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Show MINNIE ASTOR "Well, Minnie, I must leave you. Don't go our riding again with Henry Laurens or, at least, promise me you will not go with him in the evening. I do not like the man, and although I do not wish you to lose any innocent pleasure, yet I desire you to be more choice in the selection of your friends. It is not pleasant for any man to hear his future wife spoken of so frequently in connection with a fellow like Laurens." And Leslie Waldo looked down with a half-vexed expression into the pretty but saucy face of his betrothed. <br><br> "Indded, Leslie," she answered, pettishly, "I do not know why you object to my receiving attention from Mr. Laurens. He is a gentleman, and is always kind and obliging. And as to my being more choice in regard to my friends, I flatter myself I usually keep good company. You are rather inclined to be tyrannical," she added, looking up sideways into his face. <br><br> "Now, Minnie, you know me better than that. I could not act the tyrant with you if I tried. Promise me what I asked you," he urged. <br><br> "I cannot, Leslie. Don't be so foolish! Even if I wished it I am not at liberty to do so, as I have already made three positive engagements with Mr. Laurens for this week. To-night a party of [unreadable] going up the river in a yacht. Tomorrow night the same party is going to Mrs. Barton's masquerade ball. Then" <br><br> "Stop, Minnie!" he interrupted shortly. "Do you mean to tell me you intend to make one of these parties with Laurens for your escort?" <br><br> "Most certainly I do. Why not?" <br><br> "For more reasons than one. In the first place I object to your going on the river except with your father or me. Next, I have a particular aversion to masquerade parties, and will not sanction your appearing at Mrs. Barton's in company with Laurens." <br><br> "Will not sanction! An agreeable expression to make use of to a lady! Surely you are beginning early to command! But let me tell you I am not so willing to obey, and I intend to accept the attentions of Mr. Laurens or any other gentleman I choose! You are selfish! You will not pay me attention yourself, yet deprive me of the privilege of another's company." <br><br> "Very well, Minnie, since you view matters in that light, the only thing left for me to do is to bid you good-by goodbye forever!" <br><br> "Forever!" she repeated in a startled tone. <br><br> "Yes, forever, unless you promise what I ask. Now, Minnie, if you love me you will not let that man come between us. You cannot have his company and my attention at the same time; you must choose between us. Which shall it be?" he asked, feeling confident her choice would be in his favor. <br><br> He did not know that when a wayward woman's pride is hurt she will do many foolish things, utterly regardless of circumstances. Minnie paused for a moment, then, slipping the engagement right from her finger, she handed it to him saying, "You are free, now go." <br><br> "Be it as you wish," he said, coolly placing the ring in his pocket; "I hope you will not have cause to regret your choice." And with a bow, he turned and left her. <br><br> No sooner had he departed than Minnie threw herself on a sofa and cried as if her heart would break. She truly love Waldo, but she was a spoiled darling, the only child of wealthy parents, who were devoted to their hearts treasure. This was her first quarrel with her lover, to whom she had been betrothed a year. He was ten years her senior, and she was not yet eighteen. They had met at the seaside, where they were spending the summer months, when she was but fifteen, and, notwithstanding the difference in their ages, and been mutually pleased with each other. <br><br> Minnie's parents were satisfied with their future son-in-law. He was a physician in good practice in the town of Il -- , some fifty miles from Minnie's home, and was also in possession of a moderate fortune. Owing to the distance between them, he could not, of course, be as attentive to her as he would have wished, but he being of a manly, generous disposition, was very reasonable and wished his promised wife to enjoy herself in a reasonable way, but in this instance, as we have seen, she had taxed his good-nature too far, he did not dream of her acting merely out of pique, and was too little versed in the ways of woman, and too matter-of-fact himself, to think of any such thing. He therefore took it for granted that she had become tired of him, and although his heart was heavy, and life appeared very dreary, he accepted his fate without a murmur, and hoped in his heart of hearts that his lost darling would be as happy as he would have tried to make her. <br><br> After an hour's cry, Minnie felt somewhat better, and aroused herself, thinking. "How foolish of us to quarrel over that little fellow for whom I do not care a snap of my fingers. But then I won't be ordered. I'll show him I have some spirit, and perhaps he will appreciate me better. I don't think he cares very much about me, or he would not have talked to me in such a manner. I wish he would come back now, though; I almost believe I would give up going to those parties. I am sorry I promised Henry Laurens; but then, how did I know Leslie would be here? I did not expect him for two whole weeks. He might have written me beforehand, and then I should have been prepared. Oh, well, I can't help it now; I will fulfill my three engagements, and if he does not come back before that time, he surely will before he returns to Il -- . So I won't worry, but be as happy as I can under the circumstances." <br><br> But the next three days went by, and the next ten, without bringing Leslie. Minnie was wretched, but strove to appear indifferent, and, becoming desperate, accepted all the attentions offered her from her numerous gentlemen acquaintances, Laurens excepted. She had kept her engagements with him, but absolutely refused to make others. She could not have told why, but since her quarrel with Waldo she had become filled with dislike and mistrust of her would-be wooer; and he was at present paying court in a more favorable quarter. <br><br> Matters continued this way for some time, and Minnie, who had not received even a word from Leslie, and had truly repented of her conduct toward him, was growing very restless, and really looked so ill as to cause her parents much uneasiness. They were anxious to learn the cause of her indisposition, and surmised that something was amiss between her and Leslie, but, as she had not made a confidant of any one, they could only grieve and wonder what happened to the sunshine from their darling. She had usually been so accustomed to confide in her mother that that lady forbore to question her now. <br><br> "No," she replied to her husband when he requested her to question Minnie, "whatever it is, she has enough to bear at present; I will give her all the comfort I can [unreadable] confidence will come in time. All I can ascertain is that she and Leslie have had some misunderstanding, although she insists he is not to blame, like a good, generous darling that she is." And the fond mother looked as if she would have liked to devour Leslie on the spot. <br><br> About a month after her last meeting with Leslie, Minnie was sitting at the breakfast table with her parents, when the morning mail came in. As she handed it across to her father, her quick eye caught sight of the familiar handwriting of Leslie. With a half sob she snatched eagerly for the letter for which she had so longed, but alas! She was doomed to disappointment for it was directed to her father. Poor Minnie could contain herself no longer, and dropping her head on her hands, sobbed aloud. After some minutes, her mother had succeeded in calming her sufficiently to hear the contents of the letter in question. <br><br> "Dear Mr. Astor," it ran, "hoping I may not be too late with my information, I wish you to know something of the character of John Brown alias Henry Laurens, to whom your daughter is engaged. I have just ascertained from good authority, that he is already married, and has a wife and child living. His wife, an estimable lady, supports herself and child, and despises the man who enticed her form her home and then deserted her because she would not support him in idleness. He is an adventurer, and although he may be in love with your daughter he is probably very much in love with her money also. Should you wish for proofs of his guilt I can give them, although I do not think anything further than I have told you will be necessary to convince you. I trust the above information will be taken in the spirit in which it is intended." <br><br> After reading the letter, Mr. Astor handed it to his daughter, asking for an explanation. She took it nervously, and, after taking in the contents at a glance, exclaimed, "The villain! Who dares to say I am or ever was engaged to him? No, indeed though to my shame be it said, at first I was very much fascinated by his handsome face and pleasing manners. He has told Leslie that to clear the field for himself, and that accounts for Leslie's not writing before. I thought it strange that he never tried to see me before he left town." <br><br> Without another word she turned to leave the room, when she heard some one exclaim. "Oh, Mr. Astor! Do come with me as quickly as possible! There has been a terrible accident just outside of the depot several people injured, and it is feared some are killed. Your friend Waldo is said to have been on the train, and has not been heard of yet." <br><br> Minnie gave one scream as she heard the last sentence, and fell to a dead faint at her mother's feet. By this time her father and his friend had departed to render what aid they could to the sufferers. Arriving at the scene the first object that met their gaze was the tall form of Leslie Waldo; he had been doing his best to help the suffering creatures around him, though looking pale and worn and as if he needed care himself. Mr. Astor grasped his hand warmly, exclaiming: "Thank God, Leslie, that I find you safe! I had hardly dared to hope. Now I think you have done your share here, and there is some one at the house who needs you; go to her at once. Not a word! I must be obeyed. She will explain." <br><br> Without further conversation, Leslie allowed himself to be led out of the crowd like one in a dream. He was completely tired out with the exertions of the past few hours. When he at least reached the house of Minnie's father, the door stood ajar, and following his impulse, he entered the library the room in which he had last seen his darling. He started back as he beheld her; she lay on the sofa, looking so white and slim he would hardly believe her to be the Minnie of old. As he stood there, scarcely daring to breathe, she opened her eyes, and, seeing him bending over her, cried: "Leslie! Leslie! Is it really you? Or am I dreaming?" <br><br> "I am here, alive and well, thank Heaven!" <br><br> We will now retire and leave the reunited lovers to themselves, as the conversation will probably be better appreciated by two than by a larger number. Suffice it to say that when they appeared at dinner the faces of the whole party wore a happy and cheerful aspect. <br><br> A few days after Mr. Astor met Henry Laurens, and, accosting him as Mr. John Brown, greatly to the dismay of that individual, whispered a few words into his ear which reminded him of an immediate desire to explore foreign countries, where he is at present, no doubt, trying his villainy on those who are simple enough to be victimized. |