The Sweetwater enterprise. (Sweetwater, Tenn.) 1869-187?, 1870-02-24
OUR WEEKLY STORY.
IN DANGER.

and the cold, clear light Of the full moon,
just lifting its round disc above the sea,
fell in perfect flood of molten silver over
the waves. Gay loungers from the great
hotel still fingered upon the shore. Eers.t
picturesque they looked, too, sos-f ~
here and there among the rocks. H-r'' ,
A pretty picture Belle Burton made,
her golden hair and delicate features re-
lieyed by the dark rock against which she
leaned her dainty head; at last, so thought
Stephen Leroy, who sat at her feet, gazing
entranced into her fair face.
Near them stood two ladies', surround
ed by galaxy of admirers. Mrs. Hall, a
piquant little widow, her fresh, saucy face
utterly belying the somberness of her airy
black dress and May Melton, splendid
brunette, with magnificent figure, fash
ing dark eyes, and classic features. May
was listening gracefully, and replying with
ready wit to the lively chit-chat of her
party; but evidently her heart was else
where, for every now and then her gaze
wandered to the happy pair sitting in the
shadow of the great rock, oblivious of all
save each other. Her face darkened, and
an angry flush rose to her cheeks as q rip
pling laugh from Belle or the half-audible
murmur of her companions voice reached
her ear. May was jealous, and her pas
siOnate heart beat wildly, as she stood thus
tamely by, and saw her rival coolly taking
possession Of the heart which she so covet-
ed,
''Do you know" said Mrs. Hall, PEN
sively, 81 think one looks rather different
in the moonlight than in the broad glare
of sunlight. Somehow it intensifes the
spiritual expressions Of the face, and trail
tOrously exposes the hidden character of
the soul"
"How sentimental p' exclaimed May.
"Look at Miss Burton, now," pursued
Mrs. Hall; "see how the clear light aud
dark shadows bring out the delicate out
lines of her features, intensity the intel
lectual expression of her brow, and show
strength of will as we'll as tenderness in
the curving lines of the mouth"
"Oh, Miss Burton is firtingp said May,
with sneer; "and that accounts for the
extra complement Of loyeliness sic possess
ses this evening. Flirting is, think,
greater boautifer than moonlight" !"
"Yes, my dear it is, no doubt" said
Mrs. Hall, shrowdly guessing the cause Of
her uncharitableness. ''&nd," she con-
tinued, little malicious*y, ''if you, now,
were in her place, listening to soft moth
ings from the gallant Mr.. leroy, your face
would tone down and grow more spiritual
looking under the witching spell of love
and moonlightw
Belle darted an angry look ont of her
coal-black eyes at the unimpressible little
widow.
"NIiss Melton could not look more love-
ly than at present." drawled AT exquisite,
in languishing tones.
"But we of the coarser mold ofhuman-
ity," said one of the gentlemen-"do we,
too, grow less earthly and more spiritual
in the tell-tale moonlight"
"Of course" laughed the lively little
lady. "You, for instance, Mr.. Granger,
so tall and grand-looking, would pass for
a son of Anak; and Mr.. st. George, with
his dark face and ferocious-looking beard,
only wants pistol and half dozen knives
or 50 to seem a brigand--one of the poeti-
cal kind, you know, who rob only stingy
millionaircs, and shower gold prodigally
upon the poor"
"What are you all so merry about p
asked Stephen Leroy, who, with Belle up
on his arm, was just starting for the hotel.
"Nlrs. Hall has just been entertaining us
by reading our characters form our moon
lighted faces" said Mr.. Granger.
"That was rather dangerous pastime,
Mrs. Hail." said Belle, laughing. 81 fear,
if you told the truth, you have mortally
wounded the vanity of some of the gentle
men,"
"Let's take stroll among the rocks"
said May, abruptly, "before we 60 up to
the hotel. The sea looks SO grand, SHIN
mering in the moonlightm m
They walked slowly on, and May soon
managed to appropriate Mr.. Leroy to her.
self. She gained nothing by her maneu-
yer, for he proved dull companion; and
she bit her lips in angry vexation as she
responded to his cold "Good night !" on
the hotel steps, and caught the CLEAN of
his eye as it rested on the retreating figure
of Belle Burton. Nor did her heart light
en- as she noted the glitter of diamond
on Bellies finger, which that morning had
graced the hand of Stephen Leroy.
The next few days were days of storm
la cold easterly wind, with heavy, per-
sistent rain-and the gay company at the
hotel were confined within doors. During
the long days, the ladies knitted and croch-
eted; and the gentlemen talked and read,
and made themselves useful by tangling
the ladies' silks and wosrteds and upsetting
their ork-baskets.
Belle and Stephen were too happy in
loves young dream to heed the dreary as.
poets of the weather. Indeed, Stephen
thought be had never seen Belle to greater
advantage than sitting in the red glow Of
the Pickering freight, busily sewing some
dainty piece of embroidery. 1t was q
foreshadowing of the home freside.