The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1862-11-12


a game Of chess, whenever his queen
wilIed it.
"Who's the belle ?" laughingly asked
Charlotte, with half-closed eye-lids.
"a Miss Brown, of New York-Marion
Brown. Take care of that knight Gener-
al-check to the klug.'
''Charlotte's satin cheek grew shade
more crimson she bit her lip.
Has she many adorers, Evert 2"
"Wcll, not what you'd call many Char
Iotte--a dozen or SO. But she's in love,
and that procludes beaux, you are aware
-iu love and angaged."
"Ah to whom General, I'll trouble
you for that bishop"
"To Mr. Castleton, wealthy gentle
man who lives somewhere among the Hud-
son Riveri.es."
Indeed and I suppose you know
himl"
"Very we'll"
"Introduce him this evening"
"Aud pray why IF | may ask the
question"
at suits me" briefly replied Charlotte,
opeuing a book and apparently becoming
absorbed In its contents.
No more belle, hood fer Marion Brown.
Her star went down the moment that the
beautiful adopted daughter of General
Elwood entered the ball.room, loveliCr
than an Eastern Hour, in her floating
white draperies, and the deep red rubles
that cleaned Oh her neck and arms.
Marion recognized her old enemy-it
was a bitter pill to swallow, but she
Kew, that to retain her position, she too
must worship at the shrine of the new
divinity. She glided forward with faint
smile.
My dear Charlotte, don't you remem-
Der me 7"
Miss Eiwood raised her gold eye. glass
to eyes that never had flashed with such
regal contempt, but did not acknowledge
the recognition, ather by word or sign.
1t was the "cut direct" and Marion
shrank back as if bullet had struck to
her heart.
Some few minutes afterward, a lady
touched her arm slightly, with the downy
edge of fan.
"My dear Miss Brown, [ would advise
you TO look after Frank Casteton, or his
allegiance may waver! Just now he is
rendering homage at the altar of that mag
nfceut Miss Elwood!'
Marion turned and saw her afhauced
lover hanging enraptured on the soft
words of Charlotte, the syren. lie did
not even glance in the direction of bis
betrothed it was too plain that Charlotte
had fettered him with her bonds of love-
illness.
A month passed on-a month of slow
torture to marion. of successive triumphs
to Charlotte Elwood. At the end of that
time, Marion found a slip of paper under
her chamber door, on which was hastily
scribbled these few unsigned words
"Be in the houeysuckie arbOr beyond
the wall. this evening, if you want to
hear what much concerns you"
Marion did not fail to be there at the
time indicated She did not wait long
in the clear moonlight, ere she heard the
voices of two persons walking slowly up
and down just beyond her place of re-
treat. Her blood ran cold as she recog-
nized the tones Of Miss ElWood and Frank
CastletUO.
"My dear Charlotte, do not tell you,
that l love you better than my own soul?"
was the iupassioned declaration of the
latter, as his tall head almost brushed the
honeysuckle branches which bent over
Marion's hiding place.
"Looe !" repeated the clear cold ac-
cents of Charlotte Elwood -''is not that
a strange word to come from the lips of
Marion Browns accepted suitor 7"
Castleton uttered faint exclamation
of disgust.
"Do not name ber, I pray you. She
is naught to me now. Since first [ saw
you, dearest Charlotte, she has been a
mere cypher to me-my love is all thrown
at your feet. My queen, my angel one,