Rensselaer Republican, Volume 18, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 July 1886 — LILLIE’S TRIUMPH. [ARTICLE]

LILLIE’S TRIUMPH.

BY W. B. JONES.

“My dear, wlint are tvo to do with onr £rls?” asked Mrs. Gayhmd of her hnsind, one fine evening in. May. “Our girls?” repealed Mr. Gayland, in apparent astonishment. 1 “Why, uliat's the matter with them?” “How provoking you are. Mr, Gnyland. You know rery well what I mean.” “How should I, niv dear? Our girls were nil well enough at dinner. I hope nothing has happened to them since.” Mrs. Garland bit her lips with vexation as she rose to leave the room, but before the had reached the door her maternal solicitude prevailed against her anger, and ahe returned and seated herself by* her husband’s side, and said, in her most winning tones: “But don’t yon think, my dear, it is time tome of our girls were married?", “Ha, ha, ha,” burst from the lips of the old gentleman. “Is that all? How relieved I feel!" „ ” “But, Mr. Garland, Kate and Irene (they were twins) are now 22 years of age, and after they are disposed of, there is Lucia and Florette, who are now even old enough to marry." “Yes, and yoU forget my sweet Lillie, here,” said Mr. Garland, stooping to a pale, sober-looking girl who sat by his side. A look of contempt was cast on the child by her mother, as she answered: “Pshaw! I will keep Lillie to tend the kitchen. She is too homely to ever get a husband."

This was the most unfortunate remark Mrs. Gayland could have made, for Lillie waa her father's pet. He loved her better than any of his grown-up daughters, and for this reason—she best deserved his love. Mr. Gayland was a very good-tempered BUra, but one word against his darling chud was enough to excite his anger for a longtime. On this occasion he jumped up and walked the floor for a few minutes, then sitting down and taking Lillie on his lap. he said to his wife, in a voice of stern calmness: r “Marie, how can you be so unnatural a mother as to hate your youngest child, because she is weakly and not handsome? I tell you," he said, raising his voice, “her heart and mind are priceless gems in comparison with the vain beauty of Kate, Irene, and Lncia. And Florette, were it not for the strong love she bears for Karvey Lester, would be as heartless as your ambition has made her sisters.” Mrs. Gayland smiled disdainfully at the conclusion of this speech, but only an? swered: “Florette has more sense than you imagine." Again she turned to leave the room, and again did the thoughts of her daughters bring her to her husband’s side. “Marion, my errand here was to procure money to take our beautiful girls to Saratoga.”

“Yes, to dispose of them, I suppose." “Certainly, if I can find suitable matches for them.” “Success attend you,” said the husband, and he took from his desk notes to the amount of a thousand dollars. “But stop; Florette is not going with you?” : ’ ... -hear. superior "beauty Would attract all attention from her sisters. I shall leave her for your protege, Harvey Lester.” Mr. Oayland muttered a few angry words as his wife left the room, then taking his darling Lillie, he carressed her long and lovingly, while the poor, despised child uttered words so wise, that even the fond father himself was astoriished. “Well, mamma.” exclaimed the three oldest girls in a breath, “did you succeed?” “Yes, after preaching me a long sermon about that stupid Lillie, he gave me a thousand dollars.” -- “Oh, well,” said Irene, “that is better than I expected. You know he always vowed we should never go.” “Yes, and I expect the reason why he consents is, that he wishes to be rid of ns for a while." “Am I to go. mamma?” asked Florette. “No, my child, you must wait until next summer, but you can amuse yourself with Harvey Lester, while we are absent.” The girls all burst into a merry laugh. “Yes, it is so amusing-to listen to him sometimes; what a simpleton he is to think that Florette, with all-her beauty, will ever marry him.” “Oh. well," said the beauty, tossing her head, “I shall let him think so, till Harry Bewick gets home, then to finish the sport, I shall refer him to papa, and end it by saying I was only in jest.”

Poor Florette, she was indeed as heartlew as her sisters. Harvey Lester little suspected the plot laid against him; so while mamma and her daughters coquetted at the springs, Mr. Gaylaud and Lillie studied in the library, and Harvey became the constant companion of the beautiful Florette —anticipating her slightest wishes, and breathing into her ear his tale of love. Harvey Lester, despite his boyishness and awkwardness, was destined for a high Elace among earth’s nobles. Mr. Garland >ved Harvey as a son. He appreciated the noble qualities of his heart, and it was his earnest wish to see him united to Florette. But such was not the intention of Mrs. Gay land. Florette was her most beautiful child, and was tanghi to believe herself destined, at least, for a lord! So while her mother and sisters were enjoying themselves at Saratoga, she was amusing herself by trifling with a most true and faithful heart. ~ jj Harvey was not thought rich, but he knew what no one else did—that he was heir to the immense wealth of a bachelor uncle. He wished to be loved for himself alone, and so Florette and her family were kept ignorant of his wealth. Had Harvey told them all he might hare gained Florette, even though he could never be an English lord, but we think he acted wisely in keeping his secret. p Autumn soon came, and with it came Mrs. Gayland and her daughters, rejoicing in their good fortune. Kate had married a French count, who lad accompanied them home. Irene was en< aged to a wealthy

gentlernan[ from the South, while Lupin had made rapid progress in the affections' of "a Ne# York exquisite. “Well,- Flordte," said Mrs.' Gnyland, about a week after her return, “how spe«4* the gallant Mr. Lester in jiin wooing?" “He is to ask »pap M's ebusent to-night.” answered Florette, somewhat sndlv. “He Wltt be very much fllarjppolirtuil, 1 fear, but. 1 cannot think of marrying him after seeing Kate's husband.” . e “Ye«," said Irene, “and Mr. Northfield is much handsomer than the Count." “And Frederick Augustus Dash is handsomer than either,"" drawled Miss Lucia. “Hul,” said Lillie, in a pleading voice, and lifting her huge eyes to face of Florette, ‘ Harvey is good.'” A torrent of abase drove Ihe unhappy child lo her father’s study,.tuid with him she found Harvey Lester. “Lillie, my dear,” said her father, “go call Florette," The child obeyed, and soon returned with her sister, who asked very innocently: “What do you want wiih me, papa?” Mr. Gnylnnd looked first at Harvey, then nt Florette, “Did you not send Harvey to me?” r “La, pa, was he so foolish as'to ask you? I renlly was in jest.” “In jest!" exclaimed the young man, rising from his sent, and turning deadly pale; “and perhaps it was in jest that you have so manv times promised to be mine; speak Florette, is it so?" The young girl trembled as she gazed upon his pallid face, yet with a smile, she answered: “Certainly, dear Harvey, I w as in jest all the time, and I thought you were also.” Mr. Garland hail listened in stupified amazement to Florette’s heartless confession. He never imagined that one of his daughters could lie guilty of so base an act, much less her whom he believed so pure and guileless* He spoke not, but pointed to the door, as Florette closed it, Harvey fell on his knees, and the teardrops rolled down his cheeks. Lillie also wept bitterly. She loved Harvey, and throwing her arms around his neck, she whispered: “Don’t cry, Harvey, I’ll be your wife.” These childish words instnntjy dried up his tears. He pressed her to his heart and 6aid: “You will be my own wife, Lillie; you will never leave me, nor laugh at me, as Florette has done." “Bravo," exclaimed Mr. Gayland, who had recovered the use of his tongue, “you shall yet be my son. Harvey, Florette has cruelly wronged you, but don't'mind it, we will . have our revenge, harmless, though sweet. Harvey, do you really wish me to give you iny own Liilie?” “Yes, sir, for she has a good heart.” “Bight, my boy, and she will be as handsome as Florette, when she is as old. When she is 17, Harvey, she is yours, that allows me five years to educate her, and during that time you must travel. Our plan must be kept a profound secret between us three. Eemember, Harvey, that when you return, it must be incog, and then combs our revenge.” In a week Harvey Lester had left town, and Lillie, much to the astonishment of •her mother and sisters,; was sent to an excellent female seminary. Mr. Gayland seldom spoka of Harvey Lester, but when his nnme was mentioned jeeringly, there would be a smile of deep und quiet meaning playing oyer his benevolent features. Summer came around again, and ..again was Mrs. Gnylnnd, Irene, and Lucia at Saratoga, but Floiette was not allowed to go. In vain her mother coaxed; Mr. Gayland was inexorable. Florette thought it was on account of her youth, but as summer after summer passed away and found her still at home, she knew it was a punishment, and felt it to be just. Five yeart had passed away. Mr. Gayland had been from home a week and his wife wondered why he stayed so long. “Mamma,” said Florette, “I should think you would know where he has gone, did he not tell you?” “No, I asked him and he refused to tell me,” said Mrs. Gnyland, looking very sour. “Oh, I can guess,” said Florette, who seemed to be in high spirits, “he has gone to bring his darling Lillie home.” Strange, the mother had almost forgotten that she had a child away from home. <■ “Well,” said Mrs. Gayland, coldly, “I hope he has,Tor the chambermaid is goibg to leave me, and Lillie can take her place.” “La, mn,” lisped Lucia, “do you think that after keeping her five years at Seminary, papa will allow her to come home and make beds for us?” Lucia’s New York, exquisite had left her, and she was now 25. “We shall see,” answered Mrs. Gayland, with a decided air, “but hark, I hear a carriage—it must be you father.” “Y'es,” said Lucia, looking out of , the window, “and there is a lady with him, but it cannot be Lillie,, for she looks very handsome.” The door opened—Mr. Gayland entered leading a voting and beautiful girl. Advancing towards his wife and daughters he presented her. “Maria, your daughter, Lillie; Lucia, Florette, your sister.” Lillie, with a sweet smile* extended her hand, and notwithstanding an evident coolness on the part of her mother and sisters she would press her lips theirs. “Well, Maria,” said Mr. Gayland, triumphantly, “do yon want Lillie in the kitchen now? Or perhaps next summer you would like to exhibit her and Florette at Saratoga.”

A bitter smile was the only reply. Mrs. Gayland saw that the poor, despised, and insulted child was beautiful —even more beautiful than Florette; for there was h brightness in the dark eyes of Lillie, that 6poke of heaven-born thought; while the soft cadence of her voice was sweeter than the Zephyr's harp. While Lillie was divesting herself of her traveling dress; Florette. instead of assisting her. was gazing out upon the lawn. Suddenly she exclaimed, while a slight blush tinged her cheek. “Papa, look, do you know this gentleman approaching? He was introduced here by Mr. Berwick, on the day after yon left, and is the most agreeable man I ever met. He must have traveled all' over the world, for hip knowledge is boundless; and his manners are so distinguished. At times when he is speaking very earnestly, his voice resembles Harvey Lester's, and«ometimes he fixes his eyes upon me just as Harvey used to do.” “Indeed, Florette,” answered her father, “I hope you have not lost your heart. I know the gentleman well, and he is engaged to a young lady of this village.” “Engaged! impossible, papa,” said Lncia, “he only visits here, and his eyes are always on Florette; but hark, he rings.” Mr. Gayland, himself, opened the door and welcomed the gentleman by a hearty shake of the hand; then leading Lillie forward, he paid: “Harvey Lester, this is, my daughter Lillie, and your affianced bride.” - The young man gazed upon her face in admiring wonder, then kneeling he said, as in days gone by: “Yon will be my own wife, Lillie, yon will never leave me, nor laugh at me as Florette has done?” And again Lillie threw her arms around his neck, and answered, with a face of smiles and tears; “Oh, no, never, deaf Harvey. I will always b« your own Lillie.”

The rage pf the mother, and the chagrin of Fkvratte, can better be imagined than described. Mr. Gavland! noticed them not, but taking the hand of bis fntuie son-in-law. he said: “Our revenge is complete. Maria, your despised and neglected child i» now superior in wealth and beauty to either of xour daughter*. There is hot *—hwiv n; jibe land that would not be proud to call Harvey Lester, husband. May the lesson yon have this day learned be profitable-to yon.” ' Florette. while visiting .Saratoga the following summer, gave her hand to Mr. Berwick, who had long sought it. Bnl she never looked upon the beloved Harvey Lester without regretting that she had played the dangerous game of sporting with hearts.