The Planter's Daughter
I 2S FATE'S REVENGE
; ty tW. AUCC P. CA&3ST0N
; Author f "A Welf from the ," "Her Brightest Hap,
i WarwareJ Win nef reel," etc.
CHAPTER III. (Oeotlaoed.)
ll imply aeemed Incredible thst It was
the haughty, high-spirited Sylphlde Coor
moot who obeyed th n each slant earn
ansnd with tht submission of a link,
What power 414 this rode fellew exert
ver thla defiant flrlt Uad aha mat kar
ana star ia hlmt
Ua pointed to tha aaey chair which aha
tad laft hut a mlnuta bafora, aa aka aaak
Into It, ha carelessly toaaad hla dripping
bat upon a dainty cofa covered with
pala bloo satin embroidered with sppl
blossoms, and braead hlmaalf against tha
tollat tabla, tha maalla drapery at which
became crushed and aolled by contact
run his muddy boota.
"First of all." ha began, sneerlngly,
your tregedy a Ira aro out of plica. Ba
ong aa you do not bring ua faoo to faea
I do not caro a pin to maat klm: what
la mora, I do mora want to kill him
than I want to marry you for lota."
Ha psused abruptly, and llttla by lit
tle aha rslaed bar great dllatad ayao to
la rac Ilka two burning atara.
It may touch your ranlty la a vul
Ctrabla apot," ha contlnuad, alttlng down
pon tha adga of tha tabla and croaalng
na root over tha othar. "but I don't
loro you a apeck and never did; ao you
cuay aa wall know, flrtt aa laat that If
you hadu't been worth your walght la
goia, 1 wouldn't Data looked twlco at
you. You to not my atyla. I'm hot tarn
pered enough myaalf, and bringing a fire
brand Into my camp wouldn't haro heln-
0 matters."
While ha apoka tha deflsnt look had
baan creeping back Into Sylphlde' face,
brightening bar eyes and curling bar
ra4 lips.
"So you aought to marry ma for icy
money r aha murmured, looking him
steadily In tha eye. -
"Moat aaauredly; for no other re aeon
xou cere loat ma and my money.
I too!" aha cried, apringlng to her feat
I "You, yea; but not tha money. Your
S father laft a will, did ha not?"
"No."
It la doubtful whether, had a bomb ex
tploded at hla feet, Oecar Couramont
would hare atarted mora violently.
' i "Utt no will?" he cried.
f I "I tell you. no," Sylphlde replied with
I a stesdy, level glance.
I I Couramont ahrugged hla ahouldera and
I reseated hlnuelf upon the edge of tha
i table.
1 "In that esse," ha rejoined, "all tha
! f roperty cornea to you. Wall, ao bo It
I muat change my tactic. You muat
f band orer to ma the half of tha aetata,
I which by right your father ought to have
1 lett ma."
The indignant reply that Quivered for
rnmersnce upon flyipuide a Ilpe waa check
fed by a sudden knocking at tha locked
i4oor which communicated with the cor
dor.
i 1 "Missy Sylph. Mlasy Sylph!" called
i woman's voice from tba other side of the
-doorr
l With a wicked glance In ber eyea,
not betleva It
Wltk baad cramped Ilka tbo tatoaa of
a bird of pray, aha apraog at kar israsea-
. Ji 1 ... . . m ..a. I .e. . a 1 I
tor. atUHn. .brisk aftsr shriek of rage. 7e.pT.lo.; TtulX TlV"9: Lr " "
kerror-aad dismay. Ilius i.t mmL a .ha ImJ bar Ub". "Hawed mother, were ea their tyr
1 want my aaur waa ua sogges ro
ller kaida aet Ilk a viae apon aa
arm.
"Dlscoreriss!" ah gasped, "what oTe-
coverleaT"
"That aema 00a climbed the pillar o
tha veranda nearest your window by
meane ef the vine, and that the print
of a korae'a hoof la freak la tho aoll of
tha 11 ma-tree walk that leida up to that
alia of tho houee. Which facta Incline
0 to year belief, that tklevea bare en
tered tka souse."
'Loclaa, I teld yaa ao," aho cried
wildly t "It la trie. There moat kav
a plot U rob ao while wo war at
church. Don't yaa aaa V
Lodaa Courtlandt pre teed hla lip sp
aa tha damp, pallid brow, and geotJy da 1
peeitlng the graeef al form opoa the cum- i
kai of tha eofa, he roao wltk tha wardat
"Ten are over-oieJtad and tired, poof
child. Yaa had better reet kero to-alght
Wo will leave Roeomoat at daybreak.
The Planter's Daughter
2E FATE'S REVENGE
J. I? KSX AUCB P. CAKJJTON
Author of "A Waif from tho 8aa,M "Her Brightart Hop -Waywara1
Wlnnofrod," at. .
CHAPTER IT (Oootlnoed.) I alz aaoBtba erery coat of year pre party
And row nearly four year bad paeo- la likely to bo wiped ot by thl war
"It le a lie, a lie, a Her tba pasted;
oot of aay alghtl Yea yoa I-
Bho ataggam. beat th air lor a mo-
meat with her arme, thea with a low
moaa of fathomleee agony, fall, faea
dawawarda. with a doll eraah, like one
etrickea with death.
Too lata Ooear Couramont' dlaoooered
tkat ko bad over-reached hlmaalf. Byl-
phtdo waa bow Incapable of elgnlng tho
Inetramoat which would make a wealth
lulled late oblivion. Bo aho oleoed bar
aye with weD-fclgnod wetrineee, and
Courtlandt loft her to aaauao bof
maid.
No ooosor bad tho door ehat hla man
ly figure from view whoa Bylphldo atart
ed ap apoa bar !bow, her dllatad eyea
burning with that deep red Ire that ono
eeerm a hungry wolf. Bha bold ber
breath aad ooaatod hi retreating feot
topa, tm they fell away Into alloaca at
the eitrecaltr of tho long kalL Then
way baek to their aativo load.
Bylpkida had appoood thla etep aa leaf tort
aa aho dared, aad bad only glvea la at
laat through fear of arooaiag her bao-
band a euaploicna.
Between tho two ladle bo ayvpathy
aad aa confidence bad exlated froat the
Brat of their aeaaalatanca; by tacit
aoent they aoemed to bo aatagonieta froat
the day they met Tho haughty old lady
regarded-' her beautiful daug htar-m-law
maa of him; beeldee, her criee had arena- l7m f!JTL 1ZA uem witk ""PW" Dor w x'pnWe
edtha bouaaholdrburrylnr feet wore SaaVial
mounUng tba otaira, alreay thoy were gJgL TjJ J reSvaweDt atrtoiaof Whaa tha ohlld waa bo, tho alder
knocktaj at tha door, and a man'a vole fj ttt nMf ,w,pt 'trln,, f Mra. Courtlandt appeared to claim It
la excited accenta waa calling apoa kar
to open. Ia leea thaa half a minute th
barrier would bo broken dowal
Snatching np hla hat and revolver,
Couramont aprang to tho window.
MWa shall meet again, my lady, saver
feart". ha hlaeed, menacingly; "wo aball
meet again, when my grip upon yoa ah all
ba atronger thaa It la nowr
aald;
t jlylphtde turned upon Couramont
i "It la Diana, my maid," ah
fahe will aecure my releaee!"
f "Bah!" growled the raacal, "tell ber
I to go away; I'm not half through talk-
tag to you. Do aa I bid you; It la worth
i your while!"
1 Taking a atep toward that thin parti
I tlon that teparated her from deliverance,
I Sylphlde ralaing her voice, aald:
! "I do not need you, Diana. Continue
with tha packing." Then, with the dar
I 'Jog gleam again abinlng In her eyea, aha
f supplemented, "and If In half an hour I
nm not down atalra, aak Mr. Courtlandt
VVIMW UV IVI IMV
"Fool!" aneered Couramont; "well, a
woman alwaya will bare tha laat word,
ao I auppoeo I ought not to blame you
for what you can't help. All la, we aball
bava to talk faat, aa I see no occaalon to
soil my handa with thla fellow a blood.
0, by packing up, you Intend to leave
Uoeemontr'
"I do."
"Then wa will proceed to bualneea
snd aettle everything np before ycu go
Sylphlde, I want py ahare of tha aetata,
snd I want It now to night!
"How dare youT" aha demanded, turn
ng upon him, Imperiously; "your ah are 1
.What do you meanr'
"Juat what I aay I want my ahara.'J
"There la no ahara for you; I doubt
' D7 poorlather ever thought to leave
.ao mucn aa one cent
s. l la quite poaaible," retorted
.ont with hla Imperturbable
4 old man never loved me, but
ma. And I Intend mat you
all atone for hla lack of common aenie
and your want of forethought In marry
'ng thla Interloper."
'.a ha spoke he advanced upon her
jere the atood In tha center of tha
amber, and drew from an Inner pocket
allp of paper,
"I am not atupld enough to auppoae
tat ytu bava a aum of money upon you
o-nlght sufficient to aatlafy my demand!,
Therefore, thla letter, addressed to your
ixecutor. and stating that In accordance
rlth an expressed wlah of your father
bat hla aetata be equally divided be
.ween ua two. hla only helra, yoa will
lV
ipfirir
.lie drew back a atep and glared upon
ber ao balefully that aha recoiled and
csuiht at a chair for support
"Do you refuse to sign this paperr
r inked, steadily: "bo warned la time
."'VI secret of your life, a secret
Aft crush you forever, avaa. faarail-
''.r;ur marrlagaP'
Jared
4
B
)t
rt
Bt
a
oat do yoa meant
"Sign thla paper, or I Inform your
bueband that your mother waa a slave."
Like a flash of lurid lightning all that
bad been Incomprehenalbla to her la ber
father'a behavior burst upon tho oabap
py girl; hla nervouaneaa, his strange de
sire to marry bar to Oacar Ooaramont,
Lie wild entreaty for her to believe no
vll goaslp of her dead mother all, all
came back to ber In that dreadful mo
ment with tho overwhalmiat for of
soavictios, Tot area thaa abo wwM
CHAPTER IV.
Four years have alapaed since tha
aventa narrated In the preceding chap
ter, and tha flight of Courtlandt and hla
bride baa eaased to exclto comment and
goaalp long alnce.
Already tha year 1803 la pregnant
wtth Ita greatest day, Sept 22, whoa tha
martyr President Issued hla immortal
proclamation declaring tha freedom of
all alavea In tha Btatea and parte of
Statea thea In rebellion.
Since that memorable night of dark
nera and storm, in October, 1803, ua
face of tho mletress of Rosemont has
never once been seen upon ber hereditary
estate. Having been left in competent
handa, tha plantation ha yielded Ita ac
customed Income, all of which has been
transmitted through the bankers at Mo
bile to I.uclan Courtlandt In whatever
part of tha world ha chanced to bo.
For a year tha young lawyer and hla
beautiful wife traveled from place to
place In the Old World, following the
fashionable aeison from London to Bt
Petereburg, returning along the ahorea
of tha romantic Mediterranean.
It had been a term of unalloyed delight
to Sylphlde, and when, at tha cloae of the
year, a lovely baby boy came to join
their party at Nice, the young wife trem
bled at her happlneas. The horror of
her wedding nlgbt with Ita appalling rev
elation now aeemed ao far away that ah
often wondered whether It had boon re
ality Indeed, and net the delirium of a
fevered dream. In the peace and joy of
her maternity aha persuaded hereelf that
cruel Fata '.had forgotten her, and that
henceforth aha waa deetlned to live In
the auspicious light of favoring Fortune.
Oscar Couramont had given no sign
of life; perhapa ba had repented; perhapa
he was dead. Sylphlde could afford now
to wlah hlra no evil, alnco hla baleful
ahadow had not crossed her sun llf path,
Of course an explanation of ber In
sensible condition when found In her
chamber at Rosemont on that fatal night
waa Inevitable; aha owed It to her hus
band, and she gave It him according aa
aha thought beet
You see, I scarcely know how It waa,1
sue murmured aa ana lay in hla arma
upon her recovery to consciousness, "but
when I entered my own room for tho laat
time and glanced about me upon th fa'
miliar objects, It aeemed aa If father
came back to me from the grave, bla face
wan and pallid, bla two eyea burning like
coala of fire. I waa terrified, and, fall
ing upon my kneea, I besought him to
tell me In what I had offended him, but
be only abook hla head and alowly van
Ished; and then I ahrleked and fell faint
ing."
Lucian Courtlandt smiled a trifle un
eaally aa ha replied:
"I don't believe In visions myself;
fours, however, must bava been' some
what out of the ordinary run of unlaid
ghosts. Were you aware that your airy
visitor wore muddy boota and a wet
hatr
"Lucian!" .
"It la a fact. The print of hla hat
haa left an indelible stain upon your
sofa, and th muslin drapery of your tot
let table ia Boiled and torn."
With ready tact, 8ylphlde glanced up,
terror atricken Into her husband's face
"Then burglara must have entered my
room while wa were at cnurch! she
cried.
"Do you have burglars in this part of
the country, Sylphlde?" asked Courtlandt
with an amused smile.
"Well 11 not actual burglars," wa
the Innocent reply, "thieve at leait, and
plenty of them." ,
"Ah! But It tfrikea me as a little
strange that you did not notice theae
signs of disorder when you entered your
chamber."
Now, Lucian, what an idea!" aha ex
claimed; "la It likely that in th dim
candle light and considering the excite
ment I waa laboring under, I should ba
struck by tha sight of a few rain drop
and a amouch of mud? How abaurd!
Wby should tha damage not have been
dona by one of th dogs? They are fond
of ma, and often com np to my room."
"Dog do not climb veranda, poata to
second story windows, my dear; aad your
doors were locked."
"I locked -them!" ' ,
"But I found your window openf,
"Upon bearing my approach, tho' dog
might havo escaped by that means!"
"Yon say th dogs are fond of yoa, and
dogs In general are too intelligent to
risk any auoh jump as that No, my love,
It waa no quadruped that entered your,
chamber to-nifVt It was a manl"
. Ho fait bar weight grow heavier In
bJs arms, but she managed to preserve
onacioasnoaa enough to faltart
"What makaa yoa think sot"
1 bar Instituted a search of the
place, and bava mad certain aiacov-
"Bavodr aho panted triumphantly;
"saved I But what a narrow escape. I
have bridged th abyaa with a straw,
aad passed aafaly over. I ahall bo on
my guard In future; It can never happen
again. War I to meet Oscar Coura
mont a hundred timea, I abould never
ba aucb a fool again."
Tha exultant soliloquy was cut short
by the abrupt opening of the door, and
a young mulatto girl, with a remarkably
pretty, keen face, entered. She paused
at alght of her mistress pacing to and
fro ao excitedly, and Sylphlde pauaed
also, fixing a abarp, questioning glance
upon her maid.
"What la It Diana r aha demanded,
swiftly; "yoa have beard something; I
so It In your face.
"I haven't beard
aa her own; for corns reason, which aha
waa powerless to explain, ahe alwaya
abuddered whenever abo aaw tba hand
some boy In bla mother's arms.
"8he'd like to rob me of him," Syl
phlde often thought bitterly; "proud,
old creature, I hate her more than she
batea me!"
Under the clrcumatancee, it waa use-
It U a loager my power to part
with H."
"Why aotr
1 have a soa aad heir."
Ton have s soa!" ho sneered; "so Pro
told. Well, for his sake, thea, yoa
bad better comply with my wishes,"
I sofase!"
"8 bo HI Boar la mind that It I yoa
who have declared war. Whatever bap
pone, yoa aro alone responsible. I'm s
desperate man, BylpLlds Couramont, aad
I'm sick of your trifling.
Tho cutting: msnnar la which bo pro
nounced her maldea aamo struck Syl
phlde more powerfully than all bla moods.
She waa daaed, wondering what ho could
mean, dreading to seek an explanation.
When ahe camo to herself ehe found that
a group of ladlea and gentlemen had
entered the apartment and that Oacar
Couramont 'had vanished. She braced
leas to attempt to induce Sylphlde to go hereelf, and then aped wildly out Into the
to Mre. Conrtlandfa horn upon th Hud-
eon, when they arrived In New York.
She waa resolute apon that point She
would go to a hotel with her husband
and child until a suitable homo waa eo
1 cured for them; she would not be the
1 guest of Mrs. Courtlandt!
I So It waa arranged that Mrs. Court-
ilandt should go at once to her country
sect sccompsnled by her son, while Syl-
brilliantly Illuminated corridor.
All about ber tha guests of tha hotel
were leaving tho dining hall, laughing
and chatting gaily. Into ovary face aho
encountered eho atared, aa though bereft
of her senses. She even dscended tbo
remaining flight of atalra to tho rotunds,
only to be driven back in very ahamo
by the crowd of mea aho met
Her only thought waa that abo had
soldi
"I beg year pardon, I mast bava mis
understood yon. Yea seem to have left
my Interest is the boy out of tho ques
tion, madam."
"I aald advisedly my sob's child!"
came ths rigid reeposes. "Naturally yea
aro his mother, I suppose, but ao, an
fortanataly, any claims yoa may la
apoa klm win bo Vastly to his detriment
I mast persist la calling him my aoa'a
child aad entirely Ignore yoa la th mat
tor." "Madam!"
Had ths haughty old lady possessed
tho merest tain: of cowardice m her
heart aba most have been appalled by ths
sliest sxbibltloa sf desperats, quivering
wrath that was presented to ber view.
Feeling that ths ominous silence that
assasd was valsable - tune lest, Mrs.
Cssrtlssdt said:
"X am sot la tbo least surprised st
yoor display of impotent rage at finding
yourself baffled at laat; I anticipated it
and hsvs com prepared to parry It"
"Stop where yoa are I Can yea bo so
obtuse as sot to learn that yoa aro hots
insulting a wife and eoorasing a moth
er r
"Asd csa yoa bo so witless ss to fat
ter yourself that, sooner or later, your
destiny would not find yoa ont snd bant
yoa downf
"My destiny, madam! What ds yoa
mesa?"
"That tainted blood flows la your
reins, that yoa are a slave, that yea
bavs juggled my soa into believing that
ho was marrying his equal in atatlon, and
have borne him an Innocent child to a
heritage of woe!
She roes as aha apoka, and, aa if cruah
ad by this avalanche of horror, Sylphlde
recoiled to a sofa and asnk upon It cov
ering her face with her handa. Making
the moet of tho advantage aho had gain
ed, Mrs. Courtlandt continued:
"I do not blame yon for .wishing to
msrry and bo a mother, Indeed, I feel
soma pity for yon, but I can never fQr
give yoa for having trapped a free-born,
reputable family in your scheme."
She paused, snd, without raising her
head, poor Sylphlde murmured:
"Who told yoa of thla thing V
"I know not I received an anony
mous communication this morning, stat
ing tha facts snd Inclosing proofs that
your father, CoL Couramont, married a
alar girl In Louisiana, and that yon are
... mi... wu, it.-uuiysM.c if - " I alara stri in ixuiaiana. ana inai you aro
anything, Missy .... .,fc ...... M ,.A m. him. In har nl Son f Ir.ttnn I . - . . , ' ' JLv " v
Sylph," replied the girl, "but Pro seen :;r.r7v: 0?-mf. 2 " A,u,el
. I mm 9 r Of 1 BUII wrw;ui v i saws v mvh ssvwhuw mvwi w w -
something Maaa Oscar. 1 k.p Hn.h.nr. r.nrn. A kii'umi waa deenerate. sa he had aald. and would
Diana did not draw a breath for fully -t,,., ,nJ th doheaven onlr knew whst She dared
a mlnuta after that unwelcome announce
ment, for Sylphlde'a email band waa sot
apon her lips like a aeaL
Hash!" shs breathed, "do not dare to
Hap hla nam until w are gone. My
husband does not know of hla existence,
snd most never know, -If we ean kelp It
Where waa my cousin?"
"Ia tha lime-tree walk, Mieey--mount-
ln bis borss."
"Thank heaven, he's gone, then, for
the night! Aro th trunk ready pack-
ad, Diana r
"Yea, Mlaay, packed and strspped."
"Bee thst thsy srs loaded on tho wag
on to-night; w stsrt at daybreak, and
yoa go with me. I may hava need of
yoa In more ways thsn one."
Scarcely bed the esstern horlson begun
to flush with the promise of day, when
tho family coach, followed by th bag
gsga.wagoa, rolled swiftly down the road
that led Into tha river r allay; and two
hours later Mr. Oecar Couramont rode
Into tha court yard at Rosemont to be
Informed that If be had coma to break
fast bis meal must be a solitary one.
(To be. continued.)
Two Famous Negro Women.
Th old bead-handkerchief negro la
th aristocrat of her race. Aunt Dicey
oolongs to tills type, 8be is a product
of the eighteenth century, and recently
celebrated ber on hundred and sev
enth birthday. Aunt Dicey Urea In a
llttla cabin standing among pin tree
on a spur of ths ragffod mountaina of
Virginia, In slavery daya ahe be
longed to a relative of Thomaa Jefferson.
Aunt Dicey la a constant smoker,
and baa been on from her youth np.
Her cabin walla are covered with mag
azine picture and acrlptural verses,
many of them tacked wrong aide up.
In the daya of her youth ahe waa a
seamstress, and her neat sewing la the
wonder of her many visitors. Tha
finest needle la not too much for her
wonderful eyesight
The fame of "Aunt Jinny" haa gxm
for beyond the border of Mississippi.
Aunt Jinny enjoys the distinction of
being the only negro woman depot
master In the country. Aunt Jinny
has been a railroad employe for thirty
six years. She belonged before th
war to some people down In Alabama,
and waa with them throughout tha
struggle. She says ahe warned them
more than once of the approach of tha
"enemy."
n, nnt tA tua irirth a wanna Moral ta
1 awsit her husbands return. A handsome
suite of rooms wss engaged, and the
party were made aa comfortable aa
wealth could make them.
The only actual cloud upon Sylphlde'e
arrival In America waa th fact that tha
first night would have to be paased with
out ber husband.
Aa the twilight hour began to approach
she grew more and more lonely and reet-
leea. Gaslng Into the buay Square fail
ed to amuae her, and when Diana sug
gested thst she should go down to the
public dining room for dinner as s di
version, Sylphlds felt the cold perspira
tion of spprehenslon stsrt out st every
pore, snd shs curtly commanded her
maid to order dinner In their private par
lor.
When the cheery gaslight dispelled the
gloom, the .young wife and mother be
came more cheerful, and taking her boy
upon her knee, aha aang him a sprightly
.Creole song, that ah had not thought of
In four long yeara, until the child laugh-
ad and clapped hie tiny handa In glee.
Suddenly Sylphlde pauaed, with a aong
upon her llpe, aa an authoritative knock
aounded upon the door. Obeying a and
den impulae, Bha aprang to her feet hand
ed the child to Diana, and anawered the
aummona hereelf.
A hall boy stood before her In the
lighted hall with s visiting card upon a
silver salver. Sylphlde did not hear him
ask svhether she were Mrs. Lucian Court-
lsndt; she picked np the card and glanc
ed at the name Inscribed thereon.
In an Instsnt every drop of blood in her
body fled with a sickening rush to ber
heart; but, though ahe turned aa pallid
aa th dead, aha ottered no cry, and did
not stagger.
Aak the person to wait In the public
parlor,". ahe aald, with a supreme effort;
and cloalng the door, aba paased swiftly
into her dressing room.
Apt to Be Charitable.
"The Impromptu speaker may be all
right In his way," said Deacon Jones,
"but as for me, give me the minister
who writes his sermons every time"
"Wbyt" asked Deacon Smith.
"He Is more likely to realize their
length," was the significant reply. ,-
CHAPTER V.
The nsme inscribed r.pon the card,
which 8ylphlde tore into little bits snd
cast Into the open grata th moment shs
hsd escaped the curioue eyes of Diana,
waa tha name of Oacar Couramont Had
ahe been alone, aha might havo quailed,
But ah had a secret to conceal even
from th mulatto, faithful aa ah waa.
Therefore, when Diana called to her to
know what had happened, Sylphlde an
awered with enforced calmness:
"Only a messenger from my husband. I
sm going to him in a moment"
Meanwhile ah waa touching her pal
lid. haggard cheeka with rouge. Thanks
to this and the tiger heart In her boeom,
there waa no pallor snd no algn of ter
ror upon her beautiful face, aa aha awept
alowly down the grand staircase, crossed
the spacious hall and entered the aplen
did Bulte of parlors. A hand raised the
ailken drapery that hung in ths archway
before which Sylphlde atood, and Ilka a
flash her antagonist stood before her,
At sight of him she recoiled, snd ut
tered s stifled cry. Wss this revolting
wretch before her her cousin, the hand-
aotna Oacar Couramont? Waa It poaal
Aa Others Bee Ua.
"You always aay the wrong thlsg at
the right tlrme, Henry," aald Mrs. Ifack
em. "Now, I alwaya think, twice be
fore I apeak."
not think.
With lagging steps, clinging to ths
stair rail for support shs drsgged hei
weary way up to her rooms. Outside ths
door she paused s moment to eummoa np
a glimmer of courage and a wan mock
ery or a smile, men sue csutiousiy
turned the knob and opened the door.
The lights hsd been turned low. Little
Leon hsd been Isid smong ths pillows
upon the bed, snd Dlans alept the sleep
of the just and weary, in her chair be
fore the fire. With s low wall, that
aeemed wrung from a bleeding heart, the
wretched woman flung hereelf upon her
kneea beside tho bed, claaped the Bleep
ing child .in her arma,' and rained pas
sionate klaaes upon his' soft flaxen curls.
"Oh, my boy, my boy, my boyr she
sobbed, "thank heaven, yon are not old
enough to guees your mothers woe"
"Oh; mother in heaven, darling mother.
hear me! strengthen and comfort me! I
have not listened to the tongue of evil
gpealp," yet the cross is bsavy to bear.
Shield me, guard me, for I sm slone snd
In danger. Save ma the lovs of husband
and child; 'tis sll I ask!"
In the chill gray of narly dawn, Diana
came to her and toucher her shoulder.
"Missy 8ylph, Missy Sylph T cried the
fsithful creature, "get np snd go to bed!"
Sylphlde roao alowly and painfully.
Pressing her handa upon ber aching eyea,
aha aald:
I muat have slept, Diana; I need no
more. Bee, tla morning! 1 had better
dress for the dsy."
At ten o'clock a telegram waa handed
her from her husband. Eagerly ahe
opened it and read Ita cheery eon ten ta:
"Have heard of a lovely residence near
Yonkere. Shall go to see It before re
turning to you. Love to yoa snd kisses
for the boy." .
Hesvens, bow shs kissed that acrap of
aeneeleaa paperl To ths poor, agonised
aoul It seemed Ilka a ray of vivifying
sunlight let In apon her dungeon keep.
From the moment of its receipt she
brightened up. She fsncled she felt s
strong arm encircling her and supporting
her.
Diana asked permission to take little
Leon for a stroll in tha equare, and was
readily permitted to do so. When left
slone, poor Sylphide went to her trunks.
drew forth their contents and made se
lection of the costume which had been
most praised by her huaband in the hap
py daya beyond the aea. It waa a won
derful and beautiful connection of deli
cate violet ailk and rich old ivory-tinted
laces that aet off her marveloua brunette
beauty to perfection. She added a apray
of lovely pink rosea to her boeom, and
the faultless toilette was complete.
With just th slightest bit of coquetry
she glsnced at her enchanting reflection
in the mirror when all was complete,
and aeated herself In the embrasure of
a window that overlooked the square to
watch for her child and await tha ar
rival of her bueband.
Suddenly ah heard th door of th
your father had married this half-breed
In good faith, or whether he had been
tricked, aa my aon has been, ths papers
do not show, snd I know not"
"Hsvs yon those proofs with you?"
Sylphlds demanded. In a ton out of
which all courage, all hops had depart
ed. "No; they are it home, but ahall ba
st your disposal whenever yoa desire to
examine them."
Sylphlde abook her head aadly and
claaped her hands in her lap with s ges
ture of pitiful eloquence.
"Well," aha faltered, brokenly, "what
do you propose to do?"
"Adopt Leon."
A spasm of Intenaest agony passed
over Sylphlde'e pallid face, but aha com
manded herself, even granting that her
indomitable apirit wars not utterly
crushed.
"And muat I part with my child V
, "For his sake, yea."...
"And what ia to become of me?"
"Yon can live like an honorable wom
an, aa no doubt you are, barring your
culpable deception of my son."
"And am 1 to ba forever sepsrated
frond my boy?"
"Since you oblige me to aay It," aho
anawered, firmly, "yes forever."
"And never aee him again?"
Mra. Courtlandt heeltated. Perhaps
her mother'a heart waa troubled by ths
piteous appeal.
. (To be continued.)
Work'nc for Success.
Charles Warren Stoddard, In bla
"Recollections of Bret Harte" in tha
New York Times, says that to Hartsa
Interest and criticism he owes all that
Is best in his literary efforts. Fsstld
lous to a degree, Harte could not over
look a lack of finish In the manuscript
offered to him.
He was not afraid to apeak his mind,
remarks Mr. Stoddard, and I know
well enough what occasion I gare him,
yet be did not judge me more severely
than he judged himself. Hla humor
and his fancy were not frightened
away even when he waa In his severest
critical mood. Once, when I had sent
him some verses for approval, he
wrote:
" The Albatrossf Is better, but not
best wbJch Is what I wanted. And
then, you know, Coleridge baa prior
claim on the bird; but I'll use him un
less you send me something else. Yoa
can, if you like, take this aa a threat"
. He had a special taste In the choice
of titles, and I bare known him to
alter the name of an article two or
three times In order to make the table
of contents handsome and harmonious.
One day I found blm pacing the floor
of his office, knitting his brows and
staring at vacancy. I wondered why.
He waa watching and waiting for a
word, the one word to fit Into a Una
bls-thst four year, could bar. worked iSlot 1 I suggested
such sn appalling change In any human
being?
It,waa a wonder that, the attendanta
below atalra had permitted such a dis
reputable object to mount the atalra and
run the risk, of terrifying ths ladlea he
might chance to meet
Sylphlde, in all her pride snd beauty,
feet with parted llpa, and outstretched
handa, a glad, expectant smile quivering
upon every feature. The amlls vanished
instantly as shs saw, standing in the cen
ter of the apartment, not her child, not
her huaband, but the proud, atately wom
an whom the world regarded aa her mother-in-law.
Attired In rich, trailing garmenta of
1 v 1 1 .a s . 1 . 1 1 s aa irirwa in ru-u. li siiiua ss. sis meuia va a .
"Yea. mr dear." milled the meek and norror Da "x al " " ,.w ki.m, th. .Mr Mrs. number, l
iu TTarirr .-hnt .r. on. r tho-s uramont waa ue nrst 10 spaa, with - tr.rt t his wrath by a
' , - 1 a mocEing ooe aance ana a remnant or . i . . . . .
rsnid-flrs flhlnkera," - Lu. m 11- ..m. th younger. Sh bowed coldly in ao- I had Just met a
I Ba St I - SW D.I.VIJ. aal S
As It Bheald Be.
"I suppose," aald th rleltor to police
headquarters, "that erery officer knows
a rogue when he sees him.."
"Sure," replied th desk aergeant;
"but erery officer doesn't seize a rogue
when he knowa him."
Ample Escnee,
Josh I a'poea 811as la mad at the fel
ler that sold him the horse.
Hiram I dunno why he should be.
If yef look at the horse yer won't
blame anybody far sellln' him.
"I see yoa recognise me in spit of th
chsnr in me. Sines It Is roar work.
how do yoa Ilk It? Yoa bare brought
me to the rerge of poverty and starva
tion."
"Yes, yon! Had yoa remained abroad
another month, I should have worked my
paasage out and come to yoa to demand
my rlghta. I'm tired of thia aort of
thing. Yoa. are my debtor for keeping
mum about that aecret of your birth.
and I want the matter settled np.'
A grayish pallor, which th rouge but
served to accentuate, settled upon the
young wife's face, as she faltered, with
a violent struggle at seir-commana;
"What do you demand?"
"What I demanded four years ago,
knowledging ths chair which Sylphlde ad
vanced, and seatsd herself.
"YotT. are doubtless surprised to ass
me here," sh said, stiffly.
Sylphlds bowed, snd ssid In snsweri
"May I know to what I ow th honor
of this rlsltr
"To s painful duty," wss ths curt re
sponse. "Shall I speak plainly V
"If you please."
Then cam th blighting words move
cruel than death:
"I hare com for my son's child!"
one; it would not answer. It must be
a word of two syllables or the natural
rhythm of the sonence would suffer.
Thus he perfected hla prose.
Once when he bad taken me to task
for a bit of careless work, then under
his critical eye, and complained of a
thought to turn away
soft answer. I told him
man who had wept
orer a certain passage in one of hla
sketches, -
"Well" said Hart, "1 wept when I
wrote it"
The man who originated the motto
"Lire and Let Lire" didn't take the
undertaker into consideration, bat fell ome next October; and I want to have before her,
CHAPTER VL
Had a thunderbolt fallen out of th
clear heaven, Sylphlde could not have
been more amased. For- a moment or
two she stared blankly st th rigid face
striving vainly to fathom
- - Suspicions. ' "'
Mr. Hiram Off en I don't see why
you should suspect the new servant
girl of gossiping among the nelghbora.
She seems rather close-mouthed.
Mrs. Hiram Offen But I've discov
ered that she's also close-eared close
to the keyhole. Philadelphia Press.
The Emperor Charlea V. Hred m rol- ,
tmtary exile during the last yeara of
bla life. Hla chief occupation In his
retirement waa devising new t lands
aW, ! mmm w rvaa,av WMvw wwe " 1 VVUlf AJVVa VWIVWI SSSSea Sk W M W sswi - -w B . . . . .
late bla hands Juat ths same. ths thing arranged here and now, for ta I be intense surprise. At last speech re- to tempt hi gluttonous appetite.
)
-
V