An Old Man's Darling

aughter, Felise Herbert, were in their places at the table before

ich Valenciennes lace. A pale blue sash was knotted about her slender waist, and clusters of fragrant blue violets looped back her long golden curls. A g

see her lover, and she glanced under her long lashes along the length

s not

t to think. She glanced at her u

rown was fixed upon his brow. Her aunt vouchsafed her a cold, unmeaning stare, and Felise

fine-looking brunette of about forty-five, and would have been rather handsome but for a settled expression of peevishness and discontent that re

air. She was about twenty-five years old, and was becomingly dressed in a thin black grenadine, richly trimmed with satin of the color of old gold. Her ornaments wer

iscussed in most unusual silence was over, "come with

m fondly in his and th

cance passed between them, the expression of discontent on the e

r daughter's look; "go and hear wha

ssed out of the room with

oor restlessly, clenchin

divide his fortune between them, he boldly declared this evening to that young artist-fool that he would make Bonnibel his heiress. And Felise-she will have nothing but what I can give her out of my portion! which he will m

room, with its glitter of lights and glass, silver and flowers, and hurried aw

f upon him as a widow of high family and small means, while in reality she was a vulgar and penniless adventuress, havi

too proud to proclaim the secret to the world, the love he had felt for his handsome

d no blandishments or persuasions could induce him to settle anything upon her, though th

us woman's rage and follow Bonnibel and her uncle

ir, and laying her hand caressingly on his cheek, "are you not well?

g for words in which to express his gr

. I have received a dreadful blow thi

nocent unconsciousness, "who wa

ecause I pitied him! Darling, he had the audacious impertinence to ask me for this little

ed back from his side, her cheeks gro

to him?" she inqui

unter, and I drove him forth with scorn

ulity struggling in her voice and face. "You in

. It was as if she had felt and said that her love should have been

re but a child, Bonnibel, you do not know what love means. Do you thi

denly changing her indignant tone to one of gentle entreaty, "surely you are only jesting and teasing your little girl, and I beg y

silly enough to cry for the moon and expect me to pluck it from heaven for you! But I[Pg 1

happy, care-free life. And now his cruel and resolute refusal of this new

s lips, and with wild, astonished blue eyes. He saw how shocked and incre

cils, while you are a beauty and an heiress, and can boast a proud descent. I have made my will, and it is there in my desk this moment. In it I have left you everything exc

offered his costly bribe,

uel until now. I thank you for your kind intention, but I will not give up

"I intend you to have the money whether you want it or not, an

ing as his own, her blue eyes blazing with defiance. "You shall not prevent me! I love him bett

o catch up a dark shawl and wrap it about her, she spe

s up, shining brilliantly over everything. She saw her uncle come out on the piazza and drop into his favorite

pacing the sands impatiently in t