' v I couldn’t tell whether he was most e a
s Frenchman or an Englishman. I’m sorry that

 about Mr. Chandor and his bride; worse
“than about Clyde and I. For, though 01 do
“has to go away from me so much, he knows at
I’m always here waiting for. him, and we love
:‘each other dearly.“ ~80 that’s something to be
 about if, am solonely.”

 -‘  little firl!” said Mrs. Lysson, as ten
,  asif [she ad been speaking to Elise. ‘ I
ngvidhlwas going to be in town and I would
come and see you sometimes.”

 .5“~Would you? You are real kind. I told
{Clyde when he married me, that every one
éwould despise his Wife because she’d been on the
” ” 'But he said that if I was good enough
‘ his wife every one should think so some

“do i” i v r

,_ .2  be true to your husband and ourself,
-.jflrsfi' Stanford, and you will come out a 1 right,”
Eric, ‘cheerily. “And we thank you for
your kindness in seeing us.” ’

' . it‘Dh, it’s nothing!”
 ' ‘iij-  Guy C andor should call on you,
some time,” said Eric, suddenly, “ would

 
    
  
  
  
   
   
  
  
  
 
   
    
   
  
   
 

. yno .

s   ’ CHAPTER IX. ,
 1,“,novn mmsuo menus AND DECAY.” _
second floor of a quiet little house in
Medelphia, consisted of a suit of rooms hand-
seme as costly and tasteful appointments could.
make them. The parlor, the elegant boudoir
and the. private bath-room, were marvels of
  .-.. pared with the old-fashioned and
 simplicity which marked the other
H ’ ments of the house. But then there was
 , r ‘cohnani‘ecbgion betweehein the diligent suits
 mount ,tweent roccupan
' “no. Smith, a precise old Quaker widow, and
hex-‘1. elderly, recise maiden daughter, owned
 to ego 3:: thtegr small‘mcome 11:3
 their secon r a young mam
 f shy little flower-fair woman and
' dark eyed. andsomo man.

  ’ ehadlivedayearwithin
WW  d 3. Miss reinarked toher
 renewed that they had

' * ; were» .‘ , _
_ .  I yukedptscidly.

  Myles] the rent promptly.

’ I; w ,  ,  W i ,
i . _. . a 1".

h , 3 ’K‘ 'I . ‘  I.
,V  .\ ,} ,

m-

 

          
 
 
 

given

   
 

 

But Clyde ha made i
to traveling- around, 0 y not in this ‘

"I don’t know anything more about him. It is-

011.
mind’tellin ‘himtjgist what you have told 113;" ‘

Fahd thou,- thysglf, what‘s {some little

i Woman is Mrs. oirence; andthe man is mostly”
' awe. ; and I am sure thee hast never complain-
; ed t the waiter from the hotel made dirt
? upon the stairs; when he brin ‘ the meals."

“ No it’s not the dirt, mot er, nor an trou-
ble. I is that the husband is so seldom ere. I
can but think there must be something wrong
about him.” i «

“Nay nay, ’Becoa, thou shouldst not think
evil of  neighbors. " ‘

“ But i ’3 hard not to, mother, and Mrs. Tor-
rence mopes and grieves so when he is awe. ,
and he is now oftener and longer awa . I e-
clare I would like to know more about hem.”

“ Seek not todcnow others’ afi'airs' until they
need thy help, my daughter. , The little woman
told me thisdnorning when I ‘met her 11 n the
stairs and she stop to ask after my ealth,
that she expected or husband home to—night.”

“Home!” Pale-tinted walls with gilded cor-
nices, pale Moquet carpets. trailed over with
garlands of flowers as delicately blue and as
'aint-ly pink as forget-me-nots and the woody

arbutus, 1e silken han 'ngs of the inner hue

of a see-s ell, and the co or of turquoises, satin '

furniture to match in gilded framework, frosty
laces, and dainty pictures, and gleaming statu-
ettes, rnitured these rooms called—J home.”
But i “home is where the heart is,” those
rooms were growing less and less a home to
Alan Torrance and Elise. ‘

The girl’s heart was always with Alan; and
he was now, as Miss Smith had remarked, often
and long awa from her; for his affection for
her was alrea y growing cold.

,A man professed‘iy irregglous and unscrupu-
lously worldly accustom to denying himself
no caprice that promised him passing gratifica-

little Puritan. He

fancied love for the pre
with a tie that she

had bound Elise to himsel
was powerless to break, only to keep her in se
clusion, while he lived anot er life, quite apart
from hers, daring not to betray their alliance
to the world.

A great poet has written:

" Alas! the love of women! it is known
To be a lovely and a fearful thing."
And again: ,_
“ Man‘s love is of man‘s life a thi
'Tis woman‘s whole existence.J18 “pm

And Eliseiwas rapidly verifying these truths
in her personal ex ynence. She loved Alan
Terrence with all t e intensity and utter self-
abandonment of a morbid, girlish nature like
hers, tattered by no other strong ties of nice-
tion, and sustained by no fixed principles nor
fervent faith; and this love, having one only
object, and constituting the entire depth and
circumference of her existence, was capable of
suffering the most exquisite torture through the
every outlet and inlet of its life.

From the first, she had muestionmgg sub.
mittedtoAlan. He had ' that in own
time—end as soon as practicable—he would in-
troduce her among his friends ashis wife. She,
herself, would see that it would be impossible
for her eVer to approach her old life, and the
friends she had deserted and deceived; but in
the gay social circles of New York she should
one day be: the brightest star, though fhr the
present they must live in strictest seclusion, and
she must have no confidante, no dent,
no friend, no actual!!! even, but ' if;
for him she must sacrifice things! '

And Elise had wound her pretty arms about
his neck, and nestled her curly head upon his
bosom, and feasting her bmutvaorshiping

e as upon Alan’s handsome face, had told him
* that that was an eas sacrifice to make!

Ah! so it was then Her whole existence was
bound up in Alan’s. ‘ He was her one source of
happiness, and she desired none other; and gave
never a thought to those who had cared for her
from her infancy; those she had cruelly wronged.
Indeed, of voluntarily revealing her histor to
her friends she had never dreamed. In t eir
very midst she had borne her secret without a
thou ht of betrayin it. How much less, now,

the care whether or not she wzs‘hap‘gymr what
n become of her? she reason ey had all
con ired to make her unhappy, even Rachel!
and chel was the only person who had ever
a companion to at.
Her mother had 0111 cared for her as an ob-
. {got at whom she ooul fret and mainline: and
ough she had kissed her father nightly, for
years, thatkiss had beenbutacold form. no
notes- remembered when had caught her in
  tumbled he: curly huh, and
wasted ;  face. fished beenno

I ‘ , , . 1_ ' .‘ , . I ' V f

I

 

  

Thoré‘toher

tion, Alan Torrance had indulged to the full his.

cool sbeconfess to t em all? Besides, what did,

thaunny'other' 1 vs, elder! . man v,
of bushes, save thatshe  been taught to
call him father. And'she had had no crowd of
brothers and sisters to brigh her life and fill
I it with tender ties. Indeed. er home had 81
ways held too much of stern, rigid, religious
discipline, and too little of mirth. and pursuit of
the-beautiful and mercy, and love; and tender
(maddeucestfhfgr Eiiehtoflgmk of it loiiisggg
on re 1 ' e rapturous '

life wigeAlan., '

For, at first, this life was one golden dream.

She was surrounded with ever beauty and -
luxury that could be crowded into her little «
home; 51:3“: after night she went to theater,
opera concert: and through the summer
days Alan improvised many a short delightful
trip to spots famous for their scenery;'and al-
way? night and day, Alan’s love was? her fail-
less ountain ofbl'iss. But, as the months Went
by, Alan was With her less and la, and when
he was absent she could get no enjoyment from
her aintings nor her statue ,her music nor
her ks; her heart was not 11 them, unless he
shared them with her, but mourned ceaselessl
for its mate. Morning after morning, she too
her lonely; walk and idled away the weary days
asbest s 6 could; night after night, she wept.
through weary hours. Then, sometimes, when
the morning found her languid and feverish,
her mind would wander dreamil back tousuch
days in childhood, when her mot ef’s face had
worn a look of unwonted kindness and anxiet .
and her hands had rested tenderly upon the ht-
tle hot brow, and Rachel had stolen into the
quiet room and kissed and potted her. 4‘
‘ Poor « little Elise! , Only through terrible
heart—bitterness, like many anothererring soul,
was she to learn that the paths of rectitude
however hard to follow, are the only pet of

peace.

But Alan would come again-41nd with him
Loy. For him Elise was all sunshine and bright-

eartedness; he had once told her, sternly, that
he Wished to‘hear no complaints: she mustbe
happy and trust inhim; he knew best how to
live is own life, and when she could share
it all with him. And so, for Alan’s sake, Elise

_ concealed the fact that her heart was breaking

though if he had been loving, as a husband
shou d have been, he would have seen in the
depths of her brown eyes, and b every lined
the fading beauty of her face, t at he hedger-
nered this girl’s love but through itto render
her life a horrible torture.

J one had come, and a bright sweet day, and,
it was to brin Alan. Elise had not seen him
since late in limb, and she was almost wild
with joy. She sung as she wenttoand fro in
her rooms, making them as beautiful as 13057
able, and sat at her piano to play joyous little
trills .of song. She ordered, a. store of flowers
from the florist and when the waiter brought
her lunch she told himthat he wastefurnish
the choicest of dinners for two. After luncheon 
she 3 nt ho upon her bath and,toilet; laying,
her t robbing X'OWS and the bounding pulsesa
her slender wrists in fragrant washes, hnd robv.
ing her tiny figure in blush-rose silk. No longer
could she wear the pale blues and cool neutral
hues that had so become
beauty but two short years But the
blushing pink lent a slight‘ colortoher white
face, and over the exquisite dra rles her fair
hairpouredaripimgflood. heboundit
back with rosy r1 hon, alas ,milkypearls at
throat and wrists, and sea herself at the win-
dow to watgh‘for the coming of her Love.

fix CHAPTER X.
',UNDEOEIYED.

“01!, Alan! Alan!” . .

A e;hadrolleduptothedoorofthe
little x Q r - dwelling and Elise had flown
down the e ‘rs to meet the traveler. ‘ ' ‘ 5

“M dear, was it necessary foryou to come v .
down ore to meet me?" Alan asked, with some .
annoyancé,‘ withdrawing himself her pas-
sionate clasp and leading the way to their own
rooms.

“How could I wait a minute, Alan, when I .
had not seen you in two long, miserable
months?” ‘ '

“ I sup the months were the same length ,
for both of us,” he answered, indifferently,
throwing himself into an easy-chair. ' ' "

“If they byElgen’sgid, . ithyollii ring have
, come sooner w (1 ve '

‘ her hands in her eflorts to 

,“It is split?! come now if’fault-flndi .n
to,be my only meeption,”Aleh retorted, . ,lfngpaa

 

 

an a ,_ V ‘i‘ , ._ ‘y
' Thelittlewnink' ~rohed- form. gore}: 

 
          
 

 

 

 

her pink-and-white , 

  
 
 

 

'_'~‘ ‘ firmly. “You know that

 a _ . I

     '4  ~-      ,   2  ;  I     ”

 

Y . ‘Ar '

 

 

I lineman "wiidhysterie soles and mu hter.  on." as Elisado cu’ love our Alan ct? that through me'wm cqme‘w  
' “A pity yo]; came now, when I am yingl all} you 'eep this little” havenalwaysreadyyfor velopments-concernin this  , y , » r “A;
dying! ng to see you! Oh! do not be himtofind hererest and comfort, and bhm in Nevertheless Miss , dinerput the papers J 

d
A ‘ :figry wi me! V Do you not know that I wor-
' impel??? 113173
» n o e
9 with
raised, and for a brief hour there was ha i-
a‘ness. Then their dinner was brought, and r.
ichrrence ordered the waiter to be early with
f the breakfast, as he wished to take a morning
train to New York. Elise dropped her fork,
and extended her hands in mute anguished su
plication her face blanched and her eyes wi e-
wild wi pain. .
“Well, well,” corrected Alan, anxious to
» avoid a scene at that moment, “bring the
breakfast at any hour you choose.. Come to
think, I will not go back in the morning.”
While the waiter packed the debris of the
dinner, Alan went to Elise’s desk to write a
note, and she stole to his side and sat there pa-
tient and sad. ' g open a drawerto look
for per the first article that met his eye was
a log- a dressed:
“ Mas. Emsn P. Cannon,
. “ Southern Hotel
I _ H at”),
Elise had the previous day employed her
time, as she often did, now, in reading the few
notes and letters Alan had ever sent her; and
' this had been left upgmiost.
“ What consumma ‘ fo 1y isthis?” cried Alan,
angrily. “ This should have been destroyed long
”

a 0
destroy a line of yours,”

“ I could not bear to
said Elise, timidly. I
“But I certainly do not an pose you Were
such an idiot as to keep this! retorted Alan,
putting the letterin his pocket and commencing
is note.
. When the communication was finished, and
given to the waiter to post, and they were a ain
alone, ' dropped upon her knees be ore

“Oh! Alan, you did not mean— on sure!
could not have meant—to return to ew Yor
in the morning?” ‘ ‘

 Yes, I did; and I must go in the afternoon.”
“  darling? So soon?” pleaded Elise.

Think! Ihave not seen you in two months,
and on stay with me only one da 2” ‘

' tell on, once for all that I not come
’ again, If am to be found fault with,” replied
Alan, impatiently.

Elise rep her face into her hands and
sohbed quiet Presently she lifted her tear-
filled eyes asked windy:

‘ “ Alan, do you not e me!” A
“ Of course I love you, Elise. The roofs of
‘ my love are all around you; and I sha come to
F see you as often as possible. But, I may as
well tell youflrst as last, that you must expect
me but seldom.”
Elise looked at him with a strange, startled
‘ expression growing upon her face.
‘ are on never to take me to New
: York with you Nevertotell pie that I am
your wife! Are we neverto ve together all
’ , be time, for years and years, just as we did for
' I few baggy months?”
swig?“ w as well as I do that that is impos-

_.-‘ .“Butieitteheim 1e alwa sf A ear

ago you told me the Mould 8001i: come yet

t e vgiole gear ispast and you still sa it is un-

possi o! h, Alan! if code not Is me live

where you live, and be own as your wife—if

£530 not keeponioving me, Isl~ '11 die! 1811311
Man Terrence pushed the ‘3‘] fro

the floor a few momentsfir d the? came

ck and placad her on his lap. "‘

u Listen to me, Elise,” he i

I only live in your presence?

' ’ Alan’s chair.

gent] , but
{ .I love you. {have
told you’ so agaip and again. I repeat it now;

but reclaim this fact to the World, and our con—
nection to the world I cannot; for I have been
married.” ’

Elise looked into his face, new, with eyes and
[pheeks so scorching that no tears were left.

“ Butam I not your wife, Alan?” ,

‘Yes, my dariin , on and I know that you

are In own dear lftt ewife. But do you sup-
pose eworld would believe it, 111 the face of
your history: And do you not knowthat on

our own umported word, you are powerless

e it?” .
‘ 1188’s eyes still locked burnineg into‘ his;
but] her dry, parched lips could utter no sound, .
_ "not even a mean. Alan went on:
, p r  “As ion as you love me, and I love you, you
w: ,A  rein this pretty little home,and
~. ,. myli love, and I will come often to see

/

  
   
 

is ‘ ,1 N“,

 

caresses Alan calmed the storm he had,

 

your. sweet presence?” I

“ Oh, Alan I” and the girl’s hard, woeful voice
rose almost to a scream. “ What choice have I?
~what choice have I? I live only for you.
Without you, your presence, and your love, I
should die! 80 I must stay! I must do any-
thing you say—be angthing you choose—since
youarem orldan my ife

Alan VT rrence had gained his point. He
understood Elise’s nature well enough, by this
time, to be sure that, unlike most women, she
would, even in the face of this confession, still
yield to his power and dictation. Other wo-
men’s afiections would have lessenedwith this
outrage put upon them; other women would
have grown vengeful and asserted themselves
against any such plans to keep their lives one
long, disgraceful secret. But Alan knew that
the sum and substance of Elise’s life was her
love for him; and though he had already grown
tired of the rl’s clin ' passion, smce he had
burdened himself with er, he had no chcice
but to still play upon that love, and kee her in
subjection to such of his wishes as w (I make
her the least trouble to him. ./

Now that he had told her, of what he himself
had longlknown, that he should never proclaim
her as is‘wife, hereth into his old-time,
mogt agdent andi lgenlike tenderéimnd
un or is impass on caresses, an 'n
love-words, Elise was faintly happ . ' Even a%
their ting, next day, for Alans sake, she
tried hide her misery. But when he was

no, and she had watched the down

he street until she could no longer see it, nor
even hear its clatter upon the pavement, she
threw herself upon the floor, and buried her
wan, white face among the delicate blossoms of
the costly carpet and moaned:

“Alan! Alan! 0h, Alan!” -

And God pity the woman who walls the name
of lover or husband with such utter despair in
her voice! ______

CHAPTER XI.
WILD}: MANOR AND rrs GUESTS.
h“WHAT tisuccg’t-zsI haveb you met withl—less
tan ou ope see y ourfaces,’cried
Miss (fordiner, as Rachel an Eric joined her at
the Grand Central Depot. _

Mrs. Lysson described the visit to Mrs. Stan—
ford and the convasation that had ensued.

“And now,” she concluded “the hour has
come when we must say good— y.”

“ What? You take to-morrow’s steamer!” ex-
claimed es.

“ I think we shall,” said Mr. L seen. “ There
is so little§clew to follow: we on y know that a
medium-Sized man, with dark eyes, and brown
hair and heard, and nicevoice and menus
came from Baltimore or Philadel his, to New
York, in June, and ave to Mrs. tanford that
envelope. Hundre of men would answer to
such a descri tion; but I shall write to Guy of
all that has appened; and if he thinks it os-
sible to trace the person, by means of lausigl -
worded advertisements, he will probafil , stay a
few weeks in New York upon his way i) En -
land. At present,  Agnes, I shall bequeat
my mantle to on. Smce you discovered the
envelope I sh return it to you, and let you
exercise your detective powers.”

“Oh, no; please do not! I can assure you
that any efforts of mine to do detective business
would prove most ignomiuious failures' and
neither at Wilde Manor nor at home will there
he the slightest opportunity for me to learn
anything concermn Elise. Besides, it seems to
me that Mr. Chan or is the proper person to
have this envelope.” . ' .

e “ Under ordinary circumstances, Miss Agnes,
I should disdain to confess to entertaining the
smallest amount of superstition; but the man-
nor in which you came to bring the envelope and
its mystery again to light seems so peculiar that
I must say I have a desire that you should re—

tain possession of it, in the hope that through

you may come some further dimvery’ I mu ‘ womanhood and with her war

give you this other bit of writing; you see they
are not at all alike; and with your permissio
send Guy 9. letter of introduction to you. that
he ‘ desires to prosecute further inquiries he
may call and get those papers from you in

person.”

laughed:
man curio
who  lost
circumstances. . . , ,
’ “.Very wéll; I will consent to‘ heceiue cus-
todian, forthe tinie being, of the documents in
question; ugh I, have no faith annuities

,3‘”

yet she felt {some little wo-
to see the young Englishman
brideundermch mysterious

f:

   
 

 

l
I.
l
l
i

a

if;

,senceasyourh

3%“
l

away in her elegant wmmnaie; and a the ._ -
train which was to 1' her backto xi
ties of Wilde-Manor-moved slew] out c -‘  7,

‘ it

 

depot, she wondered, idly, if Mr. sson‘sprev  V
sentiment could possibly be true; and these pm 3 r (a:
in some way be connected with her own . g -‘
and she destined to make further diseovo» ,,
cries concerning them. Then she then ht of'. ~-
Carl Van Alst and Wilde Manor, and ‘ ed at f; ,
the improbability of the idea; and with her feet a 7.:
upon a hassoc and a new book 0 upon her ‘ 3
lap, had quite nishedsuch odd ancieshwhen, 
the train slashened its speed at the riverside
station where her journey terminated. .
Carl Van Alst Was upon the platform, and at 
just the right car to give Agnes his hand, with 
a look that said more of welcome than a score .7
of words could have done' and the Wfldes’, 
phaeton with its span of black ponieswatted 
near.h éo gartllwas to :flvetgil‘ 3: to  ,4
or, t tong e swee seen ‘ p I 
instasAgneshadimagined  ‘
he beat  and most orthodexfemale,
heart,will, occasionally, indulge in such idle 

“Andgswhat have you been d  flies",
élfianor-durin my» absence, Mr. You i” ask- :
Agn when ey were coed ,
side bygde, and he had given  g;

the .

“ We have had croquet, and cite, and moot»,
ing, and drives, and rides, an walks unseen"
but all have7seemed utterlydull without you,

Miss Agnes.” ' .. r I. p

“ Or, rather, Miss Rodwell and Marion 
have been less entertainin than usual, and you,
yourself, perhaps, a ‘ with an attack of 
digestion! '

“ Not in the least!” retorted Carl; “thatiesn
unknown snails/(1mg;i tgin me; and the ladiesgrei
nevermoreen . way   
had reinforcements co .  ;
Quite a crowd of visitors arrived this  ‘
and Mrs. Wilde is in her element—though‘sno
is devoutly longing for the return of 

t. Butevenourcharminghostesl new, 3 i
ve been as utterl unhappy uring  ab-
nmhflsemnt.” s  I.

“ That is because she is sustained"
sciousnessof duties to be
little charity for those
todosguttotb? unha , 1 \
asa uxury. . « ~ g _; 7 . »
“You are merciless, Mia Agnes. 
tenfiime. midweer thatyouomdsuminai
una a  ‘  v”

“Ilbondemn youin nowise, and I do 
lieve you know what positive , 
andryou havrgdnottoldmehwho the new 
are answe /fines, . -   

Carl Van A ’s  
troublouslyamoment, buthespo go” i " g 

“ Have cyan forgotten the ‘ 
govery ain‘t, that you feel so  I,

venever ownunhappmm»  

“Yes; or, rather, Ivheped you had bliss
exception,” said Miss Gardiner, with a  V,

“a

charm tlenesaand WW .   ,;;
“ oufiogggt think it is that! be quiet.
1y, feeling by instinct that was 
ofhismarriage. “lad ,theomfin‘whom
circumstances ordained should hem 
so brief assason, but! did not love ' V
s1   were M... an:
g us rom en a e~ . ‘->
No: I had never known love Wig”: 
There was no ding the intent
this explanation nor the meaning that '

  
    

 

   
  
   
  
   
     
 
   
   
   
 
    
   
    

 

 

ed  VMBAélt’ShYOiii; unsign- 
sen nee. u w on 
subjectto thatbf the new fly “ the

guests fat,“

am time, wondered if-this man’oogum in. 
playingatlove. Herheartgavea,%  ':
°‘ fefailimif’ifii‘“ ti? “though? of 
cur ' a , ,. l 
t ‘ ' g with her,y or of ever = 

 

' sin y a 
was the last person, whether she married 
interest or for love, to vulgarly let hen 
be seen—to wear her heart upon her sleeves]. Hy-
“ There are Mr. De Lemma  ,
old and very rich;- m uncle and Marin-law. m .
Mr. Frederick Van- Xlst' John 
avery insipid little Englishman, 
name. . _, 
“And the ladies?” ,. ‘ ' r I“  

r;

r s

 

 

 

 

 _, ifIs her'hame'lllanchol” asked Miss
 with quick interest.» ' ” 
 Van Alst carefully scrutinized his com-
1. , ' sfacewhile heseemed only to be watch-

; ‘theponies, as he answered: » ‘
~, :, .I am’acquainted with the family. Durin
 long stay in New York I used to visi
  somewhat and Miss Lorrimer’s name is

ask it. youare acquainted with

.1  f‘f Not in the least—I never mw her until last
;, evening- she was at Thomas’s with alittle bru-
'mttean is fine-looking elderl gentleman. ”

“My uncle and Issalene

 

  

, thought her so; but her chief attrac-
1Eton me 1is‘giliemfwt that she was 2.1 soilioolchum ‘
oung r whom am, res y 'nterested.

 long 13% make "Miss Logs‘imer’s acquaint;
have the op r-

em‘ilying' aster tow
, . Norf‘a'newclew to

 not, told you the latest sensation,” he
ed as they neared the manor .gates.
.. _ , .ildevgives a lawn
; hyadternoon tea a
 7 Besides t

sho‘bestsammes about

a possible dis-

 

 

guests at the manor, all
here are invited.”

Wilde’s first lawn-part ' t the sea‘
is, sure to be pleasant;

mo ' ‘
: ' l. if.
H ” othhall
 are most moderate in y
‘ ,. miss three-wine lanai
 dtrustthat you will survive.”
. . ,. a m

grateiullyat our hands' and if
nd enjoyment in

tea a new and blissful

 

 

our demands! I

in ,
smalleetiavors
murmur-sell, I

 

' on are so thorough] fresh and

mental companionship and you

, ,w
of existence is enjoyment to

laughed Agnes, “when the
ad a pleasantridel”

the phaeton upon the
, where her hostess
cssryher away to

 

from
at 
,7 . her, and

  

entertlslned her at
yest seasons of

had  her

  '  written‘Ryiageheltttgat
eman ' e. n- ‘
,_  nos ofgghse writiilit tog!) one
‘ 9 *amily. But howdi they ow
Intrinsic-was to b3 trusted? Mi 1;
egreere‘szponsx, e
. , wquahtance ise had
.  jso‘dsnysll knowledgeofit! ‘
“  to question MigLorrimeryand
-sowas  inavery

 Elise—-

  
 

 

fighterales

 

piano for a seat near the

, ,oo nastiness” Blanche asked
. attimasndottholittk A Miss

_ I Miss Gardiner, that’we should
.  am gunman-1y gladth
  been sitcom-mate oi

 Elke Wallbrid

 

last waning;—

  
  

 

15116351? 101"“ till/@0115. * seasons essay, in;  ’ «unsanitary fiestanuand a ‘

’tent gaze, Blanche with g owin hamteur.

“ I think” \ V
silence, “ that you must have me e somemistake
regarding me. v r I ,

‘ I think Ihave, and I ask your pardon,” re—
s nded  Gardiner, acefully. Already
s e was convmced that B anche Lorrimer was
innocent of an knowledge of her chum’s fate.
‘9‘ I had only 0 ed that having been, Elise’s
friend once, you ed at some time become her
confidante, and could hel me to some know-
ledge of the secret of her life.”

“ The secret of her life—mud you cannot tell
me about her, nor where she is!” asked Blanche,

wonder" -I . .
“ I  you a little—if you care to know ;”
' Agnes related Elise’s history,

and briefly,
ending wit her belief that Elise had been i
into an elopement with some former :

ooe
lover. . A
“Poor little Elise! She was such a gentle
little thing! I cannot understand it. Cer-
tainly she could not have been in love while
:1 know her!” I Miss' Lorrimer asserted, posi-
ve .
“ file whole matter is enveloped in a dread-
ful mystery, and so painful a one that you
will be so kind
secret.” A , , .
“.th certainly,” said Blanche, gravely. And
the two ladies sauntered away, leaving a
listener in the lace draperies that had shel-

tered their seat, whose face was ablaze with fu- r

rious hate and passion.

; Issalene had step from the marble veranda
into the bay-win ow, intending thus to enter
the Sailor, when the conversation being carried
on, e other side of the curtains, arrested her

steps, and riveted her attention so completely ,

that she was uite oblivious of the fact that
Carl Van Alst followed, to speak with her,
and stood just without the window-frame, puff—
ing upon a cigar, and admiring her statuesque
attitude. L

“ So that is what has become of her!” Issalene
whispered, fiercely, as A es Gardiner conclud-
ed or story of Elise. “ uld it have been Alan
she ran away With! She certainl ' loved him-
and be her! Her! an insipid litt e Puritan, in-'
stead of me! I wish I could kill them both, or
rather discover their secret and proclaim it to
the world!” *

The little Cuban fairly hissed the last words
between her tiny clenched teeth, and the man
who heard them involuntarily recalled from

this exhibition of a girl’s hot, vindictive hatred. "

He tossed away his cigar, and went quiet!
back along the veranda, to the brilliant] -ligh -
edhallway.‘ -

 

CHAPTER XII. ,
run Lawn PARTY.
DINNER was served at noon, the day oi! the
lawn party, and as Carl Van Alst and Miss
Sanfrey happened for a moment. side by side,
the gentleman said. softly: , -
, “ Issalene,_it is an eternity since I have seen
on, to talk with you. Cannot you dress early
' day and take a walk with me around the
Manor before the guests commence to arrival
And you must save me two or three nice dances
for this evening.”
The little Cuban raised her dark brows oo—
glugettishly and her scarlet lips curved to a glow.

smile. _ _
‘Mr. Van Alst knows how delighted I shall

be to comply with his requests. I will be in the

rose-lined tent by four o’clock. How many
hearts, here, shall, I break by my appearance
upon your arm?” _

“I am- afraid, any such deli htful astime
will be denied you, to-day,” aughe Carl.
“ the h when you have/been here a week, and
smiled ikothat upon all the gentle’merint the
Manor, I-may be able to give you a different
answer,” he added, gallantly, as they separated
to take their places at table.

“ Well, Blanche?” Issalene cried, a few hours
later a caring in her cousin’s room.

“ We , what, lIIssaéeitge?” idished Mifls Lorriin‘gr,
drop“in anove an rn g seep yupon e
lounge. g“ You did not come to tell me it is al-
read four o'clock?” \ , r
“ 0, it’s only a little after three; but I am
tiredof reading, and I could not sleep. I want
to know what you intend wearing, and what
youlthink of thgo people lit-:vrepl;1 bl silk ~ w
‘ m ;n . ,wearmy e- ue gre '
"dine, wifipgik [rote-buds; as for the people-

'what" ,. w _ / I
“' ’ momslifeswfldewdherson:

.,,_

 

a”. _

   

eaid Blanche, cool , breaking the '

as to keep it an inviolable f Y

 

r Carl
' H

‘ little dreaming w

 

_ Mrs. ilde would have said:

 r ,1 ande assumes
 , . v . 

hostess! just asmamma saidxshe Would be; and
Mr. W lde 1s as a cable as his mother; as for ,
MISS rdiner, s e is fine-looking certainly:
and seems a great favorite with the Wildes ands
Carl.” ‘ / of!
"‘ Yesiand she is a uette, and gives heier
self airs;-I cannot bear or, nor that affecterly
little Rodwoll thing, with all that flying hairl’ot
“Oh, you are sure to dislike some one!” sa‘;
Blanche, lazily ;, “ but I would wait until I knex a.
(people a little better before pronouncing sucll r
ec1ded _op1n10ns concerning hem. Miss Dare
isa plain little body, but seems good—natured
and sociable. She is Mrs. Wilde s niece, isn’t

she?”
“I believe so: and I’ll tell you whom I hate——

. that horrid old man who sits next me at table.”

“ Mr. De Laney! Oh - Isealene, and he was so
devoted to you to-day, he did not half-eat his
dinner; and he is prodigiously rich I” cried ,
3131193 Wiggly 1 1 r‘ n gustm 1d

:1 pr 1 one ugy is ' o
creature! I ah or 01 men-«without wivgs!" -

“ Issalene, on have not been well educated,
Momma she (I have told you how much finer
it is to be an old man’s darling than a young

. man’s slave,” continued Miss Lorrimer, trifling-

l .
“ She never would have made me believe it!”
said Issalcne, growing furious. “ I never could
love a man who was not younfieand handsome;
but for love of him I would a slave—any-
thing! ,But an old man—bah! I’d die before I
I’d marry one!” ' .
“Nonsense,” laughed Blanche' “ you do not -
know what you may do. And wOuld advise

,gloutokeep cool overall subjects in such wea— «  ~ 3'

or as this.” ,

Issalene went back to her own. room, slam~
min the door after her. .

f an old man, indeed!” she cried, an.
grily, as she paced the floor. “ No! I’ll never ~
marry but one man, and if I cannot have him, ' "
I’ll kill mgself! Oh, ’Alan! Alan!” r
So, ra ly and wildly, is youth given to
promising, little dreaming what Wonders time
on? wor . _ » ,

resently Miss Sanfrey remembered her ap-
pointment with Carl Van Alst, and calmed her
outburst of passion, and arrayed herself in a .

brilliant transparent costume of rose-color, and

went down through the wide halls and airy par-
lors, trailinieand brimming over‘with flowers,
and out to t little tent upon the lawn, where
sst’pufllng upon a cigar. ’ ‘ , r _
Oh, you are come,” he said; “andhow daz-
zling you are! I maykee on smoking, I ’pre«
sums. And how do you 1' e Wilde Manor?

“Itis a lovely place, certainly,” Issalene an-
swered as she took Mr. Van Alst’s arm and,
stroll out alou the broad, shaded walks——
t she was to hear.

Mrs. Wilde was upon the marble balcony re-
ceiving her guests, and Miss Gardiner was mar- .
shaling a party for c not, when Carl came up
with Issalene, the 'rl looking ve .
after her walk, in , er ‘draper es, with her -
eyes flashing and a bri ntv bloom in each
round dark cheek. r , ~
Au Yog‘am  tggle, Mr. Van Atl;t,”Isaid

es, tooompe Tscroque par ., am
suit!l Miss Sanfre will be your er.t’,_

Miss Gardine s violet eyes, cool and come
mending and superior to that strange triumph- .
ant glance with which Issalene, stood tefardmg
her met the little brunette’s a momen , n calm
disdam' ' , asshe thus coollzegssign ed to, the girl
the very partner she cove

When Agnes had 0 nized two croquete

! parties and a rifle match, she' still found quite
enough to do to make Mrs. Wilde’s a moon in , , ,
all we sa success. Marion Dare,

rs.Wildc’s.
niece, d 8 nt many rsummerséat the manor,.
an

with the women, and hel d themcn to while

. away dull hours by mild ’rtations, but she was,

in no wise born to rule and command, a it
quite native to Miss Gardiner; and so it ad
come about that Mrs. Wilder-chad u Agnes
to hol her do the honors of W de Manor,
throng the weeks when it was crowdednvvith
visitors, and or little Marion never the ht of _
ode ' her umble aid. If she had, dou tless
."‘Oh no, dear; Agnes knows best about
every

has; but may were uncommon so   . 
es Marion good-naturedly sued anyplmlg . ‘ g “
' W

which she was assigned, ,‘Hgn ; craggy; _;
w .

hth ' and. thither   . V
.mggsinsomsossligtensssum

 

 

 

bewitching , , '

d was 0 gun; to every one, and sociable r '

net” and Miss Gardiner would have , 7 
smiled, and answered: “You are, very kind, , , ,. ;

 

THE PRETTY PURITAN.

“I

 

 

heavy sash and. knots oi: macx velvet relievmg
it, and a few of her favorite nsies nestled in
her reddish braids—great gol en-lipped pansies,
with jetty velvet centers—discermble, always,
among the brilliant throng upon the lawn, as
mshe found the coolest seats or he ladies, carried
the fan to some heated croquet player, showed
novices in the rifle match how to hold their
arweapons, or sent a lazy cavalier to point out to
it .some shy lady the beauties of the parterres and
ggreenhouses-always cool, always commanding
galways fascinating, with that air of blissful
physical content about her that made more
people than Carl Van Alst watch her with a re-
flex sense of restfuhiess and en 'oyment.

The games passed off we] the gentlemen
were kept up to their duty in the way of flirta-
tions, the claret-lemonade in the great Indian
punch-bowl upon the lawn was alwa _s of the
re uisite degree of iciness, the elder 1a . es found

a ant gent emen anxious—at the instigation of

iss Gardiner—to romenade with them, and
cosey chairs in she. y nooks reserved for them
when they were tired, and so the time for tea
came, and every one pronounced the afternoon
“perfect!”

An hour and a half was idled away in the
parlors and upon the broad marble balcogfi,
where biscuits, tiny triangular sandwiches, d '-
cate cakes and tea were served,_ while the twi-
light added witchery to the mum: of voice and

iano, and intensified the romance of flirtatious.
Then the dining-room, improv1sed into a ball-
room that was a perfect bower of greenery and
bloom, lighted by scores of waxen tapers, was
thrown open to t e dancers. Chinese lanterns
twinkled thickly about the lawn and veranda,
over the parlors was flung a glare of light, mu-
sic floated through all the mansion, and light
feet tripped joyously to the soft measures of the

z

walt .

' “Oh Carl!”cried Issalene, after herflrst waltz
with r. Van Alst, as they rested by an open
window, “there is that little Rodwell making
herself agreeable touncle Frederick.”

“ That is because Henrion is not near. Where
is he. I wonder?”

“Gone out with Miss Gardiner, ” said Issalene,
scrutinizing her companion’s face. “ They left
the room before we stepped waltzing. Oh, hor-
rors! There comes that hideous Mr. De Laney
toward us! Take me away I”

“ Probably he wanted to engage you for the
next quadrllle,” laughed Carl, as he led Miss
Sanfrey through the window upon the veranda
and so to a path among the lantern—lighted
shrubbery; “ itis cruel of you to deprive him of
that leasure!” .

“ 0 you think I would dance with him?
Edy,  would make me shiver just to touch his

s

“ What a shame that he should inspire you
with such horror, when he has evidently been
in love with your face from the first momentihe
looked u n it. Couldn’t you manage to recip—
rocate, ssalcne'l”

“Reciprocate! Love him! When you know .

that I shall never love but one man!”

“ And that man—Alan!”

“ And that man Alan 1” repeated Issalene after
him, with low, intense voice.

And if .Alan should not love you?” Carl
askedi half nestinglyl, his admiringhliquid brown
eyes coking strgelg t down into e fle black
an“, that Elan up to him out of t e dark

are .m
0“ myself!” the little Cuban whi8~

Ted, gassionatel . “ But do you want to
0W W at I woul do first? I would kill him 1”

CHAPTER XIII.
A vow MADE AND no ,

“ HEAVENS! What a tem r game has!”
Carl Van Alst said to himse , the morning af-
ter the lawn—party, his thoughts reverting to the
events of the prev10us evening as he strolled
around the manor, to get up all a petite for the
late breakfast for which few of t 9 visitors had
yet appeared. “ I wonder what she would do
to a man who trifled With her? Not kill him,
nor herself—girls seldom carry out such rash
threats; but do him all the harm possible, I
haven’ta doubt. It would reallibe mterestin
to know for how much trouble er Cuban jeaf-
ousy is already responsible. What a pret lit-
tle spit—fire she is, though! Most men won (1 be
proud to have such a girl in love with them;
and how deliciously she confessed to her secret,
when I asked her if she loved Alan! It is
strange that a passion which has existed so long
gpfgsp’apted I should have discovered so oddly

s . .

And here Carl Van Alst’l thoughts strayed to

lanes Gardiner. and his dark. liquid eyes mw

 

grave and wistful, waverin troubled "lines
ormed themselves about his andsome mouth,
and there came such a look upon his dusky,
splendid face as must have made his guardian
angel yearn itifully to help the man decide for
the right in he conflict between 00d and evil
which thoughts of her had arouse in his mind.
Scores of times in this man’s life he had play-
ed the game of love—sometimes, indeed, believ-
ing it was in truth; but one by one each fanc
had wearied him, leaving him bored with 1i e
and satiated with passion. Even his brief mar-
riage to his cousin, Gertrude Van Alst, while
she was in Germany for her health, had held no
romance for him. He had united the two
branches of the Van Alst family at his grand-
father’s desire, but he had felt no further ngs
of ity and regret when his young bri e was
lai in her foreign grave, than might have been
entertained by any gentlemanly stranger over
the death of a fair girl not yet out of her teens.
Immediately after Gertrude’s death he came
to America, and fitted u for himself a suit of
rooms in New York wit great ma ' cence;
but until he had accepted Henrion W de’s invi-
tation to spend the summer at the manor, he had
quite forsaken society and forsworn feminine
associations. So unaccountable had these freaks
seemed to those who had known him well dur-
g his previous periods of life in New York
that Car had gained an immense amount 0
sympathy and admiration, from acquaintances
who im ‘ned him cherishing) a sorrow which,
in truth, e had never felt; ut while surmises
concermng his recluseness were wildly incor-
rect, none guessed the true cause, and many an
annous mamma hoped that by the next sum~
mer the wealthy young widower might return
tothe social gayeties 0 New York and be suc-
cessfully courted by some one of her marriage-
able daughters. .
But, all such hopes were destined to be disap-

pomted.

Carl Van Alst went to Wilde Manor, and met
A es Gardiner, and straightway fell in love
With her. And then he knew, that all former
loves had been more passing fancies, but this
passion for Agnes was the one grand passion of

is life. Her intense lifefulness, her culture and
accomplishments, her perfect tastes, her fascin-
ating manner—so equally frank, ceful and
dignified—her hi h—bred control of er emotions,
her rare, charm 111 beauty, and her proud mo-
rality, all appealed powerfully to Carl Van
Alst’s nature. The more unlike in character he
found her to himself the more ardently he wor-
shi her; and it was the ve exaltation of
his ove for her which had so far opt him from
declaring it, and wi ' Miss Gardiner’s de-
licious consent to become is wife. A

Could he link this refined, proud, upright life
to his own accursed one!

This was the question with which he was
strug lin this morning, when Miss Gardiner
horse in rrupted his meditations, and, briefly,
the onward movement of her approaching fate.

As she came toward him in or floatin lav-
ender draperies, the morning sun burnishm to
red-gold her luxurious hair and lighting up or
calm, proud, colorless face, her lips smihng, and
her wondrous violet eyes fran 1y looking her
pleasure at meeting him, Carl Van Alst as he
touched her outstretched hand, registered in his
soul, before High Heave an oath that he
would never insult this endid girl with an
avowal of his love for er. He would quit
Wilde Manor on the morrow, return to Europe,
and so leave Agnes to forget him.

“So you, too, are getting up an appetite for
breakfast,” he said, as he turned to walk with

her.

“Oh, no! My appetite is unim ired; but!
had a few minutes to spare, an thought I
would walk down b the ate where there is a
bed of ale-blue, a most vendor pansies.
want a c uster for my hair.”

“May I walk there with you?”

“ Certain] ; if you will escort me immediate-
ly back to reakfast. Do you know what we
are to do to-day £1”

“ N 0, but you are probably prepared to im-
form me.”

“ Going on a riding-party and a picnic; that
is, those who care to ride will do so, and car-
riages will take the others. We start as soon
after ten as possible, for our destination will be
Silent Lake, and that is nearly a fifteen-mile
r1 e. ‘ .

“ And how are we to be entertained when we
get there?”

“ Oh, in the usual picnic ways. There will be
two tents, in which to rest, and in which the la-
dies can change their habits for costumes more
compatible with croquet-playing and fern-

 

gathering. Then there will be archery and rifle
matches, lunches, walks, flirtatious, and all the
accompaniments of an orthodox picnic. Of
course on will ride?”

“If may act as your escort.”

“I have promisad Mr. Wilde that he may
Eggrm that duty; but you will ride, neverthe-

“I presume I shall,” he said, laughin , but 7

not very contentedly, as be bent over the of
pansies, to gather her a cluster of her pets.

The picn c certain] was a success. Not one
of the my at Wilde anor remained at home,
and seve couples from the neighborhood, in
accgflt'ation of some early messages di etched
by
trians.

The route to Silent Lake was a delightful one,
over a shady, hilly road, with outlooks u 11
fine scenery. The party on horseback hea ed
the cavalcade Henrion and Agnes leading.
Flossy Rodwell was riding with J o 11 Richmond
and was in anythin but an enviable frame of
mind since her am ition was to be escorted by
Carl ’Van Alst or Henrion Wilde; however, she
w too inborn a flirt and actress not to do her
pre est to fascinate her escort. And another

can lad was secret] disa pointed that the

eiro W de Manor b not c osen her society,
and that was Blanche Lorrimer who was riding
with the little En lishman. Carl Van Alst es-
corted Issalene, an Marion Dare’s lot had fal-
len in with that of a merry youth who was one
of the Wildes’ neighbors.

After the equestrians, came an open carria
containing the two married ladies and Mr. e
Lang an Mr. Van Alst; a huge wagon, crowd-
ed th conveniences, and l
vents, brought up the rear.

It was one o’clock when the tourists gathered
at the lake; and with luncheon, games, and
walks, the afternoon wore gayly and rapidly
away; but the  were not to set out upon
their return unti eig t o’clock, when they would

es, and ser-

have moonlight during part of their ride home— ,

ward.

Late in the afternoon Carl Van Alst missed
Agnes from the party. He had seen little of her
during the day: and as he had resolved to leave
Wilde Manor the next mornin he would not
deny himself one more walk wi her. Having
satisfied himself that she was not near the tents,
he strolled into the deeper w00dlahd in search of
her, and shit-3y gained a clew to her wandier-
ngs—a w pansy among some trod, en
refine; a moment more he was within sound of
v0 cos. ,

Just above him, u n a ledge of fern-thick,
mossy rocks, where a 'ttle archwa among the
trees afforded a pretty, tiny looko the lake sat
Agnes, while Henrion Wilde stood near her,
leaninizegaimt a tree, his face flushed and his
whole ring one of annoyance.

“Tell me one thing, Agnes. If Hon say that
you love some other man, I the know that

here is no hope for me,” Henrion was saying.

“You have no right to expect an answer to

such an inquiry' but I do assure you, 'tively,
that there is no ope of mkever giivin you a
different answer. Pray frien s, enrion,

and let us forget this whole matter, from this
moment,” answered Miss Gardiner, calmly.

“ There is no choice for me but to forget,” re-
lied Mr. Wilde. “ I shall never recurto it and
be we may not change our past attitude to-

wa each other.”

“ There is no necessity for it,” said es,

' , and at that moment she saw Carl c mb-
in t e ledge, and a warm color swept moment-
arfi across her pale face. ‘

“ be pardon,” said Carl, appearing to Just
notice enrion; ‘ ‘
tote! Some one told me Miss Ga iner had gone
{10 ggther ferns, and I started in pursuit to assist

or

“Then I will leave her in your‘c‘are ” said
Henrion, politely, and he swung himse over
Eh]: ledge and retraced his steps toWard the
a e. «

And in an instant more Carl Van Alst’s pas-
sion had conquered the purer nature of. his
love for the woman whostood his graceful ins-a-
on:

He thirsted to know forhis own, this prize
which he had just seen denied to another, and
his oath of the morning bgcame a perjury as he
gathered two fair hands in his own, and mur-
mured softly and ardently:

“ Agnes! Agnes! llove you?” ‘

After that e was silent a moment, as his

lendid brown eyes tried to read her unfathom-
a le violet ones; but the answer they re
him her warm, pulsing hands, and the quicken~
ed tin-obs of her snowy throat betrayed. He

. Wilde, joined the gay group 0 eques- V

have I mterru ted a tete-a-.

 

 

 

   

 

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stall...  also; toward min bound
.  tlr isa , asyhe whispered: '  ,
 :‘i‘My‘ usen, my boa tiful love, you will be
' my ‘w-fe?” I

 “Agnes neither spoke nor made any effort to

free herself from this close embrace and. he
iknew that he Wes answered and her hair, and
=‘ a;  and drooping eyelids be flooded with

a

 I flutthis blissful and lover-like occupation was
1 speedin interrupted by the shouting of Carl’s
f name; - He assisted Agnes down the ledge of
v. rockaand then a servant met them, bearing a

H“ ‘ e . '

_ - f‘lfi has just come, sir,” said he, breathlessly.
 ‘? Jameebrought it as fast as he could ride."

4" ‘ 'xCarl tore the envelope, and his face poled as
haread the ,few lines, and crowded the paper

 ‘ [have troublesome business news here; I
leave the arty immediately. Andrew
; jgstmy‘hom ' ed aliquickly as possible. i
 must catch the evening express, at the nearest

 “Good-b '. ‘ » beloved" he whispered as
the mghugried before , and they nedred

lake.f “.I leave my soul with you. (filed-

‘fl .

It "‘ Geode i” and A es Gardiner’s scarlet H

L  first lovintoken to his. p8
. 5' ‘ F j ’ CHAPTER XIV.

’ » = ’ nnsnnrnn.

ATE! summer sunlight was all shut out of the

j roomwhere a womanlaty beneath the May our-

. y white and to all ap-
pearances unconscious. ‘ r
-: Thus had she lain for hours, while a nurse had
 watched her, the doctor had often
4 come and gone, and kindly faces had stolen up
“to the e b, and peered cautiously

 

a
r

v‘
»

 

legaut cou
thesilkend 'peries. , . .
,, d _ , and felt for the al-
most motionless pulse, and whispered softly
; withthe nurse. ' I
:iisiti‘faammil when; “20m:
 Have you any idea ofhisad ass?”
 alkali-hank, thither 3 “limit” [323%
all} ' on ea c an

the about bergeck ” p.

9" you had better'get it,” said the doctor.

1‘  nurse folded aside the dainty cambric
 " "and embroidery above the sick woman’s
 'L " , and detached from about her throat a
 ribbon uponwhlch hunga little key. It
‘ ' .l r to be the key of the desk, and the
' . .ooonmdiscovered the address he esired,

a

3

ii

"’“m M is . Comeato .
 4-. m a,“ “ALFRED CARTER, MD."
fitter the was sent, there came a de-
 or the betterto the sick wo-
 the doctor declared that the czisiswas
. my hours later, when there came a quick
$18 door, the invalid started and turned
,' _ toward her nurse.

are  ‘onevsent for my husband?. That

‘ ’4'; my hush! You must not talk,
litigator/cited. Even if he has come, you can-
nntmhim unless you are very calm. f

1‘“ I will be calm—so calm.”

WW9 will see, then,” said the nurse, going to

_ ,, n I

. Smith had admitted the new-comer.
, "w is she?” be asked, rapidly, of the
"L‘ V  is better; the doctor so. a thatshe
,_ .  and thy baby seemsa ealthy ht-
}  ' h it did come sooner than thou

. 0 ex .

i: . ‘ ’  a ‘ regarded Miss Sinith’s placid,
' as with a look of intense surprise, that

7 ‘- bhnn‘ tooneoffurylu ,
 tell me he demanded,

 ., H thy wife is better,”saidtheunrufled
seam ~ - /
“But about-4’ .
 'f‘d'hy‘ babe! That is well and will live.”
 Wilma ,_ ressed curse, Alan sprung up the
  into Elise's apartmenngt the
’ “Rush? the said, “you must bevery calm
 gin to er.” I
 3” 1;, shenotbetteri Isshe notgoing
.r  . .g : IN , r _ I V , L
"#Yn’gyu; she’s much better, but-J ' 
 muttered oath» Alan passed into

 

 

d .
telegram to New York. _ It ran / th

 

at the bedside, but not calorie Yto‘kiss I

in It
£he§hin face. “Why was I not Itol :of this,

longIago?” ‘
' “ have not seen on since early in June,”
said Elise, Ipitifully; ‘ and I meant to write to
you' but did not think it would be so soon.”
“ ’Where is the child?” asked Alan, still with‘
out a caress for the young mother.
“There,” said Elise,w1th a fond glance to—
ward a tin wicker cradle.

“Our daughter,
Alan—our little daughter!”

Alan went to the small couch and turned
down the coverlet. A tin , healthy, rosy infant
slumbered there peaceful y. He did not touch
the child only muttered: , i

“ Wha a fool the girl was not to tell me i” I

“Alan,” asked Ehseain a whisper, when he }
spoke no word to her, ‘ are you sorry that the
bah has come?” l

“ orry is no name for it! I hope it will die! f
I have been a fool—an accursed fool l” !

And with that he went out of the room and ,
out of the house, and Elise was deserted. 

After that it was useless for Elise to to ,
hide her secret from those about her. he !
,nurse knew, the doctor knew, and the good ‘
Quaker ladies knew, that she was a wronged
and deserted wife, if nothing more; but to none
of them did she betra aught of her past his- :
tory; only to Miss Smi h, in an hour of weak-
ness, she confessed her present trouble.

Utterly despairing and heart-sick, her rec
covary was very slow, and it was nearly twelve
weeks before the doctor pronounced her able to
take any out-of-door exercise. During this
time, the old Quakeress and her dau hter were
very kind to the invalid showing or man
gentle attentions, even though Elise was wel
cared for by doctor and nurse; for though no
word came from Alan, large remittances ar-
rived monthly, and the girl was able to pay for
every comfort and luxury.

Durin one of her tedious, invalid days Miss
Smith ound her crying in most wretched,
heart-broken fashion.

,“ What is it, poor child?” asked Rebecca,

“ti;
“ , I am so lonely—so miserabl lonely l”

. “ Where is thy wic ed husband, t at he is not
here comforting thee?” asked the Quakeress, in
righteous indignation.

‘Alan is not wicked!” sobbed Elise; “but
htetgs got my husband, and he cannot be here
u.

, “ Not thy husband?” cried the maiden lady,
for a moment giving way to virtuous horror. _
, “No! I thought he was; but he isn’t, and I
must not expect too much from him i” moaned

| e gir . v

Rebecca looked down on the pale worn face,
that had lost all its fresh young beiiut since
first she had seen it and could not lieve
tint this youthful mother was utterly bad and
s

ul.
“ Poor child! poor child 1” she said, Bityingly,
si down-by Elise’s side, and stro ing with
her rm cool hand the feverish, tearstained
face. "if thou knewest that he was not fig ;
lblusbgmd, thou shouldst not have stayed wi i

m.

“ Why not!” asked Elise, simply. "

“Wh not?" repeated Rebecca, wonderineg 
unable understand the almost heathenism 0
this girl whose early b 'ng up had been in so
severe as religious atmosphere that those who
had known her then had often called her a little
Puritan. “Surel thou knowest that it is a
great sin to live w thhim.” ~

, ‘5 No, it can’t be a sin, for I love him,” replied .
Elise confidently. , ,

“Yes; but it a sin, a great sin, if thou art 1
not his wife.”

“ ut I thought I was his wife; and now that
he has another wife, I love him just the same
and I should‘die without him; and what can
do, but as he tells me?” ;

‘Hast thou no parents! Thou shouldst go
back to them and leave this wicked man.”

“Oh! no; I can’t go back! I can’t leave
Alan!” for she would not believe that he had
left her~had actuall and finally deserted her;
and she turned her cad upon the pillow, and
would talk he more, and Miss Smith went
azvcfiy, thinking her most hardened and un-
3 Th); Elise had said she could never go
back,‘ ' edreamed often, now of her home, and
Rachel; and she called the baby Rachel—the ;
baby that she cared for in a monotonous, inat-
temf-fact way, scarcely loving it, becauseAlan .
htshewashiswifei” saidolers. 

" ' fiatcdherconyersatioh 1

  in, andthat vilsman 

 

   

Blind both written, was the only
1 ey
month of October Agnes was to spend in her old
home, but in November she and her mother
would leave Meadow Grange and settle in town,
, when the wedding was to take place just before
the holidays.

elderly Mr. De Lane , though that
; continued apparently fascinated by er dark,

S anish beauty. F
' a 1 designs upon the mono and person of Car
‘ Van Alst, disdaining to a
hair, and waste the arch glances of her b no
eyes, for the benefit of one Who had shown him.
self so utterly impregnable to her couquetries;
and it was hard to te

,_ Aiidxthe,"next [time that  culled 

Elise. she said: ;
“ How dost thou know that thou art not Mr.

' Torrence’s Wife? Hast thou no certificate, and

Efiiisg’ythou not go to the preacher who married
ee 4
“No,” said Elise; “it was at night, and air
went in a carriage uite a lon distance into tl'
country from Phila elphia. here wasa apei
but Alan kept it. No, I cannot be his wi e; for
if I was, could be marry a aini And he told
me that he had got marrie But I shall live. 9‘,
If he Will only love me i” and then Miss Smitl ,1
gave her up in despair." i.\

CHAPTER XV.
. - r WHO DID IT!
BY mutual consent, it was arran ed that Carl
and Agnes should not make pub '0 their be-

 

trothal until they left Wilde Manor; and as
they were to remain with Mrs. Wilde during
most of Se tember, there were nearly three
weeks in w ich they could keep their idyl to

themselves, as Mrs. Gardiner, to whom they
rson whom

had admitted to their co deuce. The

These were the arrangements that' they com-

_ plated during their early promenades in search
; of flowers, and quiet stolen half-hours of an
i evening.
been consulted, she Would have dela ed the
marriage until the spring.
was so earnest in his entreaties that she would .
let it be as soon as

If Miss Gardiner’s will alone bad
But Mr. an Alst

possible that Agnes had

yielded the point. ,
Now that Carl had decided to m he could
not restrain his impatience to possess self as

speedil aspossible of hiswife. He longed to
know t e proud calm Agnes for his own; to
control her moti
very ruler of her existence; to fold her in his «
arms and rob her sweet mouth of kisses when
'he would; for even as his betrothed, and though
he was sure that she gave him a precious trea—
sure of heart and honorable affection, she was
so imperious y unapproachable, so choice of her
favorsi so queenly condescending in her yield-
1n 0
thg fierce love that she had awakened in Car
Van Alst’s nature. To a man of his position,
and immense wealth, accustomed to every sort
of flattery, and to every sort of porno—es-
Socially to infinite power among women—Agnes
a

yes and movements; to be the

them, that she intensified day by day

rdiner, with her fascinatingways, her dis-

dain of control, her serenely authoritative man-
ner, and her undemonstrativeness, was the one
woman who could not only compel his admira-
tion but madl

provoke him to become her mas-

ter, and teac or to tremble at his touch and
live upon his caresses. nd this he vowed
should come to pass '

Time went b swiftl at Wilde Manor for

the house was led wit guests, and. something
new in the way of amusement and pleasure was
devised daily, in which Agnes was always the
leading spirit.
upon her attention and time that Carl was .
scarcely more with her than with any other
guest, and it was not In the least remarkable
that no one suspected their engagement. 1n-
deed, Issalene
ion that a casual observer might havctho ht
313‘? she was the honored obJectof his; so-
ons. '

So many were the demands

Sanfrey was so often his compan»

Issalene maintained her intense dislike for
entleman

ossy Rodwell had given 11
e hercloud of ii ht a

whether she was spends
in most of her forces upon the heart of the heir
ofgWilde Manor, or that of the little En lish-

man. Certain] , in the former case, she ad a
rival in Blane e Lorrimer:

for from the hour
that Agnes Gardiner had refused to marry him,
Henrion ceased to be impervious to
Blanche’s beauty; and it seemed safe to assert ,
that in due ‘ course of time, Miss rrimer
would quite an the place in his affections that,

’ he had imagined was only destined to hold the

imaggof Agnes. Astor arion, goodnatured, .
unse sh little Marion, she was compelled to,
take whatever attentions happened for the mo- , 7, 
harlot; thong forehandscine,,  "

»_..21' I" ii”

 

   

L        ,  ‘    f ,,  

1:.3,‘ W:
-s.‘\._ _‘1
fl.

 '   

. ‘”' I,’ r ’ -. . ".-'V ‘ H I : M
.1 1- , V. in ~ u _ a,  '2. 4. ~ ,v
k. . fl ' .\_ _ 3 V v__ A. _ m
> )_ '  A, v s. ' ”
4‘ fl; . ' \ “ ‘- ~ 4. s
r ’ _ \ s . ' ' .
I. _ I ‘ V _a

. l',

 

 

showed «considerable and very kindly interest
in lain, sunny-tempered Miss Dare.

“Fhus matters dri ted, on at the manor; and
through the waning Angust sunlight, and the
brilliant September days, the warp and woof of
more destinies than one were being woven to
the ill or perfect end. ‘

One morning, when the entlemen were away
and the young ladies, wit the matrons, were
i athered around a heap of costly old—fashioned
dresses and fluery, from which they were manu-
facturing some picturesque costumes for ta-
bleaux a letter, marked Denver, and super-
scribed in a c ear, bold, manly hand, was
brought to Agnes. As just at that moment a
brocaded robe was being fitted to M188 Rod-

I ' well, and Agnes’s assistance was not needed she

i  withdrew to a window to peruse the note, which
‘2 ’ she correctly surmised was from Guy Chandor.

“ MY Dun Miss (3mm:
“I am just in receipt of my brother-injlaw’s let-
,ter. I have decided, instead of gomg directly to
Europe, to spend some weeks m New York, and
make, another eifort to penetrate the mystery
which for the last sixteen months has clouded my
life. Ishall avail in self of our kind ermission
to make our acqu tance, esi to car from
5' . you, in ull, the circumstances w ich Eric was
 ’_ obliged to mention most briefly, and to obtain
 from you the specimens of penmanship which he
says he has given to your care, I fervently be e
they ma prove of some avail in tracing t e a
ductoro my wife. Will you do me the favor to
send me a line saying where and when I can meet
,YW- . our Immediately upon receipt of it, I shall leave
; Beaver and arrive in New York within a week. If
‘ ‘ I do not hear from you before starting East, my
address in town will be at the Fifth Avenue Hotel.
“ Very respectfully acute
‘ or Cannon.”
“ I am afraid your communication was not a
very leasant one,” said Miss Lorrimer, a few
minu after Agnes had finished reading her
letter, and the two young ladies, Side by side,
were deftly metamo hosmg an ancxent ball-
' dress into a Greek gir s costume; “ you look so
, unw'ontedly serious”- ‘
“ It was a letter from Mr. Chandor, thebmde-
groom whom Elise Wallbridge so mysteriously
eserted.’_’ . _. .
“ Indeed!” exclaimed Blanche, With interest.
“ Then you know him?” '
« “'Only throu h a letter introduction from
. Lysson. e is coming East.” .
i “ How I should like to see him,” said Blanche.
’ , , “You may have the o rtunity,” responded
Agnes; “for with Mrs. ilde’s permission I am
going, to'ask him here to the meeting he de-
Sires

“ But I shall miss seeing him, for we leave in
9 days now.” A, . a 5 _
“"80 soon? Our party will be entirely spell—

“You are very nice to saysoi but I hope our

am will not plunge matters here into so

a state as that. But I really do re et los-

ing the opportunit of seeing Mr. Chan or. Of

obtuse you will tel him how oddly you came to
ver the last trace of Elise?”

‘Yes, and return to him the envelo I do

not remember whether I told you, but have it .

I as. yet in my possession, together with another

scrap of writ ng bye. person whom we have

reason to believe has been, or is, in some way

,GOnnected with If you care to see them

I W111~8h0w them to you before you leave. Not

t I suppose there is the slightest hope of

, your being able to the writing as any
i 5’2??? ever Karen an her possession.”

‘ 0. aml-I‘a-i thereis non” elied

g ‘ ' Blanche, (‘ but I should like to 399 mil, to? en.

E

a:

'VGIOW.” I g
u hatdo you thlnk Of this costume for an
Indian princess?” said Issalene, (manly from
behind them leaning over Blemish chair, her
dusky hair shaken loose and gamma of gold
lace woven fantastically thro h it, er. arms
and shoulders nearly hare, an. a, gorgeously.
’. stri d silk training about her. , I
(v “ should think it would do very wen,» said
' Miss Gardiner; “or for a Gipsy queen, or for 9,
Rebecca, with the addition of some jewels,»
“Or the ‘Bohemian Girl,” added Wane,
. “ with this dress shortened. I’ll run to my room
.. ' ' and get nepklace and bracelets and show you
*7 ‘ the effect.

A. brilliant party gathered in Mrs. Wilde’s
drawing-rooms, to witness the tableaux that
night. and the entertainment was votedasuo-
Cassi balms dancing, and the fine supper,
may have. as much todo with that as the

. improm W m Spectacle. Certainly twoper-
   3011’” .fldQManor secretlydecided that the
‘9' “31°18 matter 01 the tableaux was a brilliant
7 " 01”” t'bmbfiientheurieansofbetralug
 m- W decidedlv trump.

   

' .

 

pad Cflégith a slight trace of annoyance in his 

 

_ We... ‘-

 

‘ ' One of these persons was ‘Flossy Roawell. In 7
stepping upon. a newl —built balcony, back of
the improvised stage, s 8 made a misstep, and
fellu on the .avel-walk, and fainted, 1n the ‘
m ight, wi h onl Henrion Wilde near. ‘
Knowmg that she co 6. not be much hurt, and
not wishing to interrupt the tableau that was
just being arranged within, Henrion simpl
raised the girl’s head and shoulders within his
arms, and wet his handkerchief u n the dew ‘
grass and bathed her forehead. A most instan ~
y Miss Rodwell’s eyes came open, and she com— ,
prehended the entire situation.

“Itisyou!” she said softly. “Oh! I am so
glad i” and she droplped her head most decidedly
upon his breast an closed her eyes.

“ You are not hurt?” he asked, anxiously.

“No I think not,” sighed Flossy,;languidly;
“am am so faint. But, don’t call any one;
it ‘wi 1 pass away in a moment, and I do hot
care to alarm them. Would you mind helpin
me to stand? I think I can stand, if you w‘
Eitisogiind as to let me rest on your arm a

e.

So they stood—Henrion. leaning against the
balcony, and Flossy leaning aglainst his shoulder,
his arm about her waist, and or head drooping
nearer and nearer his. Presently Miss Lorri—
mer ste ped upon the balcony, from her part in
the tab eau, just as Flossy had hoped she would,
and saw those two figures in e moonlight.
She turned mornfuny away, and Miss Flossy
(girlish recovered; but she had worked the miss
c ‘ f s e desired. Miss Lorrimer was so chill-
ing in her manners to Henrion Wilde, for the
next two days, that he let her go away from
the manor without making the proposal to her
that he had intended' an Mossy was left evi-
dent possessor of the field.

Bu , if something unpleasant had happened

 

to Miss Lorrimer that night, she was not the - ‘1

only person at Wilde Manor startled into seri-
ous annoyance.

Just before retiring, Miss Gardiner wrote a
note to Gu Chandor, and then opened her

rtemonna e, to take from it the writing she

ad promised to show Blanche; but the papers
were no longer there.

Vainly Agnes searched ever compartment
of (pocket-book and drawer; t 6 tom envelope
an the penciled scrap of leaf were unmistaka-
bly, gone. But, where had they gone and
through what agency? Not even in regard to
her adVenture, with the envelope had Agnes
been so seriously puzzled. She could not, and
would not, believe that Blanche Lorrimer was
in ang way responsible for this theft, and who
else that house knew of Agnes’s connection
with Elise’s history, or of hgsossession of these
papers? And while Agnes ed to satisfy her-
Self as to how and why these papers had disap-
Eeared, the fact remained that all clew to

lise’s whereabouts was again lost.

-———

CHAPTER XVI.
‘ our CHANDOR.
“ HAVE ,you heard that Mrs. Wilde expects a

new guest to the manor,‘to-day?” asked Agnes,

light , of Carl Van Alst at the breakfast-table,

the day that shehad appointed for Mr. Chan-
dog’gqcom}ng.t ho I I
o. si an oneinw m can ib

be interested?” y . pass y

“You mi ht be,” sug ted Mrs. Wilde,

laughingly, ‘ if you knew he secret of his com-
in ’

‘Why, is there a secret about it? I hate se-
crets; but Ihope to hatred will not extend to
the guest. You it was a gentleman, did
you not?” ,

“ He is a Mr. Guy Chandor, of Denver.”

“Guy Chandorl I beg our pardon for m
care essness, ,o no sp

1 Miss Agnes, ly h I did 1; '
any coflee upon your dress. Wilde, may
I trouble Wu to send me another 8 ’9‘”

“ Mrs. ilde,” said iFlossy well, giving
over her efforts to engage Henrion in any con-
tinuous conversation, ‘ is this Mr. Chandor
young, and unmarried? You really ought to

e kind and tell us all about him.”
“ But as it happens that I can answer none of
ues’cions, my dear, I shall have to refer
you to iss Gardin ”

i no
! added, 11 htl “ I had better not tell on.”
“ Oh, 51 y, y

 

er.
“ Oh; that’s the secret is it?” said Flossy, flip-
Efinflfl .“then of coursh he isn’t married, and ,
sis mes-loo l Isn’t he, Miss Gardiner?" *;
. ‘30 18 but, as I have never seen '
high I cannot answer forhis looks." ,,
there does seem to be a secret!” remark- -'

voice 13 onl ’esd tected.
" liar-dig,” magnum, calml
, -E‘Wilde that

Cl“; 1 ‘

  
 

  
 

      

   

was .
 f

 

  
  
  
 
  
    
  
   
   
 
  
   
   
  
  
 
 
  
     
  
    
  
   
  
  
  
  
   
  
   
   
 
  
  
  
  
  
   
   
   
 
  
  
    
  
  
    
  
  
   
    
    
  
   
   
    
   
    
  
    
    
    
  
  
 

Eire as my guest. He married the sister» ofmy"  ;
arest friend and schoolmate: through that v ,
lady and her husband he has had an mtroduor ‘ :'
tion to me, and, on his 'way to Europe, stops to ’. ~
see me on some business.” ' ' w   
“How is it,” asked Carl of Agnes, watching” ‘, 
her attentively, when they had‘left the table, ,_ .
“.that Mr. Chandor’s wife does not accen1pany  

m .

“ I don’t know ” answered Agne  ' t  j ‘—
ly, “that I have any right to @2111va . ‘
‘handor’s affairs with a person who can have" ,
possible connection with them. No,”  "

right,” laughed Carl; “ I’ve not the .
slightest interest in ‘ made acquainted wit!
this stran er’s affairs; t I hope thatwhen
you are . Van Alst you will refrain from_
mixing yourself up with other people’s private 
business matters.” , ‘  .  I

“When Iam Mrs. Van Alst,” returnedA  '. ‘ '
with perfect serenity, “ Mr. Van Alst willgm
it quite unnecessary for him to make any sng- »
gestionsto m concerning my movements and . '
conduct, as it now.” ‘ L 'x

“ You are mistaken, m lady, if you so flat-’ ‘:
tor _ l” muttered arl to ' If as 
pa with smiling courtesy. , x
It was Just luncheon—time when Guy Chanda:
arrived at the manor, and he was almostimw
mediater conducted in to' that meal by,  .
Gardiner; they were quite well acquainted and“
at their ease by the tune herequested of her a. ,
Purchase-m, g... ‘ *»  

.espi. . i as ions invitatio they
maintained his intention of refining the m,
city by an afternoon train, so that ‘v after, “ .
luncheon Agnes pro Na firemenade ' 
the shady manor w 3 while s e related to’ g‘ “r
the circumstances which he was so anxious to 

ear. ‘

“ What a lendidglrl she is!" Guythough 
as Miss Gardsfner joined him upon the martini: '
balcon , With a jaunty n hat tied over he" ..; ',
heavy raids. “ I don t wonder thatEricflwas "
so enthusiastic in his description of her.” ‘  '

“ I am afraid,” commenced Africa, serious! , r ’
as they sauntered down the she. y walks, ,“ that?"
I have a great disappointment in store for yam."

“ You must know, since you have. heard-ell of
the sad affair which we are about to; '
abet I am not unused to disappointmentshy th

m ' -

es, indeed,” answered  ' ‘
3‘“ “£3 3?.“ simmered 9" “flyda m.
leap in e an ;. tf'i.
mostIdg-ead to tell you that i

v

I am unable to 
fill Mr. Lysson’s trust, and put into your hands
the ltorn enyellgpe,and .ghetgit of paper‘- 
we oped m1 rove 9.1 s ou in a til-then,
search for  handor.”  - .- '3 7:
1? ¥°“ “if mimiimg ‘ ‘ 9 and "
es, an . e s est manner,  '
es related her discove of the disappearance!
0 tbepapers. ‘ ,  ‘3‘,
“ Might you not have lost them at sometime

 

when using your portemonnaie?” .‘  r
“ It is hardly possible, since I have had 
sion to use it but 011:3 recently, ’and‘then Ins»,
sured myself of their ety.” < ‘ ,  ~
“What persons could have had any interest,
in abstracting them?” _ ‘ I .  “
“ There is no one whom Ican suspect,” lied

es. “The only who knew of 
enstence was Mia anche Lorrimer, whchas w
been visi '

here, and was Mrs. Chandor’s chain ‘7’
forayeara Vassar.” A - > ‘ 
“Andyoudonotsnfit her!” I  i
“ “be ' 1"" dx milked thwrt‘fimm‘
one an waso o anus.
‘evegoncern' the mystery which . . 5%

no

er. Certainl e knows nothi 
flit-3t  aflord’a clew to Elise' ’s pfgesen‘t whom a
a u .

“ Well,” said Mr. Chandor, thoughtfully,

.W... 1am “hairs (ms WW“ I  
in even out e, ' o , e" , ,

Will get kriiidly detail to me your discovery:
the envelfis, and all that Rachel told you V
earning . Stanford?" r ‘ 1
Agnes Ngave Mr. Chandor‘a full account of
itay in 133 £23k, and the discovery 

yssons e. - r v» " '
“ Ishall go to seeMrs. Stanford,  toe
marrow, and tth shall resort to advertism, 
Guy Bald, thoughtfully when had , 
allthathe wished to w. “ ve ycuovsr 
thought Miss Gardiner,” he estioned, mddene
1y, looking straight intdher ace, with thefirst
real smile that she had seen ugnhisownwa
,smilethatshotbrflliantlightsln ,  _,
eyes andglorifled- Saxon fair~face,,_.*f» _

our connection with this mystery of 
v‘gemavflzym‘onei” 7 3‘  ‘

,_\
l, ,_

{3!
v. *2

."

  

   
  
     

 

\
4
I
7 A ,

. Sinai-velour, for da 3 afterward; that.
* the. ferrule, and those.wor s had affected her‘
‘with a strange thrill of mingled pain and pleas
m'e‘,'otfore oding and expectation. But she
.answered calmly: I

,- I “ Yes,but it ceases, now; andI am afraid
swithout haying been productive of any good.”
.1 “./Eerhaps it, has to me,” said Guy; ‘ andI
,h‘o ,” .- he added, very softly and solemnly,
f‘?- t through it no arm will ever come to

I?  h . r . n
. 0 , Iain sure there will not, Agnes an-
sWered, ‘ smiling; though, stran ely enough for
,  she felt a trifle uncomforta , e and nervous
' under the serious gaze of those slightly sad blue
yesa. J ’ I , u
1 I]: walked on asilentl for a time then Mr.
Chafir asked: ‘y ’
,. ‘_"f‘Was Miss Lorrimer the  {arson here
2 liowasformerly ac uainted‘w th ise?”fi
3 rs. Lorrimer and a Miss
,~ Sanfrey; but the on] met her through a short
‘ 'iyisit that shepai to lanche. Neither of them

3 knew anything of her history ‘after she left
Yas'ear, and Blanche promised not to reveal it.”
 --‘,"“;.Well,” said Guy, dismissing the subjec ith
another of his rare smiles, “ I am greatl your
abhor for this conversation, andI should be
 to, know that our acquaintance was not
Q; I "15nd here and now.” ’

guillt need not,” replied Agnes, “if you will do
moths honor of continuing it. I leave here in
a» few days” for my own home; and my mother
», . 'dm self would be delighted to haVe vOu
,usja, sit at Meadow Gran e, It is inNew er-
lrse’y, ust, a pleasant little as from town.” '
' ‘, .tank you; butshall Inot see you in town?”
‘NO, 1111 see you delayryour return to Europe
asglate‘ ‘ November.
 ,York duringthat month.”
_ vy“;..“sl gelyflfee Oil agailé,js1iln£e Ithave

you  m on, oug canno, ye,s‘a
whenfirswhem. And new I must ask' on t);
'i'lwthfi‘yva back tothe house. I sh only
have-$1116 make my adieux and get my

“fir-henij will not be persuaded to stay!”
. 4830, thanks to on and your kind hostess
 but
 York," he answered, his face darkening.
 Bel-sons were loun ng on the veran—
du'as Mr. bender and Miss ardiner appeared,
ng up the broad drive.
.  they a splendid-looking couple?” ask-
,  Rodwell of Mr. Van Alst.
 think so?” he returned, indiflerent-
.la 1; , 4. . g ; .
‘Yes,.indeedl” retorted Floss , malicious! :
p is  the sort of man Miss ardiner oug t
ffgl’erha  Gardiner isthe best in of
vflstn't man she ought tomarry,” said _ 1
7,  ,  gly. And few rsons could have g’ue ,
 minute by minu , Carl Van Alst’s bitter
 was increasing toward the blends entic-
on by Miss G iner’s
his future, life, he re-

l... 5,”

  

  

 

 . “‘3 No, Ethel-e was

 

 

‘ «Who came slow]
 vA’n‘d throu h

 the 'ture the , made when Guy
{this last goodibyé-stand n , with his golden
W

 cvered in the waste sunli ht and
targets by his" side upon the 'lowger mpg oi the
 ndahihe smiling, and frankly laying her

 

‘I'r, .
“Jenn, mu .mvnn x35: WISEL!‘ nor rec

-1$nowalr,.veryslc:lg, Elise recovered. Be
muservshewas so youn the doctor said; he-
 ,was cruel, on? would not let her die,

 days of invalidism, what
Why-mental to as well as physical

L  g "  girl; was orcedtobear—walting
 jby ‘ do. by day, week by was for
some word from Ian, that never came. ever
e, at least, until one cheerless ’day late in

E

briefings," ‘ ’it seemed to her that suspense heart-
suspense, was nothing to its ’terrible

111.131} "—the letter ran—“ you must know that I

ceasedtolove you, and thahit would onlybe
"Expert, and continued cruelty to you; to
i .e to dance attendance upon you; so I shall
 on again! I have settled upon you in «e...

oi his, a sum sufficient to support
life—- on  a little economical

“ utter"  ‘ " ' for on to make or subst \-
r‘  m’é‘: audacithe'r' letters 531'
pn-afig‘mewmmet strewn  sins

. . is ‘ ‘ f
g has ‘msema'mwl 

 

 

, I [fl-emu

" \ u. 8‘
 V. .,«. \

  

' the

ay-

e take up our abode in '

feel that my first duty lies

dyemher; and when Elise had read the bitter ,tlse

, “2m.

 

 

 New, indeed," Elise knew that her last hope

’had failed her. .Alan hadceased ‘to love her! ’

' For hours she lived and moved with that thought
burning itself into her brain, with that one only
gleam of consciousness about her. Then she be.
gun to think of death and life. She wished
she was dead, , et she did not want to die. It
seemed to her but there was nothing more to
die for than to live for, unless she could be as-
sured that death was an end of all thingS—that
there was no life, no consciousness, no anythin ,
beyond. But now came back to her, wit
strange force words and teachin she had
heard in childhobd; and she shrunk rom death
as she did from life; th h if Alan had been
with her it seemed to her t at she could have
died easily; but withOut him she could do noth-
ing—die nor live—she thought. But many and
ma‘ a soul, in like bitter sorrow, has thought

me and yet lived on.

So it was with Elise. And with each day that
she lived, the horror of her osition, the intensi~
of her loneliness seeme to increase. Now
at she had once known the joyégf being loved
and , caressed and pro ted, notwith-
standgg the bitter experience that had follow-
ed, she aund that it was impossible to return to

her old self-sufficient « life. She longed for a
companion, for friends. Man times a da her
voice broke forth in a piti cryfor “ anl”
And by degrees, her heart went out, also, to-
war those others who were bound to her by
ties of relationship; until, at last, she wrote a
letter—an incoherent, heart—broken letter—to
Rachel; saying that she was sick, and alone,
begging for her child’s sake that her sister would
come to her or write to her, and tell her what
she should 0. .

Even to Rachel she confessed none of her his
tory, and to her nts she never thought of
wrlti . If an one would be kind to her,

Bache would; Rachel failed her, then all the
world had failed her! For Elise was all uncon-
scious ‘of the mother-love that underlay Mrs.
Wallbridge’s fretful and bigoted external na-

ture, and of the stern sense of justice and dut

that would have led her grave father to do a 1

that he could for this errin daughter.
And Rachel failed her! 9 days assed, but
no letter came from Denver. Then  made

one last resolve; since all the world was against
her, she would seek to find Alan—despite‘his de-
cree—seek to win from him Some oomsélssion. If
si ht of her was powerless .to reaw en his old
a ection, and he refused to care for her, she
would die-she cared “not how, she could find
some way! - _ '

So Miss Smith came into her room one day
and found her packing. ‘ y

“ Surely thee is not going away?” she cried,

in su‘iiprise.

“- I am,” said Elise. ' '

“ To y friends? I he thee is going to thy
friends.” ‘ i .

“ I have no friends,” said the grl, bitterly;
“so we are 1gain to New York, ha y and I.”

“Not to. . orre'ncel” ' , .

“ Yes; if he will not come here, we will at
least be near him. ”

Miss Smith was silent. She had learned how
useless it was to try to persuade this girl to re-

veal her past history, or go back to any friends :

she might once have had or conquer her love
for Alan. But now a new thought was working
in the Quakeress’s mind. ‘

“ My child,” she said “I have thought much
of th case; and I believe thee tells the truth,
abou thy marriage to Mr.
thou sayest, there was a ceremony

Terrence. If, as
ri'Ormed,

n is thy'duty, to thyself and to t y babe, to

prove it.” .

“ But how can I prove it?” said Elise. “ I
have told on that it was in the country. I do
not know he name-of the lilacs, nor the minis-
ter’s name: and Alan kept t e

Ewen” .
“ But if it was near here, Ph adel his papers ‘

mus: be read there, and thee (m ht, adver-

“I never thought of that,” said Elise; “but
what ood‘wculd it do?
live th me again, and love me?” _
Love for Alan was the main 'ng of her life.
Poor child! Hers was one 0 those natures

where love takes deep root. and clinging to the ‘

objectof its ejection thence draws all its sus-

‘ would a do?” cried  Smith,

energeti y. “Why. thee ma 'st be able to

nor, and thy baby’s oncr, in spite I

prove tvhgr
oft ' c edhushand. , .
' “ h,don’.tl” said Elise, uttingu her hand

with 3109k0£§§i1h*7.‘D0n t, talk a “at Alan! .

.. Bushy. '

*   "starcer kn
son h

“when rim. thillli'Iil-lad better»
: , > we,» “F  , ‘ .

  

    
  
 
   
 
 

 

4t .

   
 
 
 

   

all) me

 

 

 ‘iwilnnglynn child! .. '   l.
her preparations for learning

Would it make Alan 1

Perhapfifor It evafivmwéh ‘

 

ise contlnu
the quiet city lwhich had been fora brief season
her home, and, in the meantime ‘severalnof the
I Philadelphia papers, dailies and weeklies, con-
tained a “personal,” asking that the clergyman
who, on a certain date, at some country place,
a few miles from Philadelphia, had performed
the marriage ceremony for a Mr. Alan Tor-
rance—using the gentleman’s seal—ring,instead
of a wedding-ring, which had been for often——
would call upon, or send his address, to ebccca
Smith, —-—- ——- street. s
All alon , Elise had thought the venture
ho eless. lan had said that she was not his
wi e, that she could substantiate no claims
a ainst him, and she believed that it must be so.
‘ S ill, the two Quaker ladies had coaxed her to
stay on with them several days beyond the
time that she had fixed for her departure to
New York.

She had secured a good woman for nurse and

come. But that very morning, while she stood
at Miss Smith’s parlor window, she saw a man
come slowly along the pavement, and up the
three little white steps upon the little white
stoop of Mrs. Smith’s house—an elderly man,
dressed in lain but neat clerical black, witha
face that s 6 had seen before; it was the face of
the clergyman who had married her!

 

CHAPTER XVIII.
MEADOW GRANGE. ‘
Two ladies walked in the sunny porch that

 

homestead. .

It was a low, rambling, picturesque house
that had been in the possessmn of a. family 9%
Gardiners. descending from father to eldest son
for over a centur . The first Gardiner, an,
Englishman of nob e birth, had. built the house
after a good old English style; but, until late

ears, it had so often been rebuilt in this place,

rn down in that, and added to in another,
that now it was a fantastic mixture of user

ioned windows with tiny diamon shaped anes,
lon French windows of plate—glass be. conies
an wings, the whole softened to mellow mossy
tints by generations of sun and rain, and over-
run with great vines of that “ rare old plant—-
the iv green.” ‘ r

over which many childish feet had scampered,
and in which many amaiden had listened to
words of love was the one place that, for a

novatin finggr of progress. And here, in the
yellow cto r sunshine, walked Agnes Gar”
diner and her mother.

Mrs. Gardiner .was a tall, fine~looking, elderly
woman, With Agnes’s clear, lid complexion
and reddish brown hair; in eed there wasva
striking resemblance betweenvthe'two ladies,

ther than mother and daughter, for Mrs. Gar-

 

derful de 0.
“ Deare‘sftemamma,”'Agnes was saying, “ on

I amto be here. I wonder,” she added, sud-
j denly, with a charmln touch of emotion, such
as she never betray before others than her
mother, “how I ever came to-promise to go
away from Meadow Grange, forever!” and her
eyes wandered down the
avenue, with the mossy tur sloping ‘awa from
it on either side, in’ one expanse of un roken
n, and rows of trees interlacin‘ their leafy
ughs, above it, and on to where t e highway
was shutout by splendid hedges, and’ the high-

, lands uprose in the hefty, golden distance.
“ Agnes, darlin l” rs
low, musical, tem or way, and there was an in-

tonation of surprise and inquiry that made the '" '

words a question.

“ Oh, no, mammal Don’tbe thinking that!”
Agnes answered, swiftly. “I am not re et-
ting my engagement—not in the least. am
sure that when you know Mr. Van A1

“ sirable one.” x
“ I hope so, A es, for muchas I have desired ,r
that cu, aim the last of an old and noble

tam y, should marry well, I have never,,de-
\ aired on to marry for wealth alone.”
“ ell mama,

to a c , and he_»rece;ivad‘ a


when he was ;
i “distiller;

  
    
 

    
 

.\l.

 
  

 

  

At last, however, Elise'would wait no longer. '

companion, and the day of her journey had,

stretched along the front of a fine old Jersey V, )

little gables, dormer windows, 5 uare, old— ash— ,

The road porch, alm‘ostlevel with the ground, ‘

half-century, had not been molested by the in~ v ,

and they might almost be taken for, sisters, ra- r
diner still retained her youthfullooks to a won- ’

are not more glad to have me home again t an .

nd old~faShioned ‘
. Gardiner said,'in her '

st you . .
will think with me that it is in every way a de- ‘ .

. Mr. Van Alst belongs to .a, ., 
good‘ old German famil . ,His parents died.

' ‘edueaon'i‘, 2t 
“PM “flatly” 
. a“ ., Ii,

      
       
        
     
       
  
     
       
     
 
   
   
   
  
    
    
   
   
    
 
   
  
 
    
      
    
   
  
  
  
     
   
   
   
     
   
     
     
     
   
  
    
    
     
  
    
 
  
       
  
      
  

 

 

a

  
  
  

 

b."  7 , can schools, and then returned to Germany, and
l g ,Went through a‘university course.” I

' “Isulpposed he was the Child, f 'Mr.  '

‘- Alst’s e dest son,” said Mrs. Gardiner.

‘ “ Yes.” said Agnes; “I say es, momma, for
I suppose he was, as his gran father left him
the eater part of his immense fortune.”

“ d the remainder to Oarl’s uncle?”
“No, it seems that some years ago the old
gentleman settled a portion 11 n Mr. Frederick
‘ , 'Van Alst, who was already nch; his will pro-

 

vided that the remainder of 'his property was to
be divided, at his death, between his two grand-
children, each being an only child upon the
 , condition that they married each ot er, imme-
" diately upon learnmgpf the proviso.”
' I “ And they did?” _
“Yes; Gertrude Van Alst was an invahd, and
 " n in Germany for her health at the; tune;- and I
7 think that Carl believed that his cousm was
I ' fond of him, so be fulfilled the conditions of the
will. But his wife lived a few months onl , and
‘ was buried, with a long line of Van A sts, in
 I i ,Germany' and two-thirds of her property re-
‘ , verted to or father.” _
“ Still, Mr. Carl Van Alst is very wealth 1!”
 - “Very, mamma, and handsome, deci edly
 . handsome”,
' ' “And a noble man, an honorable man,‘Ag-
, _ ~ 'nesl” ' ‘
 “ “Why, yes, momma; as far as one can lmow
A anything about a. man whom they meet in so-
” ciety, I take Mr. Van Alst_to be a perfectly
honorable man. I do not think  a. reli ous
, man in the least; so much of  life has
 s ' spent in Germany that he has imbibed a great
many German, infidel views; and, perhaps, he
is inclined to be a little dictatorial, but possmly
all lovers are that. Certainly he is a most do-
voted and ardent lover, and I have met no
. l - other man whom I have thought so desirable
. l, for a husband.”
l The ladies walked filently for a time, and
then Mrs. Gardiner said, gently:
“ Agnes, you are not a woman whose heart it
is easy to win; but when on do love, you will
A , givea royal and paiona devotio of which
31 _ you, as yet, hardly know 1%: capable.
; ' [g Are you sure that Carl Van  t is the man to
‘  ‘ awaken and  to the deepest and warm-
' ;~ est capabilities of your nature ’1?”
' “I doubt,” answered Agnes, with just the
slightest shade cf sadness and dissatisfaction in
\ her voice, “if any woman thoroughly loves un-
, tll she is married and grows more and more to
‘ depend u 11 her husband for affection and con-
. , fidence; t I am sure that I like Mr. Van Alst
‘ ~better than an man I have ever met.”
’ Agnes spoke see last wordsvforcefuliy; but
' rather as if because they had been commenced
they must be finished, and there came a sudden
, strange flush and lightto her cheeks and eyes.
«A carria e was rolhng rafiidly alon the avenue
. toward Ehe house, and rs. G or hastily
= hissedred her daughter upon the cheek, and whis-

“ God rant that the liki may prove a most
3 ,nfilen she turned to

.p‘

. satisng love, my dear”
  ,seew owas theirvisito .
’;- ' . “It is Mr. Chandor,” said Agnes. “I am
-  you are to have the Eleasure of meet'
’ , momma,” and the lig t in her eyes 11
, not died a. when Gu Chandor came upon
1 that rah wi h Outfitmtc ed hand. '
. 01,1 569 I ‘ have accepted your invitation,
 “d m a ha“)? and informal manner for which
"Im‘IStaSk your ,rdon. ,But I shall trespass
  “P011 our hospi Ityforanho‘ur onl .”
H . “0 ld°rll°tsa that,” SaidAgne inrningto
 .3 I introduce him to or mother}; N we
- ' _ Plsetsgd to have you remain and make us a real
' .vlsl .
 “But Mr. Chandor soon ‘ved that
 ,  imailossible; he was on 111315237 to 
 B timore, and Washington intendin to ad.
Yertise and make search for ' in of those
‘ 'clties, since it was from one of those plug
 {Imbalny from Baltimore or Philadelphia, theft
.‘  he man had traveled who had given toMl-s.
. gianfgrd the torn envelope addressed to Mm,
- 3.11 or. . ,
4 ' . “And now,”st Guy smiliélfiflmustten
’ 9‘1 Why I have flogged here, prfipare t’y‘ou
‘7 01‘ myrelfilest. I ve beentosee ms n-
tord; and ave discovered that Mrs.,8tanford
 ‘ is» really, Mrs. Chandor.” ,

ennui-.—

.1, g‘

" CHAPTER XIX. .

  

s  , _ i A Lama’s comm ,. both
  . Gum’s announcement surpflSBd'
'  . iiisfitiinezkrndlfilaea into  si~
  

¢

 

 

' probabl

 

.. rm, . ‘ . ., ‘» ‘ I . 1 '
- J 1-, \ m »._ a _ . z . I
,

L' I,

 my should a. speck to‘th‘is man a

s wife?» Elise hadbeen no wife to him.

_ Perhaps 'Mr. Chandor interpreted her silence
and its reasons. He answered lauickly:

“ No not Elise; but Mrs. Ci 0 Chandor, the
wife of a cousin of mine. yde was scarcely
more than a boy when he married her, is
scarcely more than a boy yet, and she was a
little traveling ballad—singer. As his father had
an agent here, who was a sort of ardian to
Clyde, the boy dare not marry u_n or his own
name for fear of being disinherlted. During
his last trip to France, however, his father has
died, and as Clyde cannot re for some
weeks yet, he wrote to me, asking me to pro-
cure handsome apartments at a hotel for Paula,
and have her known immediately aslhis wife.
After Rachel’s visit to her, Paula wrote to her
husband that I—she having known at the time
who I was, but not  betray her hus-
band’s secret—was comi st; and she spoke
of Rachel’s kindness an her relation to me.
As she did ,not know, nor mention that Rachel
was then on her way to Euro , Glide thought
that I mi ht induce Mr. and ysson to be
his wife’s c porous, and introduce her to a few
mce people. Of course she cannot go into much
socie y until she is out of mourning for her
father-in-law—but Clyde wishes her to make
some _ usintances, as he intends making his
homein ew York. ' ' ‘  ‘

“Since Rachel is not here, and~ it seems
scarcely the thing to establish a y ,
my cousin’s wife, alone in a fashionab e otel, I
thought perhaps you ladies would play the 00d
Samaritan, by mvitin her here, for a s ort
time, until I can estab ' myself permanently
in town and make other arrangements. But I
beg that you will freely state your wishes, since
you..know the whole history and Paula’s ante-
cedents. I should not have taken the t
liberty, but I have no friends in town to W cm
I can apply for assistance in this case, and I dc-

to o the best I can for my young cousin.”

“ I promised Rachel,” said Agnes, “ that when
I went to town I wouldbe a friend to the lonely
little lady; and I do not see why I should not
commence‘now, dvou, mammal” ‘

“ No "assented rs. Gardiner kindly; “and
Mrs. Chandor will find it much more
agreeab e to make a few friends first, than to
be thrown immediately upon societ and be~
$mg»its topic before the return her hus-

n , ‘

Without any word. of explanation between
them, both ladies understood and admired the
tender chivalry of Mr. Chandor’s feelin' to—
ward this girl,.who, in a manner, reminde him
of his lost young wife. 80 it was agreed that
Mrs. Gardiner, or should Write imme-
diately to Mrs. Stanford, inclcsing a note from
Guy and invite her to spend the remainder of
October at Meadow Grange.

Thus the future of this girl-wife’s life, this
poor, unknown actress, seemed opening full of
mostpleasant promises; while another girl, by
manm her, cousin—a girl better born, who
had education, and wealthy paren and
influential friends—was wandering none ew
whither, and entering few could guess what.

A few hours after Guy Chandor’s dogs-tore,
there came another guest to Meadow range.
Ila had notified Agnes by telegram of his com-
ing, and she was out upon the porch to meet
him in the sunsettmg~her splendid reddish
hair, which artists loved to paint, burnished b
the golden cloud- ht and the trailing b

em e, which 3 hagadgmg cnnedbgeciallllse the
ev ng was so warm, a u , or m
graceful fol revealing the perfect symmetry
of her form, ghte the calm beauty of her
aristocratic face, an betraying through its
silk meshes the poorly fairness and voluptuous
out ‘nes of her line shoulders and arms. , ~

Certainly she made a v _ fair icture;and
Carl Van Aist was glad that a chosen this
Er], so perfect of health and form and manner

share his immense wealth, his ud old
name andtobethemistressofhis e.
“Y’ou are glad that I am come, Agnes? It
aegis an eternity since gs parted: .d
am very leased see y - cal Agnes,
with frank we come; “and so (will mamma be.
I hope you will like bein at Meadow Grange—-
that you will even like endow Grange itself,
for my sake.” I
“Are you so fond of this NW‘ 01“

~ house?” asked Carl, tend 1

er .
es, veryfondofit.  Ineverknew
how fond, until .now that ,the time «ppm
for me to leave it.” » ' e .r .
n‘n“ go ouregret that yoaare to leave due

     

ho'meflhe asked, using

1‘9
 w” "h" “mimosa

’llike-

= actasI '

 

im not  10“ 'W‘ ,4: I  a; g I 

“ 10 not  lthinkthan an I 1
to leave a home thatvhasl-been 
life, for generations and generations;-bntzthen'

 

Meadow Grange is mamma’s until she  _
that as long as she livas and comes here,  ’5 ,

never have reall said to it.” I
£1.21" ’3?“ h cl 1
w on you ave seen 9 sp _ _
across the water, that will be yours, or live in
e

an

80°C”?

and you choose.”

I “ Let usho not,” re ted
den fiercenesspghat was mming.  Do you'not

expect to be contented as my Wife, and happy“:- 

sufilremely ha 3y? Do you know of any reasons
w y ou sho not be ” ' 1 I
‘ I I did, I should never have given my prom+
is: to marry you,” said A calmly. ‘f But.
0

wi “n ourselves; and Wenever

you out here longer. It is nearly thedismer _’ 7
. hour, and mamma is probably wondering- why-

we do not come in.” .
Mr. , Van Alst admired Agnes’s stately ' but
molars Iggy-mother, and his first evening 3
Input in her own homepassed enjoiyabzy

away; enjoyably, at least, until a casua

tion was made of Guy Chandor’s call that day!
From that m chest of evil passions ri . _,
in {Carl’s heart. ‘ he taken time to 'delibé '

crate over the matter, rcbably he would not - ’
have mentioned it to ‘ gnes‘, but When, afcw 
17°35  

minutes later, they sin-oiled upon the
he found himself aliens with his

(hangs, does he, Agnes? Is be given to feel that]
it is quite allowable for married gentleinsertsg
visitsln le ladies here?” " r .
“ Mr. an Aist!” exclaimed Agnes, withdraw-'
ing her hand from his arm and confrou ‘ 
him,aworldofscorn and commandin herv’oi V"
and her violet 8 es darkening to black, ins ‘ -

a r. “May ask outoexplain vl’i;
‘Ihavenothing the "rm '
“except that Ido not carexptlgihl’ave a lad fl:-
isto be Mrs. Van Alst receiving 
mfledmanwho is almost a strmgerftoheyi:
an separatedmsomemystencus wa’ :n-om‘
his wife. ’ y  
“How doyouknowthat heissg’pm-atediii ,
E‘Becm,-GBI understand it, he‘is 

 

with your betro d. And I'must request you,
in future, to have no uaintance with gentle:
man who are permit to have ’
you, which you are not permitted to shin-e wi"
your husband.” \ ' - J "
“You for t,” said Agnes, , “that-till?
have no hus 11d!” Then she went orig-fiery
y: “ Overayear agoMr. Chandor married
“1” it” “fi’iiwéi‘ér‘i‘it “d 
ome..ey , elmarnage,‘j_
Chandor disappeared' , and nothing was even
learned concerning her, until I went toflewV
York in August, and discovered a clew ._
its“ “’35 19”?“ it”? “E” a 
u on e re or are
:3  to deliverpgo Mr. Chando . Pains
l to an uaintance, which I know of no real.
son for terminating. I have always selected
aogmintances, according to my own
an ,I beg to have it thoroughly understood 
manners”? * a... 
ys sien y, oramomen i
into each other’s eyes, then Carl'broge  
“3&3?”le way‘ kn ho I he ‘  If"
on ew w ted. , i '
K1011 woufimbemymcarep’ful how you defiedmy m; '
“ fiate a. perfect stranger?” cried 

sunglfig scorn. . .

“ y not?" asked Carl, abruptly. . “I 
an manta whom you show favors; " “
sis upon knowing whether you  .,
ply with .my wishes?”  ’l .

 

is

upon; and m

 

' neverthink of it 
535i  7&3

lendid home that I will makelfor  "
‘Letush no "re liedA Ii h .  
°P° ’ " afivgtlflzsudi -

 

 

sues. , .
wertobecontentedandhap y'liesgreh? tly 
whowwe‘  .
make ormarour futures. ButI must not‘detaiu».» ‘

you at   i

 

"; ' ‘.. . r
 . ~ _4 r , .
y r ~a.* s‘ 1 .
, . l . , y,_ _,
, l V, _ j~ ' T

urns mum hot lose beréethis one love a: his-4.
and so, as she turned her fair, proud face from

'I j l

.l 2.

   
   
    
  
   
  
  
   
  
        
   
 
     
   
  
  

J,

 i‘gl’him, he flung his arms about her, and held her"
 I . clospto his roast, and assured her, ' and
again, that it was his love for her— ' mad,
h imreasoning, passionate love—«that had awak-
 , sued the demon of jealousy within him. That
{Khehadnot half known what he had said, but
,- - that-he regretted it all, and would not again of-
» .rx‘ " fend. And then'hepictured his love so vividly
, ' Jan called her such endearing names, and wooe .
-,hé ,with such charming grace, thatA escould
 but forgive his jealous outbreak, an seal her
i f0 veness with a few of the kisses for which
I  Car 59 thirsted, and she so seldom voluntarily

 

CHAPTER XX. ,
run SHADOWS or course mm

_ Buncms ,
~" into the warm, luxurious parlor where Issalene
’ sat reading, bringinga breath of the November
, sunshine an cnspmess with her, as well as
brillian‘ tly blue eyes full of happy; li hts, and
 cheeks rivaling the fairest peach t at ad ever
, bloomed to ripeness under summer suns.
 , “Issalene, ’ve quite a budget of news for
‘ you.”»she announced, gayl , as she tossed her
 misty silken muif upon a air, and commenced
, win ofl? her daintily-fitting gloves. I
y _ “W. i” said Issalene, lazily. '
.  ‘5 The Wildes and the Gardmersare in tow.”
y“0 that is no news at «all. Their cards
came morning. Mrs. Gardiner receives to-
 , 5‘ moi-row, aners. Wilde Thursdays. Isms
I we must call. What a bare it is~this g
- and receiving calls from people you hate.”
,' ' “How absurd on are, Issa. You ought
.nevertobeasocie woman, if you are gem
. ,tohate more than half the pee le you meet, and
r not want to fulfillany social uties.”
“‘1 have no desire to be asociety woman!”
may this because ‘dI only godin
. ; 906 year , an mamma e.
‘  sireit.’ But, to have the pear-‘3“: part of my
V life filled by the demands of other people upon
..I “lij is not my ideal of ha piness.’
, --‘0hl you have‘an ideal!” ughed Blanche.
_:“Do tellme what it is!”
 r“  a man I love, and devote m
I  vgle utterly to him I” announced Issalene, deci -

t? ' I

. , course, every gu- when she marries,
“shite make her husband the chief considers.~

tion in her life, but that need not prevent her

' .  her position as well. Your

ideas are ridiculously romantic. Would on be

. soldevoted if on married Mr. De Lane ”

: .Mr. D311shin l” exclaimed Miss nfrey,
Blanche,

 

 

, it is positively rude of you,
Y , to mention his name so often, when
w you know how I despise him, and even to hear
1’ ' “is? '
 u on
week.”

. w u gagging know that I take excellent care not

to see , a
f’ .3“ Yes, I. know,” said Blanche, dryly, “that
,  w take excellent care to let mamma and I en-
 visitors of Whom you are not over fond;
 ‘hutI think that it won d be evidence of im-
‘ 1good manners in you, if you would as-
.3 sumo a, ttlc of your own responsibility in re—
g } gard’fo visitors who come lire-eminently to see
 you. ' w
> V; , .“I But I sha’n’tsee him l” said Issalene, defiant-
’ ; 7. 1 2“ So you can spare yourself any more talk
" “a,” ,,it' and aunt Lorrimer may tell him so,
g‘wd  to quit visiting here, as quickly
. 2 es. '
 .onma chan onrmindinre rd
, ‘~'to him, gy andvbyy; andgiat ywould be a shamgeato
; have sent him beyond recall,” said Blanche,with
+3 “ . coolness. v “ But you have not asked
2 me concernin the rest of my news.” '
 g If}! sup that you had told it all,” replied
* Issalene, sulkily. ,
 “Oh, no! I have ‘two engagements to an-

nounce. r

 ladyisndt interested at the men.

tion of an en ementl Issalene forgot her

pique-and glen up with quick inquiry.

 n, ouymyllod 11a «1,: n

 ._ . we on go crane. 1

-".“Oh really! Then Mr. Wild: has succumb-
to the charm; of her goofing hair and

.. fissile:

 ected angraces. ,

V Blanche, with a sli ht ri‘ngof
. Wide

 

 

see I cannot very well help men~
when he comes here nearly every

4 “iguana... . a...
 um . vo ‘ ,
buggour (hpper littleEng-

.

1’ ,

 

 into“ her

    

social favor—a Mrs. Chan
romantic history.”

i“,  I a , , >, ;m
 hi, Wenllwould rather be When-

“Wm “yeti/heothcrmm‘ w
9"”‘dm W‘W’cfin‘“  

 

:a,’ w," " x e

in. Richmond and! Henson Wilde, and even
uncle Fr8denck.” . ’ ' ‘
‘ “ It is a wonder that Carl escaped soot-free.”
“ He did not. She laid siege to him in the be—
ginning, and gave him up in despair.” ,

“Well, I suppose some one else was more sue--
cessful in laying si go to Carl’s heart. Agnes I
Gardiner is engaged. I

“A es Gardiner! En gedl To whom?” ‘

“ , to Carl, probab y!”

“ An I think

probably not!” retorted Issa-

lene, decidedly. ‘ I have excellent reasons for
believing that Carl Van Alst has not the slight-
est intentions of ing Agnes Gardiner.
Wh , don’t you knowt t the Gardiners are
real y poor? Theng manage to keep in so-
ciety and when rs. Gardiner dies A es will
not have a cent in the world, as he pro-
perty upon which they live will gotoan old
uncle, the last male Gardiner. Carl told me
this himself; and do you think he is'likely to
marry such a '. l?”

“ do not ow why he should not. Miss
Gardiner is of a good family, and aperfect lady,
and Carl has mone enoug tom whom e
pleases. It was ariou are who ld me. I
met her upon the avenue-she has come to
s nd the winter with the Wildes—and when
s c said Miss Gardiner was enga ed I. never
thought to ask her towhom, for supposed of
course it was to Carl. Still as you say, he may
not be the favored one. , Gardiner-is fas-
cinating and greatly admired; andI have heard
that she has a great many offers.”

“She isn’t my style!” said Issalene, with a
little sneer.

“Of course not!” laughed Blanche. “Who
1 Iwonderi By the‘way, . Wilde ives a
dinner next wee , a very (grivate little air, to
introduce to a few frien a. new candidate for

dor, who has quite a

“ Mrs. Chandorl” cried Issalene, with a little

start.

‘9 Yes; her husband is a wealthy young
Frenchman, and she, Marion says, is aperfect
little fairy. He met and married her South,
somewhere, and they have lived under an as-
sumed name, for fear his father would dism-
herit them. But now the father is dead, and
they are veréhwealthy, and will settle in New
York. Mr. andor is in Europe and will not
return until next month; but she has been visit-
ing the Gardiners, and has rooms with them at
the Everett House; and now Mrs. Wilde has
taken her u .” -

“Mrs. Wfide must always have some oneto

t,” said Issalene. “ When is she goingtogive
Elsie dinner?”

“Next Tuesday; and we are tobe included
amonglthe favored few.”

“ oubt if Ishall go "remarked Issalene.
“ I do not care for such little dinner-parties; be—
sides it is the very night before our ‘ coming-
out’ hall. I so you and aunt Lornmer
will mlmneasilyexcusemmi; B the
way, glanche, can We not go to me m-
mouroy’s today to see about our dresses?”

4“ I have been there, this morning, and given
all the orders for mine. Igrew tired of wait-
ing for you to decide what on would have.”

‘I have decided new: t since on have i
been I will not trouble you to o a .” g 

 

“ but have chosen?” as ed lanche.
“ A heavy si of pale lemon color, trim med
with the laces mamma sent me. And papa has

commissioned, uncle Frederick to buy me dia- i be able to go to t 6 Opera tomightr’
ll0 80.

neck and bracelets, and
me tomorrow to p

monds~ear-ri
he is to go
them.” I
“ You will be sure to look handsome,” admit- *
ted Blanche, “and to quite outshme merfor I
shall have to waive diamonds and be contented
with, the Opals momma is having reset for
me.’ ’
Just as Blanche made this honest confession a
servant announced:
“Mr. Henrion Wilde." 
“ —morning, Miss Lon-inner. Good-morn-
ing, Miss Sanirey. I must beg your pardon for
the informality of this my first visit, but I did
not reach town until late last night, too late to
avail m of the rivilege of calling upon
you—~though I knew t t it was yoxr reception
evening.” ‘ .
“1am sure we have on] ' to thank on for ,
rememberln ussosoon,” lanche sai , with a 9
cordiality t at was so charming after her 2
hauteur of- the last few. days they had spent ,
together that Henrionswas at his case at once.
- ‘ 0b. was sure to do that; all throu h Octo~
while 1 map, in Maison! 1' onward .
win; our onshxpot the 

l
l

l

  ’ A

 

!‘14

l7 '“Yesrlohu'Ri/chmtmd, andggteh party/of ‘ '

us gentlemen, thought we we try our hand

i at shunting expedition up in the backwoods; ’ I

and we have been roughing it finely.”
“ But you enjoyed ourselves, I suppose ”
said Blanche, mm a s ade less of warmthin
her manner this time.

“Oh, immense] 1 Still I mustsay I was glad
to get home. A ittle of that sort of life goes a

, great way, and I am rather partial to civiliza—

tion myse .”
f‘And the delights of feminine companion-
ship?” suggested ssalene, lightl . 
‘ Certainly; what would ci ' ' ation bewith-
out that?” laughed Hem-ion. “And that sug-
ieists that I accopt verbally the invitation for
rs. Lorrimer’s ball I found awaiting me at
home. Please present to her my compliments,
and say that nothing would induce me to forego
the pleasure of flying her my respects u n '
that occasion. dthough I understand t at
that is to be aformal introduction of you young
ladies to society, I hope you do not keep your—
selves in such strict seclusion at present as to
make a plan I have for to—morrow night a fail-
ure. I met your guardian, Mr. Van Alst, and
Caeran Alst at the club-room this morning,
and we agreedto make u an opera-part for.
to-morrow ni ht, to hear uoca. . an '
Gardiner an my cousin Marion are going, and
I hope that Mrs. Lorrimer and yourself will
consent to join us.” _ '
“I cannot answer for mamma, but I shall be
happy to aoce t the invitation, and so, I pre-
sume, will Issa one.” ‘ ‘
“Certainly,” said Sanfrey. ;‘
“B the way,” said, Henrion when, is. few
minu later, he arose to leave, ‘ I suppose you
have heard of Miss Gardiner’s engagement to .
Carl Van Alstl”.

“Yes, I met Marion this morning, and she I

told me,” nded Blanche, as she walked
slowly with him toward the hall.
When she turned again Issalene had left the
arlor, and Miss Lorrimer exclaimed, bitter,

I“He tells of Agnes’s engagement; but he
never mentions Miss Rodwel ’s. I wonder if he
could have been in love with that, girl? At
least I will never let him make me forget that

scene.” .

And by constantly recalling thapicture of
those two fl es she had seen. n the moonlight
at Wilde or Blanche endeavored to steel
her heart against the man who was so near to
winning her love.

CHAPTER XXI.
CHECKMATED. .
ISSALENE was not well the eve‘hing of the
opera- arty; she complained of a severe head-
ache a ter going earl with her uncle Frederick
to select her diamon , and declined to accom—
ganfi her aunt and cousin upon a round of calls. '
0 rs. Lorrimer and Blanche went together
and paid a visit of congratulation to Mrs. an
Miss Gardiner, and consulted Madame Lem-
mouroy again concerning the dresses for the
am , and completed some other arrangements
ndfng to the success of that coming social
event. ,
As soon as Blanche Reached home, she ran up
to her cousin’s room. The ,a tment was dark-
ened, and Issalene was restlesst upon

the bed.
one, are ouno better? Shell

‘6

“ Iisll‘ilave no desire ’ said. Issalene, 1'
u Wh what is the matter!” asked Blanche
anxmus y, as she caught a
frightfull pale face, from
gleamed everishly. “ Is it m ,your head?

Issalene, 0 make her look so wretchedly and
talk so strangely. Still she. knew that her cou~
sin was d of an but an amiable
disposit on when any l troubled her so she
thought best not to question her further, but
8130 13111 her, tiny a. live] wbayi h
s e ca , esocie gossip a card, ,2
and the further arran ments that had been
made for the ball; to a of which Miss Sanfrey
listened with few comments; and, finally, after;
asking what she should send up for dinner Miss
Lonimer_arose to .
shesto sudde y. _V >
~ “ one, who doyou suppose is to

be on or!
0”" “WWWW”  "

..|

r.

[you not I '

 

lim ofIssalen‘sx a
vgvhicgsher dark eyes v

01;; Of OéirOUIise itis my fly  tn:
)an again petulan . on on
think that I’m sick, do {33? People don’t get ,
I sick so easily, and just w the want to.”
Miss Lorrimer could not believe that 
somethin more than a mere headache ailed * ' .

 

f 1 1- .' 

 

where . "I


As she reached the, door”. 

 

     

 

r "av

 

' ‘. a f ,, ., r n. I  n ,_ .   V, 1.  f.» , .  ,:.,  my. .' » , , ‘ I
I *    ~ ’ «TH-E rears?  PU Elli-AN" v r
H. - ‘ ,   , 2 I ‘ , , , _ , r ,, ' r, . ‘ » : v .,  . _ . 2‘ , ‘ , \ , i y
!a_ I ‘ a I e W. A. y. “i I n 4, . I  . v (v ' 5.2,. _ fl," I f,” .1 V “I ._ V  fl  L 1 7M ’
I - -. m g

\ rs"~.«§“"

5 ‘ .  t.“
‘17]  »

     

e , ,r \.

. ,, Ir . 1
1.9. ~ ‘
'1 r 1’»

 

 

fly
 day in anege; and
«r *mnc'h when we were _ p .
i Miss Sanfrey made no answer to .the an-
nouncement, so Blanche closed the door softly
‘ and left her to herself.” But the moment that
her cousin was out of her room,  sprung
'. from thebed, and pacing the floor,
uttering, fiercely:
’ "‘ What does she want to come here for, and
' r to me about Jack Jaflrey, or any one who
, was connected with Alan, and those dear old
3 days? For they were dear days!” she said, step;
1 ing before her long mirror to regard her whi
 Face and glitterin e “Yes, dear da !
' though he was i ove to that Wallbri ge
" 1. But he tired of er—she was t the girl
or a maniike Alan to tire of—an there was
f hope for me until this new fancy of his! But
», now he will never love me! Never love me?
 And yet has he not gust lately told me, in a
 thousand ways, that e loved me? But men
i; like Alan Torrance are, never true! I ought to
 have known it! What a fool I have been to be-
lieve him at all—to be for one hour his 
 But he shall find-thatI am nottohe
 with; that because he has not written to my fa-
ken to. uncle Frederick, and openly
asked my d, he cannot fool me at his will!
‘ and she clenched her little  resumed
._ her rapid wallihher face fairly and her
it 9 es blazin wi passion.
 yAndallt h that evenin ‘she nourished
I her fierce resentment, even as 6 had for years
 nourished her fierce love for Alan Terrence.
:. ; Through tehiishlast yearof ofdgmr lifelssalfiggs
' ion —.cherish opes one winmn‘, E s
lovgha‘d seemed well-n1 h  In eed, al-
' though she saw much of him than in her
1?. «early school ldays, she had believed that her
~ ho~ were eady a surety When, suddenly,
in come to her a rumor that Alan’s affections
,5 were engaged and romised elsewhere; still she
i would not admit her own heart that Alan
 could deceive her, until shehad been suddenly
3: assuredthatthiscontemplated mar wasin
,7, 5 society an accepted fact! And now w t were
 the loves and hates of others, what were Society
 fates and triumphs, compared to the desolation
‘ g and the fierce desire for revenge that scared the
un ovemabhnature of this 1? w
. fiben Alan Terrence received, one morning,
at his club-room, a delicate envelope bearing

 

 

 

 

. Issalene’s superscrigtion and crest, and contain-

, ' that he would spend the
‘ evening alone with er, the night preceding
’g  Lorrimer’s hell, he understood, flatly,
 ’ that the Cuban girl was summoning to a
 wrathful interview. He knew that Issalene
 could not fail to have heard of his intended
' -' marriage, and that she would not easil relin-
 uisht eclaimsshebeliervedshehedon imby
' r ht of the tender flirtation of which he had
'for a diplomatic reason of his own, made her
"the etim He thought, too, thathe understood
- » her stormy Cuban nature, and her utter im-
’» placablen if he failed to be true to the ex-
" pectationsesie had purposely allowed her to
j 'cherishistill he knew that he must breakhis
. lance With her, and did not fear but that in the
7 bitter warfare he should conquer. So he wrote
. her a note. saying that heshould not fail to keep
the appointment. ' . “
:L - The. Tuesday of Mrs. Wilde’s little dinner-
 phrtymme, and Issalene declared her intention
‘1 of remaining at home. When her aunt and
7 ‘ comm were 33:19; and she had given orders to
; ;-.the servant 3 one on] visitor was tobead-
, mitted, she went into t e parlor; and cing
r, ceaselessly 31p and down, waited excite y for
 Alan'sco . p / .
‘ She knew single footstepupon’ the ve-
 'ment, and the tone 0% his hand upon the 001--
'~ shell, and suddenly stood still—a proud, rigid
 figure, with gleaming eyes and carnation-deep
  while he came smiling and debmnazr
~ to er nee. -
 ’ “How d of you, Issalene, todeprive our-
; 339150: a party, Justto stay at home an see
‘ like.

 ' V “Do on think so?” said Issalene, fierily;
' then he; eyelids drooped, and the flame of or

ing. a note requ

 ‘ passion flickered low for the moment. In his
J;

‘i' resence the consciousness of her love overcame
, a'unie herfm'iousanger. “Do outhink,"
: 8 e

      
 
 

 changing her “ there is any-
in '6 wide world Iwouldnotdenymy-

It or your sake?” -
~. ,“I don’t know,” he laughed, throwin .
. self use an easy-chair, despim the fact t ls-
Balenestillsfood; “wornenaresogiventomak—
maternal! ’ at his feet. “and   arms

{ him‘
:ing‘r'ash romisesonl tobmekthem.”
 Maul)” cried _,

     
 

\ .' _ x,».

t

   

; «mum.m‘   ‘ 
‘ “‘JackJaflreyi Ihavenotseenhim,nntilto~ ,
housedhtgeomehereso

 

 glowing-nice tohis,

y“ do younht hearthatlwuldd‘o anything for

your sake?” . -
“And what if

would?” he asked, forcing
himself to regar '

calmlyjhe lowin trembhn
pafisionate girl. ' g 8, 8'

Why, issuch love a small matter? Think

u an woman will ever give 'you such mad,
erven passion, as I can bestow .
- “But suppose I do not care for such love-—

Sup I am weary of it?” I
‘ eary of it?” exclaimed Issalene, scornful-
ly. “ How could you be weary of it? Do these

icy Northern "Women understand in the least
w at love i Elise may have wearied you with
her bhbyish fondness, but what did she, a little
Puritan, with milk and water flowing in her
Veins know of love like mine?”

“ flush!” he commanded, impatiently fling
ing aside the tiny hands that were clasped u n
his breast, and pushing from him the beauti ul,
figivering form. ‘ You have no reason for coup-

my name with that of Elise Wallbridge:i
an no authority for doing so! And I woul
advise you to get u , as my fair oifliancee might
not care to’lmow o a ‘ young la y kneeling to
me in this absurd fashion!” '

“Your ofllcmcee I” cried Issalene, springing
to her fee her face grown ale with rage.
“ What rig t have you to talfi of ‘ any one as
your afiiancee after all you have said to me?"

“After all that I hays said to you? I believe

I never said an thing about marrying you, and '

ou werie”as we posted in flirtatious as myself,
ene , ,

“Bu there Was no flirtatioii between us!
You not intend me to understand it was
such! You knew, to commence with, that I had
loved you for years, and u made me believe
theta-(cu reciprocated the love!”

“ ,o, matter what you think I intended you
to believe I know that I said nothing that a
man ht not say to a girl whom he had
known intimately from her childhood. Cer-
tain] Ihave never had the slightest intention
of askinthilggyop to be my wife, so, utgless you hm
some 0 more mportance say we
better terminate this interview.” ’

“ But I have something of importance tosay!”
regarding him with ston calm. “Since on
have seen fit to trifle wit my love, you
find out how you like my hate! ’ ‘

“Ma chm Issalene, he said, tauntingl)’,
“ hate is ndt a pleasant passion for a lady to in
dulge; but I assure you that I do not mind it as
much as you may suppose.”

“Wewill see! You said a minute ago, that
I had no authority for coupling your name with
EliseWallbridge‘s.‘ Su tell you that I
have a positive proof is t you were the man
who induced Mrs. Chandor to desert her hus~
band! And I tell Elise’s slurry, and your sto ,
to the woman Kane propose to make your w‘ e,
and show her t proofs?”

“ You have no such proofs,” said Alan,

0001] .

“th11%.!" cried Issalene, triumphantly. “I
have the envelop? in which a letter was sent to
Mrs. Chandor, a day that she left her hue
band. I know that last summer you gave that
envelope to a lady upon a train coming from
Washington. And I have another proof a ainst

you, in the cover of a book upon whi you

wrote for this lady; and shecan identify you at

any time. Do you think these are light meets
to take to the woman you to marry!
And will she be very likely to marry you

then?”

“ Listen!” said Alan, contemptuously. “You
think you have a strong case me. has
lone; but in reality you have a miserablyezeak
one. I will not even ask you how you me

d of these papers: nor what credit you

hink your statements will receive, if I announce
that before mention of them you knelt at my
feet and sued for my love. But, suppose I was
the man, who, as on sayseglave away this en-
velope—which I c not 'eve you nor any
one else can provei, That fact, alone, can never
be any evidence that I was the a who sent
it to Mrs. Ghandor nor that I have ever had
:ggtfhing to do with Mrs. Chandor. You tell

act to my betrothed; it is the onlyone you ,

know ainst me; and even that you cannot
substan te. Is she likely, whether she is mar-
rying me for love, or for position, tolet it stand
in the we of that marriage, when the enga ~
mgpthas madepublioandthewedding y
se , _
“Themisnot one woman ins hundred who
would, at such a

WW. mybetrotbodhmm .
rone‘vroman._30,I-tafl ‘ I? val“

  

.lssalene at last so ht the slum
needed “g

«so unlike the other

timhmflueneedbysncha ”

 

  
  

like and memes: ’  7r  .
‘ And thatvaryunpalata ‘. vice,
AlanTonenceleftIssalenetothestingingm ..
scidumessthatshe was checkmated". ’ __ 'V

‘ m NIGHT or run BALL. . ~ * .. .
Wm Alan Terrence was no, Issalene rush-v ' '. ,‘j‘il
ed to herown room, andfoug tthe fierce battle . " .5».
with wounded love, and assionate desire for ‘ , ' 1:5:
revenge and stinging se contempt, until the 
gray cold, ' ht of the dawning day stole dimly
h h the aces at her windows and stru glad
for d miniou with the slender flame 0 ins. .r
Then desiring, with defiant pride, to look er , «
loveliest the evoning of the ball, she threw her-
self upon her bed to et a little rest; and, ex-
hausted by a week 0 conflicting passions, and
the excitement of the night soon sunk into a ‘
heavy sleep that lasted until noon and restored” -
her to her wented blooming beauty. ' ‘ ' r
She had thought deeply of what Alan had
assured hen—the weakness of her proofs against
him as the person who had sloped with Mrs.
Chandor. _ In her own mind she was convinced
that he was responsible for Elise’s sin; but would -
she be abl§to force upon others the same con-  "
victionl uppose she were to tell Blanche this ; 
stor , or her uncle Frederick, would they. be ’ '
like’y to believe anything upon slight‘proot- ‘ - ‘
against Alan, which he chose to, enyi She was ;
conscious that they would not. ow much '
then, would a woman believe it who was about _.
to marr him; or even if she believed it, asAlan ,'
had sai , would one woman ina hundred let that v ‘ '
stand between them and their love or advan '
especially at a moment when to do so would boa ; ' -
matter for a nine days’ scandal? ‘ . _ ‘ ‘
True, Issalene might find out Mr. Chandon, and
deliver him the , rs, and put himu nAlnn‘s ' "
track; but in doing so she must rev 1 that  ~
had become dishonorably possessed of these . .
apers; besides, Mr. Chandor might not succeed ‘, ,,
proving anything against‘Alan, or in proving 1 . *
anything intimetomterfere with the , '  , g
The chirograpby upon the cover of the was ’ ,9
like Alan’s, but that upon the envelope  " ,
somewhatfrom ‘ and how could she know 
gotta hviindiiégd 13:11. “gt men did not waite ahead " "
en ca w as a general escri 
of Alan might answer to a general (1&an 
many others? ,  ; 
F'rom thefiiggishe  \ ' 
ncrs oouvers ‘ on no concerning’ ' r
Elise, Issalene felt positive that Alan   ’
the man in the case. And when, accidentally ‘
she learned of the existenceod fs '  is; 
him,shehad ,herselfothese 
in ordertopro cthimfromexposure, ortouso
them as apower over him,as his 
ward her should warrant. And she had flrml 'r I '
and triumphantly behaved in their war,  ‘  ‘
she analyzed the whole matter, in the .
thrown upon it byAlan. Now,she saw , I ,
weakness of her plot. But revenge she was daé ‘ y- 
termined to have! There was time enough at, -‘ 
before Alan would marr ,in which to sleet

her lane. She had sad 0 that - 1
sho d not love her she would lherselfwbn . _
himflrst;andso.$wouldi '

ii,

i

\ .
‘v

 

    
  
   
    
    
 
   
    
    
   
   
   
  
   
   
  
   
  
    
   
    
   
  
   
 
   
  
   
     
 
    
   
  
  
   
    
    
    
   
   
   
  
   
  
   
     
  
 
 
  
 

e

that she would kill a .
Bataan: the meantime,’she banish , ' ‘
from mind the horrible thought thatshe had i g ' T'
declared her love for Ala and ad sued forms ' 
as he had tauntingly tol her, kneeling ethic , ,
feeéd {Bier hafillxetty nature,” thonagthetlyhas it  ‘
co overs e on t limb»;
love had beam lsed. A1134a she '
swore to herself that she , show Alan that  .7. 
at least she could risosn 'ortoherafiection» "
for him. That shewoul not foradaywea‘r "’ .4
the widow for his sake! And it was With this-5 
resolve, and the desire to £00013? it, that 
knewshe .torestore the bloomtoher'i v’
cheeksbauand the sparkle to her eyes for the Dem—i *-

It was a charming trio of ladies who Waited- .-
in Mrsliornmer’s parlors that night toreoeive
their guests: the fair, fadeg but elegant and "
gentle mat , in her faul essrobeot velvet;
with, rich 6. laces and a few choice  r
completing her costume, and the tutofair  7‘
upon her either side, eaehso beautiful, ‘ . 5 
in herstyleofloveliuess. 
Blanche wore a dress of delicate blue satin,
frosted overwith fine laoaandtrimmediroin 
herbarewhiteshouidersandher slenderw -  

         
 

 

    
  
 

      

 

i _ ' I

 

ir that made Blanche Lorrfm
‘fiv‘erywherean objebt’of admiratl . '

and A . r  * tram" n- T" ogre h
r and freed‘herselfvesi ' as possible‘ from 8
‘her betrothed’s clasp. ‘A “ '
“’ I suppose we may as well tell auntie of this i
the first convenient Opportunity,” said Is-
. ‘ satiny skin shone wonderfully lovely and on- I ; I
" =r,‘ ' Handsox'ne laces, vwreathed with ma- “ 0 , certainly; and perhaps until tomorrow
you would not mind wearing this;” and he drew - r.
off his glove, and from his little finger a blaz-
ing diamond, which he slipped upon Issalene’s 3
en ragement‘iinger. ,

hey had scarcely wean the ball-room
when they met Mrs. Lorrimer, and Issalene
d by her long enough to say:

ntie, I am sure you will congratulate me
-—-I‘“have promised to marry Mr. De Laney.”

Mrs. Lorrimer could soarcely conceal her sur-
to extend the desired con-
gratulations; bu she knew by the ring upon Is-
salene’s fin er, and the look upon her niece’s
face, thatt e ' 1 had determinedly made her
fore the evening was half over
every guest had heard of the little bru-
bet-rothal to the 11

“What a strange mat
to detest Mr. De Lancy,” said Agnes Gardiner,
as she waltzed with her lover.

“ I know that she hated him, and hates him
even now,” answered Carl; “but, I imagine
her directions were engaged elsewhere, and not
reciprocated, and she has done this out of

“Apd do you think she will marry t

pose so: it would ,be just like her to
miserable for life for the sake of a.
fap‘clied retaliation I” .d A , t1 .
am sorry or or sal gn gen y.
But the girl that was the objeetg’t of so much
comment, no more meant to live to marry
Hugh DeLancy, than she meant to let Alan Tor-
renoe live to marry the wife of his choice.

CHAPTER~ XXIII.

A mu amorsns A woman’s rmvnnon.

AFTER their one difference the course of true
love had seemed to run smoothly enough with
Carl and Agnes; and never was there a more
deyoted lover than Mr. ‘Van Alst during
ks that intervened between Miss Gardiner’s
establishment in town and the day appointed
That day was appomted for
file eighteenth 0 December; and the reception,
8; grand affair, was to take place at the hotel
where the Gar-diners h
’for many years.

, l roon-deep velvet, completed the elaborate dress;
' - “delicate diamond circlets glittered upon her

' throat and arms, a. diamOnd drop quivered at
. ' . each tiny ear; and where a touch of ex-
quisite lace was fix ‘

“'1‘0 tall and rise
ybosom -

« laughter and her sighs,”
if, 8116' had fastened a. spray of blood-red roses,

= from out a basket of flowers sent by Mr. De
 Lane . Certainly, it was hard to decide who-
golden-haired Northern
maiden of a luxurious
‘nd made the most bewilderin , picture, as
«Lorrimer's si e receivin
tulations of their “ dear five hundr
And so the guests thought, as they
the brilliant, flower-sweet rooms
their hostess, and her daughter and
e, in whose hon r the fete was given.
‘3 f here at least, who wOuld
 -_ Lhavecast their Vote for Issalene; and one .was
’ ’ 'man Terrence. He had never seen Miss San-

.Ivt  look so entrancingly handsome, and he
, - Wondered how he could have so rudely repulsed
.  this little beauty the night before. It seemed to
 she gave him the tips of her glowed
 with smilin
turned to welcome

.prise, sufllcientl
*« ,‘ther e tall b
or the g owing

H they stood byMrs.

old millionaire. '

ju. .thropged info And she seemed so
J y.  and I i

indifference, and then
, ~ .De Laney, with hi ht-
‘ ened loolor and her, bosom pulsing under
 admirer’s rapturous glance, that he
find it impossible to have the chance
r and not take this exquisite piece of flesh
into his arms and
g. lips a. few warm kisses. And ugh De
‘ *  the other man whose admiration for
K, the li evCuban was‘boundless. He longed to
_ " ‘ l’s‘aversion for him; to capture
1» t for his lded‘ cage: and he was
; j'inearersuccess thanhe ream
" “Dance with you! I thin

 j q “I find the’flrst two quadrilles
I, I, are reservod 'for Mr. De Laney, and I shall not
I  at least, not so early in the evening.”
,and walked away, while
, V rd this pointed remark,
find who had not even dreamed of asking for
$52 dances in question, asked, eag .‘rly:
 ‘Iljthis true, Miss Sanfrey?
 me as to save me these uadrilles?”
..  "'ny ycucare for them,” said

waste 11 on the

 

ed.
k not,” said Issaleue

for their weddin

J  Alanbowed cooll

Er. DeLancy, who ad spent their winters
At first Mrs. “Gardiner had thought of takin
Carl proposed to spen

 

a house‘intown, but as ‘
two or three men the in California and the South, ‘
which would leave her alone during the-1; renter
rt of the winter and earl
decided that Agnes shou
at the hotel—the most elegant rooms in the 
house being secured for “the bridal entertain-

ment. ‘

With all the social demands made upon 'her,
and the demands of dressmakers and her love
Miss Gardiner still spared, from her limits
time, an. occasional hour to spend with Mrs.
Clyde Chandor, in whom she was greatly in-
terested. Mrs.Chandor had only, availed her--
Gardiner’s invitation to visit
Meadow Grange for. an exceedingly. brief

tied; and, since her establishment in town,

ad requed to make many acquaintances
or to frequent any entertainments, unti
the return of her husband.
mother-had thou ht this determination quite
.had made no attempt to
urge her to go out, and with the exception 0!
the little dinner- art giveneher by kind Mrs.
Wilde, and the ca Is 3 e had received from the
ladies she met there, Paula had quite Withheld
herself from‘ any cempanionship but that of' the
But then, she was so used to bein
much alone since her marriage and she foun
ht .in caring for an

she did notlthin’k she was/musing
much in foregoing the opportunities opened to
her for seeing something of the society m which
Cl do so desired she should be known and re:

ved. ‘

Toward the last of November, Guy Chandor
had, returned from his quest Ior Elise in Wash—
ington, Baltimore, and Philadelphia—~returned-
as he had feared that he would,
ad made every endeavor through
advortisement, detective agency and private
to discover some trace 0
was to his [young cousin, and gave" ‘

tm’ia‘t'gmlocntymggfi

 I .. r  .. spring, it Was final-

; s f,“ on cannot doubt that,” he answered, with d receive her friends
I g nce. , " '

Issalene placed her. haud‘within his arm,

wly and statel ,they walked through

first quadrille; and hen—Miss Sanfrey had

\waltz; would she not prom-

flit}

mama: him? , 4 ,

es, but it is already getting warm here,”
" Imal ‘,‘ Do you mind going to the. con-

a breath of fresher au— 1”

 and the mom

from the glare and
they were alone Is-
, him with gracious warmth,
 thank you for our lovel flowers, Mr.
 Laney. A a proo that I y ued them be—
’ an that were sent me,1 selected a few to
you do not mind my presumption.”
, {you do not know
happy 1 should be

At what?” questioned Issalene, ‘

' to believe that you wore them as
t1 proof of re ard for the giver. You
, . San ey,” he went on, fairly
7 bhng With eagerness, “that I have adored
fi'om themoment we first met; and if I
win your promise to become my wife, I
should consider in salt the most blast of men!
my dreams, Miss Sanfrey!
I ruined my cease by thus hastily declar-
it, or is there'some hope for me?” .,
 I to understand thisas a p posal

raisin her darkvelvety eyes to ‘

‘ ensh y drooping them. '
and at me know my fate, sweet .

, , ,thering.‘hopetrom herglance,

her prettyrlhandst

, have no}; the sun:

  
 

for the best, an

 

  
 

testobjeofl] to,
‘ dam on 

  

 
 
  
  
  

 

 

'   _;; 7
" ’” {pmygfia

 

  ‘ _  minimums? ‘~ ,

    
 

 ' a  7-;‘talaamakel 
,ouldi‘glgéeagn all  lady,»asu friend 
Jofherown sex. ' ' ' " ' ’  v-

“I suppose'you know, cousin Gdy," Paulahud 

I said to him, durin their firstdbnversation at— I;
' ter his return to ew YorkJ‘that Miss Gan ' 
‘ diner is‘to be married next month?” « v , I i
“ Married next month! Impossible!” and
g Guy suddenly arose and'walked to the window. ,

Then, biting his lips underlhisdeir mustache, he. ' g

58.16. to hi . 1f angrily: 1  H ,
“"Guy Chandor, are you a fool?" It is no}; im-
wssiblel Why should it be?” and then he went
as suddenly back to. his seat opposite "Paula,
whom he had startled by his vehemence. , '
“ No, I did not know it. I did not even know
that she was engaged. You quite surprised me.

Who ’is the man that has drawn the rare .'

prizel’ - l r x .
“ You like Miss Gardiner!” asked Paula, . .,
naively, without answering his question. , ,
“Yes, very much. I her an admit-ebb ‘ 1
young lady. ’ ' ‘

“Sodo Ll Ilikeherbetterthan any liadyll ‘;

ever knew. Mrs. Lysson was real km and .
nice, but it was partly for her sister’s sake,  ,3
know. But Miss Gardiner is even nicer. he ‘”‘

does not make any time over ou, but she . \

makes an feel that she is . just as onest ragga “
be, an that you are to her just what her t-i ,
ment of you shows. “Why, she knows all about
me, and yet she has never, by 1001: or wor
shown that she did not think me as Worthy
her friendship as any lady born.” I
“ One of our great poets says: ,
“ “Kind hearts are more than coronets,

And simple faith than Norman blood.‘ ‘ ;
Miss Gardiner believes in the theory that mind, I, 
and manners, and gooodness, makes the lad . , >‘»
But you have not 1d

“A Mr. Carl Van Alst——he isvery rich and
handsome, they say.” . “ \_ '.
“‘Ah I remember! I met him at luncheon 
fincer 2You knew him,'Isuppose. .Do you like? ‘
1111 l. * ‘
“No, I don’t know him. I have never even

mewhomsheis ' l,

seen‘him. He came once to Meadow Grange’ 

while I was there but he missedatrain and
was too late {or the regular dinner, and was ,2",
obliged to breakfast ear y, to get back to town
to attend to some important business; and the
night of Mrs. Wilde’sdinner- y be was not ,
well and Mrs. Gardiner and ' Agnes and I 7
'Wcu all together.” i ' ,  . , as
" 1t iii-strange that I have not heard of this 
ore ‘ r I ’ "

 

b“ I thinkthey have only been engaged‘siuoe ' ’

l the last of the summer, and it was not made. ,-,
| public until they came to town. ‘You will be at  
g the wedding}, I suppose?” ' :
“Be at t 6 wedding! Be at the wedding!” ,.

re atedGuy, with a startled, far-any look. 
“ 0 I do not think, I shall be at the wedding.” &
“ orgive me, cousin Guy, for asking you. , I
do not wonder that you cannot. like weddings.»

2 But you will come and see me often, now that, 

: {gm are in New Yorkl” she added, as Guyaroso
o , .

‘ I cannot promise you, my little friend ” he  
: said, gravel . “I may not be in New ark 
‘: long. I fee like ettmg back to England, to . g

to mother ands: rs.” . 

’ ‘Andare you in right awe ' ’ , 1 v 
“Very soon thfilk. I haynothingffor  
which to stay here. Buthill seeyou again, I "2;
before Isay good-b to America.” , “ ~ ;
‘But it is not so ely» woman’s rerogati’ve to :9

change her mind; men occasion y avail them- . w 
selves of that privilege. Guy Chandor decided 

to postpone his return to England until his. cow"

sin Clyde arrived in New York, about thereon" 
teenth or fifteenth of December.  he had . 

made this decision he called again upOn Paula, :v ,
and then sent his ’card to m and Miss Gare .

diner. ‘ I ,  I   a 'C,
“ Ah, I thought it strangeyou were slighting g

us,” Agnes said sm , as he was shewn‘ into. 

their-parlor. ‘zMrs. ’C yde Chandor tom us you
were 1n New York.” ‘ v-

“ I have not called before,  I ithou the", 
that I should only see you to say -by.’ at y:
I have decided to remain here's aufew'weeks~ ’ 

v r J L

more.” I r A , y.
“ I and led of the ” Agn'esrepliedé, cordiall 7;‘ .
[and thongshe thrill strangely wi j  ,
and embarrassment as Mr. Chandor still  
,her outstretched hand and gravely said: - .  I 
“Allow me tocongratulate ouu uthe a _,.
{monumemwmh 1. .‘T° 1mg
.y 11., i ‘-  1 ‘ ,, r V- {iv/J ‘

     
    
 
  
  
  

 

 

\-

' I

 

   

.  (self-scorn, that s

 

I was gettin the ous, and
turned her the hts to Mr. Chan or. he knew
that it’had cost im not a little to ofler her his

f , congratulations; that he was thinking keenly of

his own weddin , and the mystery and pain

 that had follow it.

“ Your Cjgmrney has been entirely unsuccess~
ml Mrs. andor. tells me,” she said, reverting

5? to‘the subject that she believed to be occupyifi

I

1

=1

' ‘ should have

his mind. Have you decided to give up
further attem to find Elise?” .

- “I have bu'r ed all my hopes—I marvel that
ever entertained any, he said, almost dream-

“ While there is life there is hope!” exclaimed
Agnes, uickly. ~ “Pro do not ak sodespair-
ingly. " on make me eel that ‘
responsible for your latest failures. I
guarded more carefully the papers
Mr. Lysson ave to my core.”

“ Do notb yourself for a moment, Miss
Gardiner. I have no reason to believe that the
envelope, and one of chirography, would
have aVailed me in the least, unless there had

‘ been ”some very3 marked pecuharity about

them. .
V “ I do not remember that there was,” replied
Agnes, thoughtfull .

_ ' ‘At all events, ' Gardiner ,”-—looking up,

suddenly, with a faint smile—“ your connection

\ __ ’wigh this affair seems about to cease complete-

‘7'-.: ' l‘yz‘ Yes, and without any of Mr. Lysson’s pre-

, 3 developments

monitions bein fulfilled in regard to the future
glint were to come through m

a racy. I wrote Rachel, yesterday, that

 ‘ . tition had been rewarded as superstitions

M, I I,

"  prised, Issalene, if

I deserve. The fludin of the envelope had nei—

, that brought me nor ill, nor to those more

I deeply interested it, any success.” ‘

. ,. CHAPTER XXIV.
01mm PRESENTS aim OTHER mos.
. “Bundling Carl’s woddin «bards have come I,”
and Issalene tossed anopen envelope into her

' cousin’s .18.

“What no ones! 01 course everything will
be in the greatest 313:: I should not be'sur-
1’s wedding ,proved the

andest one of the season.”

”  ' gr“ No. doubthe unflattering himself that. it will

"be a very brilliant aflair,’ said Issalene, care-

: ~ lessly,’not looking up froma pile of gay wools

. ' on ou.,
. gigge pigk crape with black velvet; and there

I

,i

 J \, ' them.”

 “ 11, you may



my

  

j Minn a phage She ke sum: ht on crossing
' “snug atter‘avenue, ugh she. left the fash- themh‘aud wrote:
. measures wrists    : * e... 1'
 i g , ' seoun  ,'._ ‘ s:  
“WW? « mm‘m- am“ :thetlnae  ‘ ~'

’. aided. u

f ‘ hereon?“ Avenue A‘

,'she was sorting.

_ "“ ‘GremChmomatfourr. n,’”roadBlanché,

 gingitwfll be lighted What shall you wear,
” “ I'donot know—Ihave‘not thought—white,

,I has 6.
I“ V5313! Well, ivo white will look
I must as mamma to let me

611*
V6

are the resents toselect. I think momma will
give a rouse; and I decided some time 3.30

r 11an mine.”
‘ ,What?" (gnarled Issalene. ,
“ Gloye handkerchief-boxes of solid crys-
tal, 89!? in a gelicate frame—work of carved Bl].-
ver, and “With puffs of blue satin.” i

. “ You andauntiehave been invhaste with your
selections}? ‘ '
,, .-“Wh , thoxrweddi is, the eighteenth and
this is t o'eighthavand ore is alwa more or
» less oppmgto 0 before you can nd an arti-
>clet toxactl suits yesj even if you have do-
n w t it be. I Would really
like to w what uncle Fifederick will give
 u A, set of jewelry—to Agnes; I remember
that he spoke of it, when we were selecting my
ends. ‘ ‘
, have you not thought at all what pre-
sent oushallmake’i” W m. _
depend upon my. making a
good selection, and in good time,” said Issalene,
gathering up her WOOIS and 801113 to her own
m .

-' There she put on her hat and cloak, and fas-
‘ toned aheavy v i1 over her face; when thus
arrayed; she, 'sto ' uietl out of the house.
When she had reac ed

     

. . for a androdeawaydown
‘   

a nether,

’ .pér: ’and’that wistful-looked  I

 “Mammy ‘13:? hifimage 9°"! “We? lei???” “f”

‘ era"  ' n ‘ ea e g was

' teryunsatisfg ' ,a desire to'cryout‘ that

it mustv‘not be. Bu; she resolutely conquered

these impulses, saying to herself, with supreme,
e

' 'Ailittle’sh

am,inade-.

r , instead of .10
9 come!" ’ - Effie drew her desk nearer.  M in

   
 
  
  

 

at, .

. stresths article: or
two,‘and~'then entered a smail. ~ I ~ roe  , ‘
featured mancame toward her.
“Ah, mees as come." . r _ r

" Yes; ycuvhave the powder ready?”

“It is uite read , quite ready.’_’ . / ~

“ And am re ywith the monein promised
you-where is it?” ‘

“ ere, mess,”
upon the counter.

“ Very well; open it, and
cat there! I will wait until see its effects.”

‘ What! iscn my cat—my pet cat?”

. “Cer’ra' y! Do you think I am such a tool
as to take any Worthless mixture you might
choose to palm oil? on me? See here!”-—-openmg
adaintv purse-—-“ here are these three, crisp,
new bills for youv—more money than you can
make in this vile little store in a year. When
you put upon this counter a aper of powder

hat is powerful enough to uic 1y kill your cat,
they are yours! Cats are p ent ! ’

The man hesitated, and the girl added:

“ Come do not be stupid! You have your
choice. Give me a powder that will kill surely
and uicklv—or none! You can get in no
troub e. ore is the mortal to prove that I
bought it here? Will you ve it me or not?”

Slowly the man prepar another powder.

“Now leave the paper 0 n and let me see
you take some out and give it to the cat.

Reluct'antly the drugglst obeyed the girl's im-
perious commands. The great, sleek gentle cat
rubbed urrin against histh as he touched
it, and t e g‘ir looked on unfeelingl and with
cally, while it lapped the deadly‘po ion mixed
in water. The trial was soon over; the animal
shortly rolled, and writhed, and moaned, in aw-
ful pain, and then suddenly lay rigid and life-

ess.

“ That will do!” cried the Cuban, triumphant-
ly, and she, herself, folded,the pa r over the
powder, before she threw the ban motes upon
the counter, lowered her veil, and left the

sho . v .

lghen she reached home she ran quickly to
her room, unlocked a little private drawer
where lay a small revolver, and deposited the
powder‘beside the weapon.

“ I have you both now!" the girl cried, fierce-

] .
y“I’ wonder when will be the time to use

laying a tiny white parcel

. you?

It was just a, week afterward that IssaJeno
Sanfrey locked another treasure into that little
set-rot storehouse—three papers. One was a piece

' of chocolate-colored paper, the torn cover .of a

novel, 11 which Was written an address in
lead pencil; the second was a torn envelope—
bearing the name of Mrs. Elise P. Chandor;
and the third—mas the most important of them

alL. - . ~

“ I have been in luck to-day l” she cried, with
fiendish lee. “ Everything is in my hands,
now, an I will see what it is like to peréonate
Fate! You shall not die, Alan! Oh, no! I could
not think of killing you, now! You shall live,
because I have a much better revenge in store
for you than murder! And your love-the wo-

' man for whose sake you repulsed and insulted

mes—she shall find how she likes being a bride
only at the altar! Onlyat the altar, my lady!
For within an hourafter you marry Alan you
shall know all! all!” I , '

The little Cuban was wild with exciteent.
Her eyes blazed, her checks were flamin , and,
as was ‘usual with her when moved b ntense
emotion, she paced the floor with rap' restless-
ness. It was‘a lon time before she grew calm;
then she drew a 0 air before the table where
her writing-desk lay, and folded her arms
ukpon  wearily; her eyes drooping in deep
t oug . , ' » r

‘f It must be done!” she said, at lastésgpening
the box and taking out a sheet "of c y por-
fumed paper, and her tiny gold pen. “ It must

be done! I must conquer in every way—even

conquer myself! And, after all, I' will take care
tomake m lot easy. How I shall d and
what jewe I’ll have—and loversl ~Ah‘,_ Will
be the belle of society this year, yes, for cars.
for I am young and handsome !” and she g need
at her reflection in the long mirror of her
dressing-case. “And if,” she added, still re-

gardin that beautiful, but fiery-eyed little figs.

lives too

ure, “ e attempts to control me, or
there is always the powder!” ‘ -

  
    
 

:noueeusetotrdalt; , '  Ixtprepose _-Thurs<uy jf
.thee hteeeth  or ammonium-clay. it .9 all: 
be a s rictly private w , _ ,_ g——no one but .you" all“.
I to know anythingabout'it until it is announced to.
the papers the hex "morning. . When you compete 35*.
escort me to Miss Gardmer’s weddin , come a half;— \
hour early, and I will be ready, an we 'can‘ drive. ~
straight to some c‘lfi‘xgyman’shbe maimed, and their; is
go on to Grace Oh and t e Van AlstGardhmr 
reception. The next morning we will start; for:
Havana. I want my wedding-trip to be a visit to

VB some to your), my home. Come to see me to-night, prepared to.

. assure your little love that you will carryout all. 7 i .
her arrangements. . . J _ \
‘Devotedly yours, ‘ IsuLm-‘l , 3, V,
Her note sealed and addressed, Issalene ran _ >
yl down thestairs and sent for amesspnger, :
Edda iver it. Then she walked into the library, \
and surprised a couple there: Blanche Lorrimer 
and Henrion Wilde. They stood by the tub  I .
where Blanche had just dropped some - 5’ w
and Henrion ex lained, gayly—thcugalzethere '5, ,
wasa trifling loo of confusion onhis , ,u’n‘d ,. : .
happy and mischievous lights smuggling for 8a. 
premacy in his henest. eyes—that a had a
shopping with Miss Lorrimer, and had 5, 
helped her bring home her purchases. « ' > 
“Yes, I have been getting my'presents, 
Agnes,’ said Blanche. 'v i ' ' 1 7
‘ Have on? Well, Ihave chosenm presegii .
” ex Issalene; “but I not , f» y,
what it is. I want it to bee. surprise toevetr,  ’7 ‘J-

 

one!” and she went demurel away, Wt,
her cousin and Mr. Wilde to air énmtuul no 5
tionsandconfidences. n  
cnmnnm. _: gs“?
AGNES’S WEDDING-DAY. " ‘ r : I H ,
Tnonsmv, the eighteenth of, December, Ag - ‘
nos Gardiners wedding-day, came with a flood 

21% sunshine, and the clearest of pale 
“My darling,” Mrs. Gardiner wh » V' , as = 
she went to awaken her daughter, an  “
to kiss the round, white, faultless cheeks,‘ ‘1! .
thereisanyfaithto beplaced homegrva ,5:
ht to be a ver happ marriage" - 
fiofiding-dayisa yrfect «he» ' ‘  . 
Agnes opened d  eyes, malaria“ her  .,
droo again‘an eshivered .2. -,::.'
“wagerinde z” - ‘ y. ‘

“Nothing, mamma. It isatrifle
room, isit not?“ \ . r J, r 
“Perhaps a little. Shall I send your 

dearl. I would not let her call you earlier.”  »
“Yes, please.” ‘ ;  ‘ * v'  
The wedding-day were toward theweddin 
hour andall t e muons were 00  ‘
forthebridal onto ent.  salcnsupon’ 2
the parlor floor Were thrown nto one, and“
walla-commas, chandeliers, and 
a mass of "vines, interspersed with roseva eve-.3
ryhue. For roses—Garl’s orders had , ' 
and wide; he had furnished and so 
the decorations, and had determi that reheat
however hard to obtain, should be the 
nant flogver; {3).}; his wegfiin . Grudge: 
pyramisc ossoms man 89‘ ,
available table, and choice floral do“; 
doubled in every mirror. The stairwa 
rghon'idors were‘ d arch! thee of tropicalbloom, aw  at
en en 0 opal-or unga .‘
engage? of ‘ flax and»

 
  

m - m1
spiked with fragrant clusters ,

‘ some. While the salons upon the next floor, 

voted to the many costly wed 

to the convenience of guests, ' _ 

prii‘melmmny dammit“ I e. pare hibernalla’ 7 ‘ if of
' ' ess room I ' - '_

her toilet were scattered’ebeut, “fete,

was being adorned for" the bridal ceremony
She eat before her dressing-Wan, wheeling

thin wrapper of pufls and embroidery, he? 
ty feet incased in white satin boots, emguisrtslye
embroidered, while her maid arranged
trons reddish—brown hair, and her 
little Mrs. Clyde Chandor flitted  

{lung over the dainty bridal dress of Mind
ace. 1

Mrs. Chandor, who was only going  H
church, and had been up to view the 
was chatting of them as she helped,sor
ed to help, with Agnes‘s toilet, ' I ' r 394

, “What an elegant picture that: k, that fir
and Mrs. Lysson sent; and I likeoonsln 
poresents, those lovely golden hliee_holding_ ‘

list-bottles.” / A   t. I‘

 

“Andi like,” said Agnes, smilin 
, uisite little mod on 'ds that 
ghmdorsel ,to , my.jewels._’l ,;

‘f Oh,_Ididi18tselectiten y!”  ' (

* m new as

  
  
  
  

  

 

 

  

  

 

..  who,” ." ,<

   
  
  
  
   
   
    
 
 
  
    
 
  
    
  
 
  
     
   
 
  
   
   
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
   
    
   
  
 
    

enemas. ana- the arse  he‘hhd pain ted
 wash-not a correct likeness, and
 there Was wnsidemblexdelny about getting the
 finished. Momma,
slim Chandor ”

 «m  placed a satin can inrauln's
 hands, containing a necklace and locket of dia-
m /

om .
l - ,‘imow magnificent! May I look at the pic-
ture?” r r

.1 5"“ Certainly; then when you see Mr. Van Alst
in church» you will be able to tell if you think

,’ it a nice one.”
 hum the flashin cover that hide
v, flhs‘l ' ed ivory—ty‘pe of r1 Van Alst.

1; .“  an’Alstl” she cried, with
, tYes,” said A as who was stud i the
' meat of  in the glass. ‘fi you

llth looks?” ,
g ' handsome man, is he not?”
 “fie isco ' cred so.” 
'. “And are his eyes. and hair, and beard, cor-
 colored, here?”
' “ ”es, I consider this a most perfect like-
' , Paula closed the locket and replaced the dia-
mhnds in, their case. "
, V'.“_I mustgo,” she said; “Clyde and Guy will
 me, by this time. And I must say
good— toyou, for I shall not see you after
=1 you-come from the church. I hope you will be
» very happy,” she murmured. tremulously, as
I  she 1)le her lips to Agnes’s brow. And then
r  ran swiftly to her own rooms.
v.;’;t.“Qh, Cl do!" she cried, rushing into their
c. ‘ 014'va ' fl! ng herself at her husband’s
,9 e and embling and tearful. “Mr.
nasal an Alst is the gentlemanlwho gave me
-' that envelope last summer 1” _
. "“ lei” cried Guy and Clyde in a

p  'r‘ig‘x‘nt'it is! . I havejust seen his 'cture."

  f‘»  a picture,” said her has and, laugh-
 ,a if ttin her. “You cannot tell an -
. ngby t. ‘ bably,when yousoehim, e
’w 1 not look at all as you think. ’ ,
‘-‘ But it was an ivory-type, Clyde; and the
color”)! his eyes and hair and heard were

libero, and I could not be mistaken. I never

\ saw any other man who was handsome in the

;:  ngy be’wasdwith tSIICIfIt golden—bng

- , , an board, on so eyes an e

such a" dark. foreign lace. Oh, no, was hot

 fleisthemanl I AndIdid notdare
  gentlemen looked perplexedly at each

' 'j‘. ‘f What shall you dol’,‘ asked Clyde.

/ ,le 1know,”answered Guy, gravely,

 -“ I   that when Paula comes to
 Mr. V9.33 Alst she may discover that she is

5.“.1'10, I’ am not mistaken!" interrupted Mrs.

‘
a
.l

 

 have known all ‘along‘that her lover
 man, or that heknows something about

were the said, without answering his
 “ have yen an envelope han-

ehsstilypenciledalineouoneofhis cards,
it in an envelope, and left the room. He
 decision-whether it was for good
? Who could tell? ,
. . Mr. Go ” Ghanléiioreg momAgnent’s inflor-
' e are 1!) es, rea ng
ht to her while her maid com-
ure. Still, when“ the lustrous

' :hndhraidswereallarran shewentin-
the little parlor where he wa:
In the instant d which she approached
, j j Ml—‘oflended, hal —anxious, Gu tho ht
how‘wcndrously fair she was, and ow c m,
 almost repented of his errand; but, then—
  waiting for’him to speak, and the die

t “I shall not ask you to excuse this strange
* Miss Gardiner: f I am wron , perhaps,
 time in the future, you will generous

 r ‘ h to pardon me: ii? rigth know you will
’ theright, atanycost. I wish toaskone

3.? .
 uesidon~do cu know whether Mr. Carl Van
  or met: Elise Wallbridge, or



'_ her

 

  i

&‘ . 4
‘1

b. w‘

pleases show it to.

.9‘ 0r,” contlnu her husband, “ may not Miss

 bdlpni

 your, lawn question——
colu‘ld‘he heaekngrni” .-, . firth, d« 'l

or a monie Agnes stood ' moped
eyes, her checks 3. living fiamecclor; then she
looked u , and turned ghostly white, and wrung
. her h together. > -

“Mr. Chandor, lease get a carriage ready
for me, and I ' join you at the door in less
than a minute.”

She hurried to her room, caught up a shawl
and wrappe
maid that she would short y be back and flew
down to the street where Guy awaited her, and
led her through the canopied arch to‘the curb.

“I want to go to Mrs. Lorrimer’s. Please
come with me! Tell the driver to go at his ut-
,most speed. There is over a half-hour yet, be-
fore Carl will come.” .

They entered the carria' and the horses

- fairly flew up the avenue. or some minutes
neither 5 oke: then Guy could not bear longer
the awfu‘l) silence, and the sight of Agnes’s
rigid, ghostly face.

this may be a. terrible mistake I”

“ If it is a mistake it must be proved before
In
dobnbts must be set at rest ;” an neither spoke
mer’s. . ‘
there, and Mr. De Laney was gomg up the steps.

Agnes and Mr. Chandor followed quick y,

_ and were admitted at the same time.

“ Tell Miss Blanche that Miss Gardiner wish-
es to see her, without an instant’s delay,” com-
manded Agnes to the servant. .

The mes was no sooner delivered than
Blanche Lorrimer came flying down the stair-

, way, and into the parlor where Agnes had
thrown herself upon a chair, a strange, white,
rigid figure—e few orange-blossoms nestling m

' her burnished hair, a plaid shawl wrapped
about her shoulders, and her. thin wrapper
trailing about her feet. Guy stood silent, near,
wondering whether some weighty revelation, or
only bitterimortification, was to follow the un-
heard-of interruption in the even flow of the
wedding arrangements, for {which he must be
held responsible. While Mr. De~Lancy viewed
the two with unspeakable astonishment.

“ What is it? What has happened?” cried
Blanche, making a brilliant central figure in
her trailing black velvet robe and a profusion of
pink crepe de chine. . I

“Blanche!” exclaimed Agnes, ringing from
her seat, and stretching both han entreatmg-
1 toward the girl, “ I want you. toanswer me a

ew questions, as truthfully as if you had kissed

“ What?” asked Blan 9, growing terrified.

“How lon have on known Carl Van Alst?”

“Almosta 1 my ife. He is my uncle Fred‘
erick’s nephew, you know, andevlsits us con-
siderablfiewhen in this country.” _

“Has ever seen or spoken of E1188 Wall-
bridgel” -- .

Blanche turned deathly white, with in sudden
dreadful suspicion.

" What do you mean? He has seen her twicé
«when she spent her vacation here and. one night
who following summer!” /

A nee turned to Mr. Chandor.

“ n it be possible?” she asked» faintly. And
at that moment another figure appeared at the
open doorway—n figure in white silk, and gar:
lands of roses, and glittering diamonds. looking
for more a bride than the bridenelect with her
'bloodless face and strange dishnbitle. ‘

“ Possible!” cried Blanche, excitedly. “You
do not mean—you can’t think—that Carl had
angthinlgeto do with Elise’s fli ht?” ‘ <

at, fore any one coul answer, Issalene

 

‘ .Sanfrey had comprehended the ‘whole scene,

and knew that, even now, thou h sooner than I
she had anticipated, had come t 8 hour for her ‘
mfififi'phssiblex” she said excitedly ringing
intovthe room. her cheeks aflame and er eyes g
 “ Elise Wallbridge loved him! and he
re n ove er even e mar- 9
pte m1 hi_Atall tsh
ried her, and she, his Wife—his true wife—is liv-
in not ten blocks from here i” ‘ ’,
ith a low cry Agnes sunk back into her i
chair, and the next instant, uickly following a
gal of the bell, Mr. Frederic Van Alst walked
to the midstof the pale  ,
“What does this mean! he ~emanded, glanc-
ing swiftly around. 2 I' ’
‘ It mating” replied Issalene, fiercely, her hate

 

,  _' 1'.  , W’mWfimfi-Wmthehusbfld of

I ‘ l

  

d it about her told the astonished .

“Miss Gardiner I pray, for your sake, that ;
marriage,” she said, starchy, “and even 3

again until the carriage reached Mrs. Lorri— 1
Another carriage had just stopped E

‘ drive back to the hotel for

L

l

1.   i

l.“ '\ "gonna: mints she Trail, with fiendish
, answe ,
triumph, 110%!!!)an ’, I" f
proofs that I . ,meant to gi-‘m Miss G or,
a hour from now, as her wedding-pr tl"

. Van Alst snatched the envelope frcmthe

, girl’s hand and fore it open. Three papers were
, within—the torn cover of a book, a mutilated
envelope and a marriage-certificate. ‘ v
“My God!” the roud old man exclaimed, as

, he read the last. ‘ If this is tru my daughter
Gertrude was never his wife!” on in the agony

,3 of this wretched discovery he would have fallen, .\
l had not Guy Chandor sprung forward with '

E strpggi outstr‘etclflgdfirmé. A]
E , poor gir 1'. an st said, 
[I his eyes and extending his hand feel??? an
; 1 ingly toward Agnes. “Alan Terrence is,
i m cod a villain! You may thank God that you
1 are not another victim. ” ' '
; u Alan
1 around questioningly. I
“Yes, you know—surely Carl told youw-how
; he came to change his name?” said Bl nche,
; kneeling b Agnes B side and chafing the grids)
elect's col hands. ,

“ No! What new fraud is this that has been
perpetrated?” asked A es with sudden fury.

“ Carl Van Avlst was
his grandfather’s will he was obliged to
the name of Alan Terrence and retain. h, ,
grandfather’s name, of Carl Van Alst. We all
supposed that you knew that”.

me .the certificate?”
Guy put it in her hand, and she read: .
“This certifies that the rlte of holy matrimony
, \Nvas o‘ezglebkratec‘ii betweern filanlb V. 1 cm
ew or an Elise . r o ’
June —-—. —-—, in the village‘olalDarbye‘near
phia, by me— Jomv b. EDWARDS.

. CHAPTER XXVI.

A ‘woeum’s nun AND A w’s co‘mseron.

WHILE Agnes Gardiner read the certificate of
her lover’s marriage to Elise Wall ‘
Chandor spoke softly to Mr. Van Alst.

“ Of course the wedding must he s , "

“Of course! 0f coursel”said Mr. an Alert
making a great effort to rally from the shock of
' the terrible blow that had come to him.
“ Well, will you attend to matters, sir, or can-

Do  think you

I be of service to you?"
“ I want Carl here! 003‘;
Y He will p '
ably be waiting there. And send a note round
f, to one of the ers—voung Wilde, perhe “to

 

 

God’s Bible and stood u on the witness-stand.”:| have the people sent home; just say the. the

wedding cannot take place, and use my mange.”
As Guy started to
Lane, , too, arose to
“ on are not
lone. clinging to 8 arm.
“No! Stay, Mr. De Inncyl” “old Mr. Van
Alst, firm) .

should know any further developments, that
wretched girl has to make, affecting the happii‘
ness of others and her Own character 1” H

“ How dare you talk ofme inthat we before 1

my afiianced, husband?” demanded azaleas,
Freaking out into another ungovernable fit of
ury. ' ‘ ' ‘ A ’ ‘
“Sup you tell me—itis quite time that
all facts were made known—bow is it that you
knew that Alan Torrence was married ‘an

n d
have Waited until this late hour before divulg- I

ingzsuch a villainous secret?” , . A
‘I did not mean to tell until he was mar»
ried,” retortcd the little Cuban.

.

“ salencl Issalenel” cried Mrs. Miner,
faintly. She had joined the group, and Blanche
had stolen to her side and
dreadful disclosures. But Issalcne took'no no
two of the horrified appeal. ‘

“What did I care for her?” she went on, with
a. gesture of disdain toward as, who now‘lay

back in her chair with contro . ed but ashy face, ‘

t. motionless, attentive listener. “ For her sake,
-~for four, I suppose, that I should betray to her
the facts that e had’bcen Alan Torrence', and

as Alan Tormnce‘harl loved Elise Wallbridge; I

for he learned that I suspected him-he made
love to me! ,For

that I had no substantial
and that mattei‘s had gone

roofs against him, .

far with her, for

Terrence?” repeated Agnes, looking ,

is middle name and by ‘

“And thecert'ificatei Will some one show I

~ 

Terrence, of V

bridge. Gur'v

fulfill these orders, Mr.‘De '
80- ‘ ’
lug without me?” cried Issa: \

“As the betrothed husband of '
my niece, ssalene Senfrey, it is well that you '

“Did I ,fl'ot '
tell you I was saving these papers‘fora‘Wedd, ,v
present?” “‘ 

whispered of the. ‘

her sakeeyvhen he believed"

  

 

new)... ‘ ‘-= ‘

. , J ., -
... karma. ury.-v.4...“zz.

 

iejfianmmaf a. 

.x
4.1mm.

“J «I: ,4.-n.r.1¢.m_x.

 

 

. herto dare to make a scandal by breaking her, ‘ g  L‘

‘ breaking to 11, now, with adores that made ,it' , .
I tool! of. unwanted   encasement. lustu on the streamer my  A
m wmmd that 4' 10M mock at mylovel insulted met .
Jon I VOX‘T‘Yh I would kill *"wl 4A ‘» l‘-I "‘71".  g 

 

tel  {realism flotilla}: .. Jen-ti. all of racial

  

    

I, V I
“‘l
,,.

 

  

  

 

 

1-,.

r"
l

   

 

‘ a [Wmkuessesws :

mars m

him in his true colors, and
him! And [have done itl” , '
“ You have yourself, as well,” sai

her g sternly. ‘ You stand before us
confessing to cruel , and wickedness, and mur-
derousresclves, the make you a fit subject for
a lunatic cell. You do not deserve the name of
Wm, H “but fiend! You are a disgrace to your

turn 1 r
“ “Egd on not better remember that last

mntence repeat for Alan’s benefit?” sneered
Issalene. r _
3 How came you by these papers?”

I can 'answer for how she obtained tvm of
them,” said Agnes, clearly. " She took them
tromm pocketbook whileat Wilde Manor.”

“Qulé right, Miss Gardiner,” retorted the

‘ little fury. ‘ I heardoyou tell Blanche that you

ens

specim shi as claws,
Whereby to trace Elisepeeéallbrici)

‘ , t: where-
about and I tooktbem, so that V were
' ’1? might not use them against ml"
' _ the certificate?” _
.“Perhapsshe stole that, too, or invented it,”
. cried Blanche.
“Oh, no! Do not flatter imourselvesl ,I was
'in  on Monday, and pped that save-
lope ta some change from my purse. When
' Ireacheduguother counter I discovered that I
had lost it. [I went immediately back and
found thatthe shag—girl had picked it up and.
’ handed it to snot er cnstomer—alittle os
' who was nearly fainting at sight of it. I claims
itzl'and then Idiscoveredthat the woman was

we.” ‘

‘f And' is she in New York?” cried Agnes.
' v ’ “ Not , ten blocks away, I tell you! I went
' ,‘ home with her, and got her to tell me how and
When she was married. and I discovered that
‘ She had a certificate. She thought Alan was
7 already married. I told her that he had mar-
I'Ied'Ge‘rtrude, and that Gertrude was dead, and
», M be intended marrying a sin; and I er-
suadedhertogivemetheoe ' cats, lgte ng
he" that the lady was a great friend of lanche’s
, m  Blanzhszonsld show her the 
reven an marryin so y '
H and that when Alan found out Izhat we knew:
he would live with her, and let every one know

she was his wife 1”

“ 158818110! And did not intend to do
new asked Mrs. Lorring n ' un-
abletobeueveall thiswic'kednemof rniece.

m

“MPWW. Van  “You
had better becar’efnl how youuttermany more
,auch dammme Wemay berated:

use hem ag'am' '1 a we on no
' like! Isthereany embers,”hg§dded, ‘ who
 for Alan’s wife!” '

“I lgo,” said Mr. De Laney, arisingiwith
, ,finrevident desiretoeflect an escape from these
 and storm scenes.

ithout me said Issalerne.

“have to bemarried to-n' htl”

313 De , under cirmunstances I
cmlefl'oolybelievethat youwill stilldesireto
 Ifeuch isthecase lhopeyou
will understand that I, as her guardian, consid-
EI" Ygg honorably released. from your engage-

,“ Thank ‘you. I think Miss Banfrey will agree
With me that we had at least better
3 “FY  ratification of our engage-

' a “ 01‘. ' had bette -
96]“. Maps, we cconsider it can

entirely agreeable,” sneered Isssr _

' I _. well, we will consider it canceled,”
’  Mr. De La
2 m for the dark-eyed beauty, she had betrayed
a nilscrtiiipulous la1 goglity, and floods: rous
. dlfiposi. on for care rust uture
mailer  little, wicked hands. ‘

am at your command, sir,

  too, uncle Frederick. Poor little
And Winsome-emu me," announced Blanche.
the brllhan beauty, in her splendid cos-

tum set out '
mush: ,W 117k her elderly escort, to seek the

'V  faded little Wife, who, three
  figs. had been her pretty, innocent

Shortly after they were driven away an—
us other Gar .mléefid ughthe street, from which
Mrs dine, v ,
  3nd“

  

 

.d."1"

  

l u

“meta clear case a

“ You know ’

ncy, gravely. For all his

1 if I can go for,
the hey you mentioned,” he said to M1‘.'Van-

 
  

 

,  Carl van

fitment thatCafian Alst entered the
parlor, be guessed that something awful had
 and that it relatedtohimselfhe
not doubt, when he saw his uncle’s lower-
ing brow, Agnes’s colorless, scornful and
Issaleue’s blazing eyes and wicked, triumphant
smile; but that anything more than suspicion
wastogreet him,hedidnotdream.

“.What is the meaning of this?” he asked,
proudly and dictatorially. “ This gentleman,
mdicatingbGuy who had gently 1e Mrs. Gar-
diner to er daughter’s Side, where‘she sat in
mute pe lexity and alarm, “mformed me that
Miss (2 nor desired my presence here.”

“ We all desire your presence here i” rejoined
his uncle, wrathfully. “We wish you to un-
derstand that our weddin cannot go on!
That the man w 0 has one w' e livinmnd has
been of bi amgonce, and has mpted
toad sti ano or his list of victims, has
been detected/in his crimes!” /

There was scarce] a fierceptible change in
Cath handsome, (is is co. '

“ Suppose you explain what you are talking

about, air?”
need to explain, if you will read

“There is no
that!”

Carl took the slip of paper his uncle handed
him—the certificate of his in ' ' to Elise

Wallbridge—and as he realized what it was, his I
‘Is‘salene’s

dusk‘y face suddenly poled. Then
lau‘g rung out scornful and vindictive.
d ‘!"A.h, you see now what a woman’s hate can
0 .
Without noticing her, he turned insolently to
is uncle. . -
“ Would it not have been less idiotic, sir, for
you to have proved the truth of this paper, he
ore making all this fuss about a miserable lie,
probably concocted by that insane girl yonder
who is willing to commit any absurd“?! the
she imagines will. be a rave upon me or not
new]??? to fall in love wit her?”

‘ . an Alst ” said Guy Chandor, calmly
addressing the elder gentleman, “if you will
allow me to s ak, since I am ve sadly and
closely conn with this affair, I bink can
prove to Mr. Alan Terrence that we have a
' nst him.”

on i” said . Van Alst, while Carl, with
a sneerin , impenetrable face, leaned against

the arc doorway.

“MLAlan'I‘orr inthishouse, met and
made love to Elise allbridge, and, y
enough, no one his or over r,

except the one woman whose eyes a riyal love

made'unusually keen. \ Eggplayed fast and laces
with his victim until at he coaxed or forced
here—a shy. [mid girl, easily influenced and con-
trolled—auto elog’ng with him. This is ved
b this certiflca , which has been ' from
whowillsoonbehere to cut nticate it.
‘ he has been identified byaladynowat
the verett House, who journeyed upon the
same train with him last summer from Balti.
more or Pbiladel his, and—J

“ From Philarfislphia,” interrupted Issalene.
“ That was where he kept Elise.”

“—-— And to whom he gave this envelope; little
thinking that, from the hands of the stranger,
it woul be thrown into a bureau-drawer at a
hotel, and remain there nearly two months, to
fall into the hands of the very woman he was
endeavoring to win for a wife, and, through
her, into the hands of the sister and husband of
the girlhe had seduced into an elopement, upon

i‘ r

the very day after her marriage

AW drew a hard, quick breath. .
“ y, she was not married to you! Have
you not noticed the date of the certificate! She
was his wife nearly a year, before that l” .

Ovm' Guy’s face spread a strange pallor, £01-
lowed by a look of relief—ahpost of joy. Per-

haps it me scarcely to be wondered at that, af~ ,

tor all this misery, and mystery, he was glad to
know himself a free man again. But, at gues's

the first she had uttered since 1113 en»-
trance, asudden change came over Carl. Hp
advanced to where she sat, and held out his
ligands with a look of mad. unconquerable pas-
s on.

“ Agn cu know that my love for you has
been nofigbut one terrible, unalterable truth!
You will not rob me of the One 10 .in hfe I
covet? You will not believe these't gs they
are saying against me?” ., ,

Even as he had turned to bitterness, the love
of gthers, so, now, his pleadings met only

. “Mr. Van Alstld'o  dare to
again: Your very '
pollution! Can;
and despise you '
He. 

S6

 
 
  

- ran through the broad

 

  

and

flare
«very

well 1’ You 

lanthanum
Isadsfy ouwithallthefactsl ldidlike‘

andthe lwsssofondofme, andmchaprst» 1;,

tylittle tamthatlwasfeolenoughtomar- . " _‘
her! That was three yeahs a o,‘next June.

that she shoul

Philadelphia instead of going directly on to

lwasarra

Chica o.
Saran thought was with the 

ome time, during her next year at school,'l. . ».
was to make the marriage known. Not a week   ,
after. I was summoned to Germany, whereI  
found that my dfather had $ust'died, and  '-
tbat I, the son 0 his den hter an eldest child, .
was to inherit a splendid ortune, only by drop: , "
filing my own name and  his, and martyr '

g my cousin Gertrude. I di not stop to con—  v
sider how, I should arrange matters  I ' ' ,
Gertrude a roved of the will, and we were; -» -‘
married. first thing I did, when I was free V 4 
and reached New Yorkagain, was to seek Elisa. “
I followed her to Chicago, and happened to be . ‘
at the depot {1133 as she and Mr. Chandortoolr a ., 
train for St. uis. I got, pen the same train,“
and accompanied them to Bt.Louis,and die-.H
cove by the hotel re ‘ter whothey were. ‘I. ’-.
could at understand 'se’s mugging.  -, '
wasnotagirltobetrayasemt, ‘ Ihadseht' f"
her a note, ust~before goingto German , 
fyi her t t it'might be months ' oreshe

from me. - " 4 l - , \ ,

“Anxious to discover if she had made  
revelations which wouldendeng‘er me, Liam
ly wrote her a note, as ' her toemeet‘me, as ,
soon as possible, not two ocks from the hotel. .
I watched the house, saw her come out, joined l 
her, and found that she had never revealed her ,
score but receiving a note from healpnefiam f‘
trey, mediately upon her return to Vamr, , ,
saying that Iwasmarried toGeru'ude Van , p " "
‘ and not hearing from me, she had believed ‘ ‘-  ;
Ihad never really married her‘ walnut”? 
 to confess this to an (we had allowed  _
seftobemarriedto  . Harlem's 
forms was so violen and she so dreadedher

estasylgd there almost aweekcher v 

 

secret bei discov that I u. ht best 10...», \
bring her st where settled being  - 
phi as Mrs. Terrence.” ‘ ‘ 

 ‘ I ., 
“ suppose you understand,” his uncle-do.  ;
mended, coldl , when th ‘ 
Emu; man’s
e  :11 W... W, m...
m it came your, :.
gatgr, revertsto myself: and t yonu-eflt 7
this moment liable «to arrest and 

for bigamyi’i 
“The props. you can take! 

venge,sir Ithm you will forage! 83:09ka-

onllyin  scandal number _ 

axes , erasure twang 

Viceto eegit quiet!” an%rl I

ly toward centre-cc. ‘ ‘
Ashe jerked

' the door, a tiny, ’ 1i
white facemeth andafiidful, ‘
“Alan! Oh, my Alan!” , , 1  1.‘ _
The man 0 tore himself rudely away  ‘
the little clint hands, and dashed: m
steps; and With a terrible, ( .
,wrung'the hearts of all who 1' nod, 2)
wife sunk lifeless urea the thresholdtlifi, Mes  ‘
Christmas-tides be are she had entered walnuts  -~
unruflied, untutored girlish soul. ~ \ " , 

I “mammmdmsv-'   1
'rwssman r 
to y p 

that time, 1881116316 he‘d shut beneath: '_
her own a menfi Guy Chandor hadcaeortett 
Mrs. iner and es back to thumb 
Mr.Fredericka sthad 
todball that he couldtowani  I 't, ,1
and k ing quiet, the terrible tro in w '  »
his gull nephew had involved stigma? , , .
eons. Forhehadseen that there mas. ‘ 
had scornfully advised, butane courseto f ,v
and that to hush up the whole matter as: much
.es possible. It could do no goodtofurther ,  
Alan, at the expenseof e scandal inw iché,
it would involve A the 
ry of his\dead dang ter. There weasel-e tobe'
enough si , that would get abroad, as itm;
»mer too, was thin of this, air ‘2’ '.
file and Agnes slighted at the hotel, whencethc’ 
canopy had been removed, a_ d curious  ‘
weretear awaythema centflomldecoe,
w ‘.,~;

' ’ huddered asshe passed :..
 that atthia-heur «a; .z


I

   
 
 
  

   

  
 

     

 

. . .

  
 

   

 

 

 



 

within  par—

fi jg‘rMiS’AVOEMFI could. y bear some ofthis sor-
 I,“ “bowl; hhinkm heart is broken, mammal
 'Itis‘only myp e hat autism and I have de-
~ ,’ served this p hmentl For days—yes. for
' tweaks, now, my' heart has refused to sanction
this martin 8., But I had not the courses9 to
reek it o l” and Agnes leaned her beau unon

sear Miner’s shoulder, and shed some bitter

W v J‘Bnt you will like to go immediately homo,
' _ to Meadow Grange. I; will telegraph and we
‘ ~ can start in the morning. '
y“,  , g, and come later.

. , presents. .
 “’ch momma, he Will do all he can to help
I ' no; and I shall rather spend the winter at home;
but Icannot’consent {to go, until I see Elise
g: . I r and know what she is to do.”

;.;‘ ‘3?wa well, we will stay over a day or two,
.» d’EWWlsh, butnowyoumustcertainly try to

get some rest”: z

I r

  
 
   
  
    
  
    
    
   
  
  
    
  
  
    
 
 
  
   
  
   
 
 
  
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
   
  
 
   
 

l
I",

I think Mr. Chandor

' 0?- ,which'her maid packed hastily away,
. .,  .wassoothedto rest byhermother’s gen-

. r».;.%nextmm-nmg.MissG-ardiner scutfor Mr.
f 'Gay Chandor andascertained that helhad tele-
, ,gmpneatorilrenam-s. Wallbridge and had
a; aletterxeadytosend to Rmhel bythe Satur-
' 5' er’ flan” mmm
’ - s,w er ypro .
,  Iprrhner met m with
.y sonic , _,t. Shescarcelyknewwhstman-
' nertoado towardhertriend, until esset
  at ease, by her entire forge ness of
~‘ aflfaudintenso hyfor‘Elise. Thissym—
_ thy Blanche y shared; and recounted
 l2!« haddoneortheyoungwife.
,3 :“The’i thingshesaidwhenshecameto,
' W midnight, was, ‘Where’s Alan? Mam-
.   untold- her, as gentlyas she could, that we had
1!, eat-tasdi but he could not be found, as he
  roomsfit mam ahgmhas not
5,; 9'  er an nurse,
,i’lvut‘she will notnoince it.” ‘ ,
. ; “Oanlseeher?”
 f‘gh,yee;_and I hope you can get her to

‘  Blanche led the way to the large room where
, « «Elise lay motionless , u n‘ the bed, and
x “ “m’i’gggmsgid, “Ila Side‘Ag‘ues 
.   ., c - . , am nor.
a ‘meou not km ms?” ‘
. ' ' At sound 0 that calm, musical voice, Mrs.
,  turned and looked into Agnes’s weary,
.white race.
_   J‘XOu were Rachel’s friend. I knew it when
' Issaieae; told me you wem to Alan.
*  Antigen loved him, tool I am sorry for ‘ on.”
‘ -; “ I cannot say that I loved him greatly, 
Sou need not be sorry for me.” i
2. v. “And you do not care because I stopped your
'w mg -

*7 “Gare! IthankGod tor $1] Did you never
 how ‘wroniirit, was, its, to keep your

warring: ea secre ,

.  ' Fv'f‘wm I re the girl, wonderingly.

v “It w have wrong to tell when hedid
m Nothingwaswrongthatldidior

 “My poor child,” said gently, taking,

,the tiny hand, “you are mew everything
wsswrongthathegotyoutodo. ft waswron

" tomoriutoanengagementand marflageo
.  av ' .  parents knew nothing—wrong to
V. Vi'lteepitssecret. gm so, seewhataterri-
_}  .on'onnbl 1 Alan to commit, when he
 tobethehnsbendoi his cousin Ger-
u  flsndwhat a terrible slum cemmitted
* ,3 against  Chandor. It i told, there
 .‘weuldhsvebeen none of his troublearid dis-
.. gracethathasbeengoingonfortwoy and

“mm”? M “i “:3” “3”?” 0.13
 ‘ ; owmuc uw
 bowel: thimtrom, and whatMmisery
, youwoifid, havessvedBacheLand Mr. Chandor,
; “figurpsmnts.”

 : waslookiugatherwith strangelystmt

Nude es. ' . ,
  I done all this! Hm they all

Marie can flmsh the ‘
madly attend to returning-the wedding? ,

' SoAgnee’sroomwaS clearedof the bridal I

, rot  not, sent

‘ yArethe’y. veryangry’ at met”. \ ’_ i '
~ ' ‘Angry! No, indeed! Theyallforgivo you,
I am sure, and will rejoice that on are 'foun
Your father and mother pro bly on their
journey here now.”

“Oh, don’t let them come! Theme see]
me and say I must not love Alan! and
cannot help loving him! I shall die Without

him!”

‘_‘ And leave ourbabgi”

" He did not ove the aby, and I do not think
I do much.”

“ lint you will by and by, and your parents
will loveit dearl ,,_too.”

“No, they w be at usboth.”

“My dear child how can you think sol Why,
my mother would love me Just the same no mat-
ter‘ what Idid, and so will yours. Perha she
will not have the same way of showing t, but

shewfll be kind.

“It I had than t so, pcrha I should have
 them. But did not th anyonehud
ever loved me, but Alan; and when he was gone
to113451 goons totallmytroublesto, dewanted

10 ’
“There was alwaE Ggod, to whom‘you could

tell urtrou

“ghmlfie ylikesdreadtull unpleasant,-
iousgeople;andlnevercared haveany~
fun dowithHim.”

\pitiful! , “you have

Agg‘leam our wholeIiIe
But, aboveallthings,re-

that‘God is love.’ He cares, most

,torallthosewhoareinerror or

astray, and Hewishes no onetobeother

pertiecglynatural, and joyous, andxtrue tothe
t.

‘ If ministers, and the le who call them-

selves good, taught that, ow much lees
there would be in the world,” the tElli-l ' -
with unconscious irony, condemning ose who
had been, inameamresponsible fox-heter-
rors and‘glufish in 

Pmsen c said, with growing terest
others herself: ‘

“ Do you know Mr. Chandorl”

“Yes, he is here' would you like to see him?!

“ Oh Pm‘utruidi’” she answered, shiv .
“ Yo’u need not , othim. He suffix» a

H

gentleman to think or say unythin "and
i288 signed to Blanche to call him. - _
a few minutes the tall, Saxon-fair man
kneeling at Elise’s side. ‘

“ Poor little girl!” ,

It was all he said, but the tones were so ten-
der, that Elise commenced to sob, and even
Blanche and Agnes felt the tears come to their

eyes. I .

“Do not cry little one! I suffered a great
deal at first. it was so hard, you see, not to
know where“ on were, and even whether yen ,
were alive. at. I have gotten over that now.
Iam only very 80% for you. If you ever
want’afriend, you ' notforgettbat amone,

“ No; oh,.nol” 2
Her visitors bade Elise good-morning. then,
and it was years before they two saw her again. .

Inna-'—

‘ enema xxvm.
Inns:me OF rm: MYSTERY.

Tomnon took‘a steamer-101' Europe
{allowing the Thursday
his wedding-day to

news was not hooker: to Elise until her
father and mother had been with hersame do
treating her with a forbearance and an on
scunexpec' tothegocrwifethatshehad
ta‘lilenflgack upcnbtggir m and prrgtetétlgn wit: ‘
s cc I weary 8p as so 0 open
ence. on she learned that Alan put the
weenbetweenhernndhimmeconeentedtoreo
turn to Chicago  her father’s ise that
he would write to er husband on demand of
him asuccinct statement of his lane in regard
tohis wire and child. She sti hoped in her
heartbroken way, that aid now return

Alan wo
,toher, orsend forherto otohim.

 

HA. ,1“, 1

.  r v nfiuifit’fll’ MW flags? 13° fibandt' mm
 '.“Y, to do so much ‘_ I ve an- e us 7 .
v knowgmmt you have caused those who lov' , ed directly to Italy, wherehs remained d
 you much mw—tmm and Mr. dgr' the winter, andw en that installment of m
 m swims" E I m. « some is“ nonsense
' “ ‘ ' a - l, .

,i
[wwv x. ,. M,

 

some  .  »

 

  a. v-

' . ProMbiwere earnestness; poems

. whohad
'l‘orrencc’s
death, except his wife,.a.nd
jealous Cuban ‘ 1, who been sent to'her
island home w are these who had suite ,
thro 11 her oped she would alwa s remain.

“ y dear Agnes,” said Mrs. nge, one day

n intimately  with Alan

. in May, ‘when she had taken a run down to
and had ‘

Meadow Grange to visit her favori
j casually mentioned Alan’s deatha ‘ I should
- very much like to know how the ' poor little
3 wife of his hears it.” ‘ ,
z “I had a letter from Mrs. Wellbrid
é terday. She says that Elise is more 'uiet and
‘ gatient under the blow than they had I red to
‘ ope. They are going to Europe with '1‘, this
summer, and they think that the change, and
being” with Rachel, again, will do her much

( , , .

gogAnd you have _tten quite overthe effects

0! that horrible sir I see. ‘ You were never

looking better and hand-omen” ‘
“Inmglud tohesr sndsolhowismsm-

eeks,
England. I never lmew an ‘to
latelg what trouble she made bemmn
and lanche Lorrimer."

Agnes,
“ finished;
Eh Iun . ,
thenMrsW egaveatinysi ,
thought otthehopesshehadboenwon tocherv
ishtorbersonand “Butlhlvethe
tell "sheoontln~
“ onis
“Impossible! I
Youmustbechsritable and
  111
a can . .V 0‘”
she loveshim and will behuppy.”

And he adores her.
rangi tossttleallo Alan’spro‘ ,a-nd
more nwas reall «his share on Wife and

child? And, now, Gardiner, I want to

Mrs. Gardiner iled. , .

“ Wguesknows best when she cares to $0.”.

“ ell, I should like to have her come to me,
again, for the summer. I am sure 1.510 no
know how I shall ever get on without her. Mr.
and Mrs. .01 de Chandor are comin .t’ ,,

“ That w be nice for you”, rep ed 
but for m seltIcannot Inflow i
feel most ike staying here at ow 
with momma." ' ‘ ‘

come too,~thissummer

their visitor -by.

G who made all . ‘
fer her.. 1321;? sweet-scented  
two promenaded the old  Chan-
dor said: .

' k

hopelessness

since I have known myself
todreamthatyou might one da‘
" and love me

i

see yondearWhecmweredmle’mn-
[fiend than his golden mustache brushed be
c
1.?

dthusthem
velvedtheh'two veswesreadetlast.

\ m m
. .

 

   

me who sincerely mourned. his " 
robably, the fiery. , - "

zeros

hasworrieda tmencend,tho h.
the test

“But matters are all right, now!” i  r ’y 
m s .

easedwith his choice.” , 
asshe

“0h, Iassureyou she is very fond or him" 
know thathedstm- " '

knew when you are oing to send Agnes into I
relocie’ty again? All 0 her friendsare  for ‘
er. _’ _

‘fPerhapsMrs.GardiI;-ierwillbeporsnddedtok
“ e willsee”said'iAgneswhon theybade}
httherecame another visitorto y '

.. ., ,r_
wm$mmmmmm,EM-‘_
whisked-sewn

e  may;

 

 

    
   
  
   
 
   
  
  
    

 

TR UTE STRANGER‘ THAN FICTIONI,

$55:— Ear-"‘3

"'5?  e

a-—=._‘—:L _ I .—

     

 

 

  

 

   

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M.

O O -—
x
l i'
“an. -‘
. . . . . ' . .

‘ in .
I in .2.

NOW READY AND IN PRESS.

1 Adventures of Bufialo Bill. Prom Boyhood to Man
hood. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.
8 The Ocean Hunters; or, The Chase of the Leviathan. By
Captain Mayne Reid. W An tantra large number.
3 Adventures of Wild Bill. the Pistol Prince. Remarkable
. career of J. B. Hikok. By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham.
4 The Prairie Ranch; or, The Young Cattle Herders. By Joe.
E. Badger, Jr.
5 Texas Jack. the Mustang King. Thrilling Adventures in
the Life of J. B. Omohundro, “Texas Jack.” By Col. P. Ingraham.
6 Cruise of the Plyaway; or, Yankee Boys in Ceylon. By C.
Dunning Clark.
7  Joe: The History of a Young “ Border Ruffian.” Brief
Scenes from the Life of Joseph E. Badger, Jr. By A. H. Post.
8 The Plyaway Afloat; or, Yankee Boys ’Round 'the World.
By C. Dunning Clark.
9 Bruin Adams, Old Grizzly Adams’ Boy Pard. By
C01. Prentiss Ingraham.
10 The Snow Trail; or, The Boy Hunters of Fur-Land. A Narra-
tive 0f 8Port and Life around Lake Winnipeg. By T. C. Harbaugh.
1 1 01d Grizzly Adams, the Bear Tamer; or, The Monarch of
the Mountain. By Dr. Frank Powell.
12 Woods and Waters; or, The Exploits of the Littleton Gun
‘ Club. .By lapt. Frederick Whittaker.
«3 A Rolling Stone: Incidents in the Career on Sea and Land as
Boy and Man. of Col. Prentiss Ingraham. By Prof.Wm. R. Eyster.
14 Adrift on the Prairie, and Amateur Hunters on the
Buffalo Range. By Oil Coomes.
15 Kit Carson, of Guides; or, Mountain Paths and
Prairie Trails. By Albert W. Aiken.
16 Red River Rovers g'or, Life and Adventures in the Northwest.
By C. Dunning Clark.
17 Plaza and Plain ; or, Wild Adventures of .“Buckskin Sam,”
(Major Sam S. Hall.) By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.
18 Rifle and Revolver; or, The Littleton Gun Club on the
Buffalo Range. By Capt. Frederick Whittaker.
19 Wide-Awake George, the Boy Pioneer. By Ed. Willett.
20 The Dashin Dragoon; or, The Story of General George A.
Custer, from est Point to the Big Horn. By Capt. F. Whittaker.
21 geadwood Dick as a Boy; or, Why Wild Ned Harris, the New
ngland Farm-lad, became the Western Prince of the Road. By
Edward L. Wheeler.
22 The 30? Exiles of Siberia. By T. C. Harbaugh.
83 Paul De . the French Beast Charmer; or, New
- York Boys in the :7 “118168. By C. Dunning Clark. ’
24 The sword Pnnce: The Romantic Life of Colonel Monstery,
(American Champion—at-arms.) By captain Fred, Whittaker.
25 Round the cm!) Fire i 0r. Snow-Bound at “Freeze-out Camp.”
A Tale Of ROVing Joe and his Hunter Pards. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.
23 Snow-Shoe Tom: 01'. New York Boys in the Wilderness. A
Narrative of Sport and Peril in Maine. By '1‘. C, Harbaugh.
2" Yellow 33115 the 30? Chiefof the Pawnees. The Ad-
venturous Career of Eddie Burgess of Nebraska. By Col. Ingraham.
8 The Chase of the Great White Stag and Camp and
Canoe. By C. Dunning Clark. ‘
89 The Fortune-Hunter; or, Roving Joe as Miner, Cow-Boy
Trapper and Hunter. By A. H. Post. '
30 Walt Ferguson’s Cruise. A Tale of the Antarctic Sea. By
0- Dunning Clark. '

81 The Boy.- cmsader; or, How a Page and a Fool Saved a King.
BY captain Frederick Whittaker.

88 White Begun-{the Indian Medicine Chief x or, The Ro-
mantic aud‘ Adventurous Life of Dr. D. Frank Powell, known on the

33 Border as Fancy Frank,” “ Iron Face,” etc. By 001. P. Ingraham.
capw Ralph‘the Y Explorer: or The Cacti 9
Among the Floss. By C. Dunnin‘Clai-k. ’ M

l

l

 

l

34 TheYoungBearHuntea-s. A StoryoltheHapsand Mishaps
of a. Party of Boys in the Wilda of Michigan. By Morris Redwing.

35 The Lost Boy Whalers; or, In the Shadow of the North Pole.
By T. C. Harbaugh. "

36 Smart Sim. the Lad with a Level Head. By Ed. Willett.

37 Old Tar Knuckle and His Boy Chums; or, The Monsters
of the Esquimaux Border. By Roger Starbuck.

88 The Settler's Son; or, Adventures in Wilderness and Clear-
ing. By Edward S. Ellis.

39 Night-Hawk George, and His Daring Deeds and Adventures
in the Wilde of the South and West. By COL Prentiss Ingraham.

40 The Ice Elephant; or, The Castaways of the Lone Coast. By
Captain Frederick Whittaker.

41 The Pampas Hunters; or, New York Boys in Buenos Ayres.
By T. C. Harbaugh.

42 The Yo Lamd-Lubber. By C. Dunning Clark.

43 Bronco Billy, the Saddle Prince. By Col P. Ingraham.

44 The Snow Hunters; or, Winter in the Woods. By Barry
De Forrest.

45 Jack, Harry and Tom. the Three Champion Brothers; or,
Adventures of Three Brave Boys with the Tattooed Pirate. By
Captain Frederick Whittaker.

46 The Condor Killers; or, Wild Adventures at the Equator._

By T. C. Harbaugh.

47 The Boy Coral Fishers; or, The Sea-Cavern Scourge. By
Roger Starbuck.

48 Dick, the Stowaway; or, A Yankee Boy’s Strange Cruise.
By Charles Morris.

49 Tip Tressell, the Floater; or, Fortunes and Misfortunes on
the Mississippi. By Edward Willett. " " 

50 The Adventurous Life of Nebraska Charlie, (Chas. E.
Burgess.) By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham.

51 The Colorado Boys; or, Lite on an Indigo Plantation. By
Joseph E. Badger, Jr.

52 Honest Harry; or. The Country Boy Adrift in the City. By
Charles Morris.

53 The Boy Detectives; or, The Young Californians in Shanghai.
By T. C. Harbaugh.

54 California Joe, the Mysterious Plainsman. By Col. Ingraham.

55 Harr Somers, the Sailor~Boy Magician. By S. W. Pearce.

56 Nobody’s Boys; or, Life Among the Gipsies. By J. M. Hofl
ma

:1.
57 The Menagerie Hunter; or, Fanny Hobart, the Animal
Queen. By Major B. Grenville, “ Sea Gull." ‘

58 Lame Tim. the Mule Boy of the Mines. By Charles Morris.

59 Lud Lionheels, the Young Tiger Fighter. By Roger Starbuck.

60 The Young Trail Hunters; or, New York Boys in Grizzly
Land. By T. C. Harbaugh.

61 The Young Mustangers. By C. Dunning Clark.

62 The Tiger Hunters; or, The Colorado Boys in Tiger-Land.
By Joseph E. Badger, Jr.

63 The Adventurous Life of Captain Jack. the Border Boy.
John W. Crawford, the Poet Scout.) By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.

64 Young MooseHunters; or, Trail and Camp-fire in the
New Brunswick Woods. By Wm. H. Manning.

65 Black Horse Bill, the Bandit Wrecker; or, Two Bravo Boys /

to the Rescue. By Roger Starbuck.
66 Little Dan Rooks; or, The Mountain Kid’s Mission. By
Morris Bedwing.
67 'Lo ore Hie; or, How a Rough Boy Won His Way. By
C. nning Clar

A New Issue Evory Week.
Bnnm’s Bor’s mum! is for sale by an Newsdealers, live cam
per copy, or sent by mail on receipt of six cents each.
BBADLB AND AD’AMS, Poemssnns,
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.u A-..” M.“ Ma... - ...... bMMngWflg _.

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' ,.  ‘ . a-..

(lane Masked n ide .or, Will She m:

- Him? Mrs. RegdCrowelL ry
a  It Love? or, 001le and Sweet-
'8 'Girfhnr 513%“ ‘31.. False.

e or, e e
.4 A BBentley 'fiiCaéltpbell. S . W
A rave on or tartling range.

. ~ Arabella. Southw‘orth? Ly 8t
‘6 Win .Baynor, the ‘VOl'k Girl or,
; he Qtucksands of Life. By William n

.~ f  'e ne’er?» 'Marri ‘ e or, A Duch in
 »  l - “fw-Hlfiifim’meren “5....
,. 1 u .1 r o r s. e or
' ' gum rt gto "angel? 1r Phyillsby
en ea or, a ' Love.
By Atabella Southwén'th’. ' ' m
n‘s

WUAJone in the World; or The Y
Ward. By mixthor of " Clifton," ‘Pride

‘ and
10‘. Pair 0 Gra E es o,Th Emerald
.- Necklace. ByBos’eKeynnedy. r e
(1‘) Entangled; or, A Dangerous Game. By
. ’"' eray.
, to in. win] Wire; or, Myra, theChild of

I 3 mAdgption. uBy lltllfitimn S. Stephens. m
» ' on to e no ,
‘ ‘N’ayal ’ ermséugl’inmn.

, - . adet‘s Woolxii. y Corinne
, . 314 My 1 Married im; or, The Woman in
‘B SaraClaxton.

' 15A Fair Face or,0uti th World. 1/
 BertleyT.Can§ibelL ' n a By
1‘0» Her .13; or,A True Knight. By
.r

,' ' t Leicrs .
. (1.17.111, Loyal Lover or, The Lento! theGrim
' he. B Aruba aSouthworth.

.19 I is Idoly or, The Ill-Starred Marriage. By
I,  ‘  , ry Crowall.
. 19 The! Broken Betrothul
 Hate. alias-y Grace Halpine. .
‘ ,- $040an ell, the Orange Girl; or, The
' v in ‘ Lost Heir. By Agile Penne.

Now and Forever; or, Why Did She Maré
 ,  Him? ByVHenrietta Thackeray.
.   c e Bride ot'nn Actor; or. Driven from
‘ a x /. *jiHome. Bythe authorof “AloneintheWorld,”
“ Clifl, n, ’ etc.
4 28 Leap ear; or, Why She Proposed. BySara
< n.
M Her Feoe Was Her Fortune. By Eleo-

 -4 nor no.
. . an only it sfizhoolmistress; or. Her Untold

_ y Arabella Southworth.
s“ ‘ out a Heart; or, Walking on the
 t . '  By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham.
.   as She n Coquette? or, A'
'Oonrtehi By Henrietta Thackera

 I p. y.
1;"3” j hi! Chase or, The Gambler‘s Wife.
7 M firs Ann 8. Stiaphene r' I B"
. r 99 Fol-lion near Select or. Saved From Him-
”I‘ acumen ton ' AMillionofMoney
- ~ ‘r . on no ‘ r or, .
 V SI‘ABEIAKAENIE’ "m1 ‘ ; ’Th I Will.
1 arr =9 e or,
‘ A DenisonF.‘ e m By

\ - ~

 , 39.nur he the Prime Donna or Roses
. v I ma Lilies’. B Arabella Bouthwort . '

1 9 98 The Three store; or. The Mystery of

f‘ -. .' lord, Chaltont. ' ByAiiceFl’emmg.

. 3‘ A lilierria e of Convenience; or. Was
  . :1 Bentham By Sara Gluten.

 “ .33 A I Against Her; or, TheWinthmp Pride.

: . y Clara Au ta.
. . ‘uefi- Arehwfiunnde or, The Queen of
‘ 'By Anibella So‘uthworth. His

  (The Country Cousin; or, All in not Gold

\' ‘ thatGl rs. BylloseKe .

 same own A anger, Trust Her Not. By
  Ammunition rt . ’

.. , wo
 V30 Flirtation; or, A Y Girl's GoodName.
; W

B  bAbarban 1, R
“we marginal-ya or. Bill. Bonds.

‘ , ~ n.
.41 Wild Devotion or, Love Against the
. %orld. By Alice Fléminf.
42 Beatrice, the Beaut ml or, His Second
, Love. By Arabella Southwo h.
. 43 The Baronet’s Secret 3 or, The Rival Hali-
l. u} ‘4 1 Sara. (il‘axtou.
 _ I .4,’ e aug tcr or, Brother against
‘ l»  WorkilgiaAliceg‘leminé. ‘ mom“.
' ' yer _ e’nl o’c_orl.ovel_At_
‘j y, I By Arabella, Southworih. , "
f 46 The Little Heirees; or; Under a Cloud.
,5 A Bme. Mary A. venison. ' a
H  .Hlmgor,Holell
v. .’ ' ’11: End? ByAJice Flemm .
V  ‘8 In Spite oi‘flerselt‘; or,Jeannette‘s Repa-
‘ g  \  ’ ration. By S. R. Sherwood. .
Vii !' 49 His Heart’s Mistress; or. Love at First
f ; r t. By Arabella Southworth. ,
 1.80.111 Cuban Heiress or, The Prisoner of
I ‘ LaVintresSe. ByMrs. ryA. Denison, '

so She l‘uwod

. Earl. ,
W  _ . 7 ‘~
"a.  . ednmen i r or,Rin :1 All

A“.,. ‘ .

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a ' ,, 'r The Cheapest'Library Ever Published! ' y -

scr.lmevenus'

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'80 “in? Lord and Master.

'97 Hugh Melton. By

_ .,,sz.me«.’ You Glrls’ or, The Bride of. an“
' I a. ByAlfigeFlemlné.

 

 

.4

54 One Woman’s Heart; 01'. Saved from the

_ Street. By George S. Kaime.

06 She Did ,ot Love Hun; or, Stoopiug to

_ Conquer.’ By Ambella Southworth.

06 Love-Mad; or Betnothed Married. Divorced
, and '~—-. .111. Mason Turner. M. D.

57 A Brave irl; or, Sunshine at Last. By

Alice Fleming. k T
, as or, he Mysterious
Guardian. B ' rs. ; Reed ()rowell.

By Rachel Bernhardt. ~
60 Cecil’s Deceit or The Diamond Legacy.
61 AByme Jennie avis.‘Burton. '

iekod Heart: or, The False and the
B SaraClaxton.

e. . y .
62 The Maniac Bride? or, The Dead Secret
y ‘of Hollow Ash Hall. ' y MargaretBlount:
63 The Creole Sisters; or The Mystery-or the
Perm By Mrs. Anna E. rter.

64 What Jealous Bid; .or, The Heir oi
Worsley Gm y Alice Fleming.

65 The Wife’s ecret; or, "I‘wixt Cup and
DB. Col. Juan Lewis.

86 A ro er’s Slut or, Flora‘s Forgiveness.
By Rachel Bernhan t.

67 Forbidden Bans; or, Alma‘s Disguised
Prince. By Arabella Southworth.

68 Weavers and Welt; or. "
Us In His Net." By Miss M. E. Bred

69 Camille; or, The Fate of a Coquette. By
Alexandre Dumas

70 The Two 01' hens. By D”Enery.
71 Mg bYarxztllng; li‘e. By My Young Wife‘s
s

u .

72 The Two Widows. B Annie Thomas.

73 Rose Michel; or The  s of a Factory
Girl. By Maud Hil n.

74 Cecil Castlemaine’s Gfieé or, TheStory
of 9. Broldered Shield. % i a. I

75 The Black Lady of una. By J.’S. Le

Fanu.
76 Charlotte Tern le- B Mrs Rowson.
77 Christian Oak e ’s’ intake. By the
author of “ John fax, Gentleman,” etc.
Young Hunhund; or, A Confusion in
t 6 Family. By Myself.
79 A ueen,Amongst Women. By the

out or of “ Dora Theme,” etc, etc.

By Florence.
81 Lucy Tem le, Sister of Charlotte. '
82 A Long T nle Ago. By Meta Orred.
83 ng‘lng for High Stakes. By Annie
Oman

84 The Laurel Bush. By the author of
“John Halifax. Gentlemen.”

85 Led Astray. 'By Octave Feulllet.

86 Janet’s Repentance. By George Eliot.

87 The Romance ofa Poor Young Man.

y Octave'Feuillet.

88 A Terrible Deed; or, All for Gold. By
Emma Garrison Jones.

89 AT flldpd’n Sin. By the author of “Dora

6
90 1E3“), Author’s Daughter. By Mary

0
9| The Jilt. Charles Reade.
92 Eilegen Angina; or. the Dawning of the Day.
‘ I]

By n , ulllvnn.
93 Love’s Victory. By B. L. Fe . .
94 The Quiet cart. By Mrs. O phant.
95 Lettlce Arnold. By Mrs. Marsh.
96 Haunted Hearts. Rachel B
harine King.

98 Alice Lenrmlont. ByMissMulock.
99 Nguargogie Bruce’s Lovers. By Mary

at c .
100 Through Fire and Water. ByFred-
1m flflkT 1l)10t'13ylfilslsll‘.l 1| ' '
- unna a ll 00K.
Weill t . B CharleéReede.
102 Pages ng on By ErskinerBo d.

103 A . crate Deed.
104 Shadoees on the Snow. By B. For
jeon.
105 The
- W. M

Great Hoggarty Diamond. By“
.Thackeray.
106 From;Drezuns to Waking. By E.
Lynn Linton.

1.07 Poor Zcph! By F. W. Robinson.

108’The Sad Fortunes ofthe Rev.
Barton. By George Eliot. (

109 Bread-and—Cheese. and Kisses. By
B. L. Figaeonx

l 10 The andering Heir. By Charles

.. . e. ‘
111 The Brother’s Bet; or Within Six
Weeks By Emilie Fl gore. (mien.
112 A'Hero. By Miss .ulock.
113 Paul and Virginia. From the French
Bernardin De St. Pierre.

Amos

of

114 ’Twus In Trai‘algar’s Bay.“ By Wal-

\ to B‘»? ,t (1 James Rice.

115 lletffifaifil of Killeenm By William

116‘   Henrymgsley’ '”

no The ' "@m. cross- «iv, The Bald of
Gomez. ByooptnlnvE. A. man. ‘

no The wear new»

no

 

 

  
    

lies; or, A Bitter Vengeance #

' 167 The Hand of
' TwoLl

 

mic. Bronte.

   

l
-w

119 Maud Molten. By Annie Thomas.
120 go‘haddeus of WarsaW. I By Miss Jane

rter. .-
121 The-King of No-Land. ByB. L. Far—
eon.

122 ovel, the .WidovVer. By-W. M. Thule! _ V.

eray. ‘
123 An Island Pearl. By B. L. Eerieon. i
124 Cousin Phillis. ‘
125Leilo; or. The Sie “Grenada. ByEd—

ward ulwer (Lord n). ‘ .. ,
126 When them“ ) Comes Home. By

Walter Beeant and amen Rice.
127 One of the Family. By James Payn.‘
128 The Birthright. .Ble‘s. re. ‘
129 Mother-less; or, The. rmer's Sweetheart.

. By Colonel Prentiss  ‘ , .

180 Homeless or, Two Orphan Girls inflow

liets, Unabridged. FQR' FIVE.” cents; } 

131 gfrk' Byfu nt‘giAtlken Th Rivalry '

' ster 0‘ ns s or or e c.
H  Mm Mary Reid crows-1L »
132 Sol ' ‘ Gold. By Mrs. M. V. Victor. ,
133 Lor oth’s Sin. By Georgiana Dickens. '

34  He Love Her 9 By-Bartley T.Camp~

5 Sinned Against. ByLillinn Lovejoy. _ _, ._
6 Was She His Wife! By Mrs. Mary Reed

B Margaret Blount. ..
9 a raret Graham. G. P. R. James.
0 Wit out illercy.
1 Honor Bound. By

3

8

3

'l'hackergy.

38 Poor. aleriu! or, The Broken Tooth.
l

4 'llian .

42 Fleeing irom Love. By 

Hill-lid H H til-l H

. Irving. . A ' l .
143 Abducted; or, A Wicked Woman’s Wbrk.
B Rett Wlnwood. '

144 Ay Strange Marriage; or,John.Foster‘s
‘ sirens By Lillian LoVe .
145 33'0an ’3 him. Mrs. Mary, Beer):
we .
146 A Desperate Venture or, For Love’s
OwnSak '

e. By ArabelloSou worth.
147 The War of Hearts. By Corinneonsh-

man. .
148 Which Was the Woman 2 or, Strangely r

. Misjudged. B‘y n.

149 An Ambit ous Girl or, SheWould-Be
An ctr-ens. By Frances elen Davenport.

150 Low Lord of All; or, In Her Own
Last. All Ma

08 y Fleming. -
151 A W! d Girl. By Corinne Cushman.
152 A Man’s Sacrifice. By arriet Irving.
153 Did She Sin. By Mm'Mary me-all.’
154 He Loves Me Not. By Lillian Imejoy.
155 ‘Winniug Ways. ByMargal-et Blount.
156 3mm She Cost Him; or, Croolnodl’aths.
y

at

belle Bouthworth.
157 A Girl’s Heart. By Betthnwood.
158 A Bitter Mistake' or, A Young Girlie
Folly. By Agnes My Shelton. A »
. Helen’s ow
159 ggrfi By the Late Mrs. F.
160 Buying a Heart. By  V
161 Pearl ofPe’nrls. By A. P. Morris. Jr, ‘
162 A Hateful time; or. Wedded and Furled.
By Sara Claxton.

163 The creole Cousins; or. Falcons Fain.
Bvahillp S. Weme. I. u .. M
A Scathin Ordeal or Me ' ey‘s
164 Mad Marriagog. By Mrs.
165 A Strange Girl. By Albert W. Aiken.
166 A Man’s Sin. ByRettWinWood.

yes. By Arabella. South
168 Two Fair Women. By Wm. AL'I'mtnei'.
1 69 "Tvempted
o

mans Error. , nlovejoy. -
170 Blind Barbara’s Secret. By Mu) .
Grace Halpine.

l 7 l A
Much’l‘ribulations. V By Sara,

and Blue. By Gorinno
\ Cushman. I l I . ‘
173 The cost of a Folly.‘ By Georgiana

chken .‘ ‘ \
174 The retty Puritan. By A liar-son’s.
Daughter. . I, ~
175 Is Love a Meeker '2 or. Revenge
.SWeet. By Arabell.n Sout worth.
176 Adria, the Adopted. 'By Jennie Davie
' Burton. .} '

172 Black Eyes

18

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4

ate“; or.The Wrockot ‘ 
worth. ‘

Through' Lovey or, 'One I ’

Woman's wanton-gag, Through (
ll.

outflow."