Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-06-08
PAUL MOReAMs oHoIcE.
BY LOUISE CHANDLER HoULTos.


Paul Morgan. The sea side cottage where
they were staying was full, and they were
Obliged TO room together. Indeed, they had
chosen this at first, for they had been friends
six weeks before. They called themselves
so now; but they felt n spirit like Gains in |
their hearts as they looked at each other |
with stealthy eyes. In fact they hated each |
other--as girls, even very good girls not |
unfrequen.ly do when both love the same
man God help us 4 How little it means
when we say we are friends How weak we
are
Which did Paul Morgan love? Both were
pretty, at times really handsome. Both had
fair hair and blue eyes, peach blossom cheeks
aud lips meant for kisses; but there were
plenty Of points Of difference. MariSn was
year older and taller. Her eyes were deeper,
hsr lips smiled more rarely. Jeanette was
merry as summer bird. 1t had always
been summer with her life.
What had Paul Morgan done to make them
both love him2 Nothing, consciously; for,
10 tell all the truth, neither OF them, fair and
sweet as they were, had ever quickened
pulse of his heart. He was selfish, like the
rest, and be had his own plaus to serve.
There were more than these two girls at
Sachem's Head. Agatha Churchill was there
/ also. It was no mystery to man why all
the men admired Agatha, naughty and in
different to them as she was. The women all
wondered at L. for she was not at all pretty.
What was better, though she was wonder
fully beautiful at times. She had great gray
eyes. and long lashes as black as her heavy
b air. You should have seen her when some
moment of intense excitement dilated the
pupils Of those eyes till they looked intense
/ IN black, and the slow color came up into
i her cheeks and glOwed there steadily. All
lesser lights paled before her then. But the
next morning you saw her differently
Stylish looking-her tall, slender figure
could not fail of that--but still and quiet; her
ewes light gray, her cheeks eoloTleGs, her
manner so very tranquil. She had no in
innate frienG, She was there with her
mother, whom she pstted and cared for
tenderly, but in whom she did not ConAde.-
Had sae any secrets to tell2 Nobody knew,
but Paul Morgan meant to find out.
Marian Arms and Jeanette Randall each
thought by turns, that Morgan tancied her
self then feared lest bis love was given to
the other; but neither Of them dreaded Mis-:
Churchill. In truth, he was never very at
ientive to her. It was not his mode OF war
fare. He bestowed most Of his gallantries OF
the two fair blondes. He rode with Marian
to-day; he sailed with Jeanette tomorrow
He walked with one in the morning. he sang
and danced with the other in the evening
And so they sat, this twilight in their owl
, room, hating each other-almost hating
: themselves.
. {" Are you going down tonight"
1t was Jeanette who spoke. It wa
always more difficult for her to keep silenc
: than for Marian Besides, she had neve
! looked deeply enozgh into her own heart Il
realize how she was growing to feel iowart
D her friend Marian had. She answered
: carelessly--
e al suppose So"
GThere will be dancing" Jeannette wen
on. "Let US dress. Something dark vii
suit this misty night"
"And your style of beauty sneere
/ Marian. ..a
aOf course had not forgotten that.
always confess to my share Of vanity !"
She laughed and went on dressing. Whel
she had finished she looked her handsomes
e Her dress was black silk, and she had pinl
roses on her bosom.
: Marian wore white It did not suit th
night very well; but she was capricious, an
: 1t pleased her fancy.
S Paul Morgan met them with good deal {
o Impeachment when they came into the hail.
: He claimed Marian for the first waltz, an
Jeanette for the second; and each believed
q ior the enchanted moments she was dancin
n with him, that she held his heart.
+ When the two waltzes were finished b
! walked along to Agatha She stood by tn
table, turning over some stereoscopic view
with dreamy air. She looked like char
scter out of an Oriental romance. She wor
. dress of some soft material, plated in th
richest and brightest of colors. A sort {
8 turban of shining, siivery gauze was twiste
: abont her head. Golden serpents, wit
y cleaning scales and little emerald eyes, wei
upon her arms. Not another of the twent
: women in the room could have worn he
p costume, bat she was royal in it. 1t was on
T of her hours of beauty and power. A kee
It delight kindled Morgan's glance as he locke
8 at her. She raised her head presently, an
: their eyes met.
i "You do not waltz, Miss Ohurchill?"
it "Eo.n
"Yet should have thought you would |
fond Of it. You delight so in all kinds
rapid motion-the madder the better.
g should have said waltzing was made for yol
How singular that you do not like itp
y az did not say that. l do like it. 1t
\ my passion; but cannot waltz with ever.
one"
: "with very dear friend You would p
Yes.D
+ "a brother for instance, or the man 70
'e meant to marry y tfs
ayes"
u "Agatha, will you waltz with meP
He bent his eyes full upon her, searching
!, ly, expectantly. Then an expression of tendt
e pleading grew into ,hem. 1t was the sam
;s as if be had asked her to marry him. 81
returned his look; but she thought he WI
"a only flirting, as he had with Others-that
is strove TO take an ungenerous advantage
her. She did not blush or tremble
u "WilI you waltz with ms?p be askt
,e again.
! @NoP
" He bowed, and went quietly away fro
:. = her. oone saw any change in either his maj
- ner or hers. They were gay as usual.
' fact, Miss Churchill was gayer. Halt the mt
Il in the room were gathered around her. Mo
= gan was with Jeanette Randall for Will
~ and then went out out to walk on the piazi
- with Marian Arms. Agatha could see Il
N white dress against the windows as the
paesed back and forth. Once, as she locke
she shivered.
Even Jeanette was silent in her oN
uo room that night Marian was not likely
n speak-she had food enough for though
O. Morgan had certainly been very attentive
ID her. Tonight be had eoaxed her out {
Il the piazza in spite Of the wind and mi
But he had said nothing with which 81
Sc could satisfy the hunger in her soul. Was
\ trying her-trying to make her love hi
of without giving her anything in returI
~ Worse than that, poor child, he was not tt
< ing at all. He had never even QUESTION:
ID whether she was likely to love him. It W
of convenient to be attentive to her or Jesl
:. natte-nrettY pirls both Of them-when