SHE YOKED HER FOES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2322, 28 May 1887, Page 1 (Supplement)

SHE YOKED HER FOES.

" I am going to have two guests at Elmdalo tho day after to-morrow," remarks A! • Riidciifl'e, carelessly, ono morning fo tin- old husband who adoros her and who is fully thirty years her senior. "Inuwd !" responds Mr Radcliffe, with an assumption of interest which ho in reality possesses for little except his green houses and his vegctablo garden. " Who have you selected, my love ? That is, do I know them ?" " You have met the lady, I am sure. She is Miss Eloiseßristow, and the gentleman is Mr Parker Folsom." Mr Radclift'e considers this response for a moment, and then up go his graytouched eyobrows in unmistakable nstonishment. " My dear, you must be making pome mistake. I have heard you say very hard tlring.i about both these pcoplo. 1 remember your being very angry indeed just before your marriage, for—for" " Can't you recollect why ?" she interrupts in smiling interrogative. " This was my reason for beintr angry. Both these people chose to spread abroad certain report? about, my love of wealth when I was poor little Ophelia Shelton, which, whether they were true or false, concealed behind them the design of pveveutimr our marriage. You were sensible enough not to believe the goesip, and so they were de- > feated." "But have you forgiven them, Ophelia f I thought not," 0 » * " * Five or six days after the above conversation the two guests arrived n,t. Elmlalo. Each of tVm is bewildorel by the invitation, nnd each takes it as a swoot sign of peace and good will. <( You have a moat excellent home here,"

Parker Folsom tells his hostess, while they are left alone together for a few moments, on the night of his arrival. "Yes. Do you really think bo!" is tho sweet answer. " I'm so glad everything pleases you. And how about your fellow guest, Miss Bristow? Is not ehe f** lovely." "I never specially admired brunettes.' is Parker Foleom's seply, with a covert glance at the flaxen tresses of Mrs Radcliffe. " Ah, it doesn't matter much, I fancy, whether one be blonde or brunette, if one has immense wealth." "Immense wealth? And is Miss Bristow" '' Wealthy ? Oh, enormously—one of the greatest heiresses I know of." '• Indeed!" Parker Folsom responds, beginning suddenly to stroke his dark, silky mustache with considerable energy. Not long afterward Mrs Radcliffo is alone with Miss Bristow. "My dear Eloise," she begin", "you are looking eo well! By-the-by, Mr, Folsom paid you a compliment." A slight flush tingea Eloiso Bristow'e cheek. "Really! What was it?" " He said you were pretty." "He is very kind," Eloise answers, a little disappointed. She is pretty and knows it very -well, having been told so again and again. Mrs. Rndcliffe taps her reprovingly with a costly ivory fun. " My dear girl, you should not undervalue such a compliment from a millionaire like Parker Fol.sora. Eloise's glossy, dark eyebrows suddenly lift themsplves. " A millionaire, Mrs. Had cliff e ?" " Yes. ; Oh, his wealth is immense ! I thought you l<Dew it." " No, I have not heard." " Well, that is not strange, when one remembers. He is u Philadelphian, and you are from New York." Eloise Bristow has always told hersslf that she means to respect and honour the man whom sho marries, but she also repeatedly told herself that xvealth or, at least, an idependent competence must belong to this same favoured individual. As for Parker Folsom, finding himself stripped of nearly all his former possessions at an ago when to begin a business life is to alter habits of idleness and ease that have almost beoomo a part of the man's nature, he on his side has more than ouoe assured his icmer self since the crash of his pecuniary misfortune occurred that to marry for money would he the most completely sensible course of action ho could possibly enter upon. Yes, Kloise Bristow and Parker Folsom are thoroughly in love with each other at the end of a week's time. More than, once, while thinking of how superbly her revengeful scheme had succeeded, Mrs, Radcliffe's eyes flash with malicious triumph. One day, whilst passing the library door, he catches the gleam of a pink muslin morning dress. "If it is she'' he mentally murmurs, " and provided she is alone, I shall not leave her until I have declared the truth " Eloise proves to bo alone. Parker Folsom seats himself at her side, and in a few moments he has spoken words that brings the rich colour glowing to the girl's cheeks aud make her eyes sparklo with brilliant firp. He finished with these humble words : " I have no right to address you as I urn doing ; for oh. Eluis.e, even should you consent to become my wife, the world would cull :ne little else than a scheming fort; lino-hunter." A moment, after fchesa btst words are uttered Eloise Briitow leaps to her feet "A fortune liui.te.-?" she bursts forth indignantly," I—l do not understand you, Mr. Folsom, unless you moan what you say for cruel satire." Ho rises now. "Satire? Why, of course I did not. The fiscts are phiin euough. My fortune is now a mere wreck of what it once was, and you are immensely wealthy." A bitter, bleak sort of laugh leaves Eloifji , Bristow's lips. " Did Mrs Radcliffc tell you that—that ■ I was immensely wealthy "r" she questions excitedly, "Yes.'" Eloise sinks back into her seat. Fixing her eyes, on .Fokon's face, which has become very pale, like her own, she now continued : " And Mrs Radcliffe told me the same thing regarding you !" A slight pause. Suddenly she asks: "Have you ever thought in pjis.t time that Mrs Radcliffo hiid any dislike towards you?" li Yes ; I used to believe that she hated me." Eloise laughs again, though less bitterly than before. " And I feel that sho bated me all along, now. This is her revenge." Those four words excited a strange effect- upon the man who hears them. Ho .seats himself at her side. He fixes upon her fnne a pair of eyes that glow strangely. "Eloise Bristow,' he begins, with solemn, determined voice, 'the story of my wealth is what first attracted you toward me ; now that you know me, is there not any feeling in your heart wholly apart from all this ?" Eloiso makes no answer. She lowers her eyes and begins to tremble. The man at her side chaws nearer, nearer. "Eloise, I love you well enough to die for you—yes, even iu these queer, prosaic times of ours. And if this be the case, surely I love you well enough to work for you ! What is your answer, darling ? Lift up your head, and speak ifc out bravely. When Mrs Radcliffe next meets me, shall she laugh to herself in malignant delight, aud silently murmur, 1 My rcveuge is accomplished ?' or shall sho grind her handsome white teeth in secret rage, while looking on our happiness, and be forced to confess that we have conquered her with the very weapons she sought to use against us ; turning her revenge into that which may be our lite-long future joy—and such joy, Eloise, as no money can purchase* . There is a momentary silence, whilst Eloise sits motionless, with eyes still lowered ; aud then, an instant later, she has flung herself upon his breast, and hidden her passionately tearful face, against his shoulder. He needs no other auswer.—New York Journal.