The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1872-09-26


form, and how eagerly she listened
when he spoke.
al wonder if she has a jealous tenn
permanent, or does she trust her love i'm
plicitly? I'll soon see for myself, for l
must study WELL" she unused.
Very adroitly Bernice managed to
keep Phil at her side, entertaining him
with her wit and beauty or she would
ask him to take stroll on the veranda,
as the rooms were close and heated. And
he was willing captor, for somehow he
was bewitched by her beauty tonight,
and did not notice the little, white-robe
| figure who watched them so earnestly.
Bernice was leaning on Philips arm,
gazing at the jewelled vault overhead,
when the band commenced playing a
| low, delicious waltz, and fairy-like forms
| fitted past the windows.
THAT music is irresistible! o Phil,
won't you waltz with me? We used to
| waltz in old times, you know" and
| Bernice looked into Philips face with a
| tender look in her dark, luminous eyes.
She waltzed superbly, and almost ere
he was aware, Phil was whirling away
in the giddy dance with Bernice leaning
|
fumed breath close to hi. cheek. He
had forgotten that this dance was prom
ised to Ethel, and was just excusing
himself from Bernice when she ex-
claimed
"What lovely rosebud you have in
your coat Do give it to me; will you,
Phil Z"
Ethel saw him give Bernice the flower
he had promised her, saw him fasten it
in her hair, and she was little cool
toward Philip, and Bernice congratu-
lated herself on her evenings success.
Day after day passed, and still Ber-
nice held Phil a captive. He did not
love her, and Ethel was as dear to him
as ever; but there was fascination
about her. a Rameless something he
could not resist when he was in her So
ciety. Struggle against it as he might,
Fate seemed to throw her continually in
his path. She dazzled and bewildered
him with her strange words, sometimes
as bright and gay as tropical bird,
again as sad and pensive as nun.
Ethel May resided with her uncle,
only short distance from The Elms,
but she spent nearly every evening
| there. for Phil desired to have her par
| ticipate in the amusements the guests
had arranged-tableaux, charades, or
dancing, there was always something to
be enjoyed every night.
About this time Mr.. Thurston, Ethers
uncle, was taken very i'll, and Ethel was
constituted nurse; so while the others
were flirting and coquetting to their
hearts content, she sat by the bedside
of the sick man, pale and sad watcher.
Philip called as often as he could, but
his guests claimed him most of the time,
and Bernice improved EthePs absence
to make herself as charming as possible.
If Bernice knew when Phil intended
to call on Ethel, she would try her best
to detain him challenge him to game
of chess, or by some other trivial excuse
strive to keep him at her side. But she
| did not always succeed, and when Philip
was with Ethel he reproached himself
for not being more attentive and calling
oftener. He still loved her truly and
tenderly at heart, but Bernice was doing
her best to lure him away, and such
brilliant beauty was hard to resist. Yet
be never dreamed of loving her, but be-
ing continually at her side, seeing her
every day and hour in her radiant
beauty, he could not help admiring her.
Mr.. Thurston had nearly recovered,
and Ethel, for the first time since his
illness, was spending the evening at The
Elms. The guests had just arranged an
impromptu concert; several opera airs
had been sung and number of difficult
instrumental pieces had been executed.
| Phil turned the music for Bernice to
play brilliant piece that just suited
her. Then Ethel was invited to sing.
"Shall turn your music, Ethel 7?
asked Phil.
"No, I'll sing something from
memory"
She looked as fragile as a lily in her
soft, white dress and pale blue trim
mings. Ethel had pure, sweet voice,
clear as a bell, and she sang in plant
i've tone, that old Scotch ballad:
| Better loved ye could ma be,
| Will ye ma come back to me y
1t seemed to Philip as if she sang for
him, and he shuddered to think how
near he had come to strayihg away from
her love, for admiration, such deep ad-
mirat1on as he had felt for Bernice, is
the offspring of love. He reproached
himself bitterly as he noticed for the
first time how thin and pale she had
grown in the past few weeks.
After the song was finished, Philip
led her away from the piano, saying:
ETHEL, darling, come into the con-
servatory. want to speak with you. u
Bernice, standing near, saw the love-
light in his eyes, and heard his low
spoken words. Unobserved by the
others, she stopped out of the low win
dows that opened on to the verauda
and when Philip and Ethel came in she
was crouched close by the open window
where she could distinctly hear their
conversation.
Ethel, was that song for me?" Philip
asked.
"I thought of you when sang it, for
somehow, Phil, think you do not love
me as you once did"
II have never ceased loving you
dearest, although Bernice Vaugn en-
thralled me with her strange beauty
But am her slave no longer that little
song awakened my sleeping senses, and
now 1 almost despise her, for see hel
| motive. . Ethel, need your pure
sweet presence always. What need is
there of longer waiting? Tomorrow
eve we are to have tableaux /; the last
one on the programme is to be mocl
marriage. Let's astenish the guests by
making it legal one. Will you
EthelT'