Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1872-01-06

him. do not think that he is indif-
ferent to me, Pve tVo bOquets he
gave me-"
Byzantine smiled bitterly at this
childish speech; for she thought of
the dozens he had given her with
sweet notes breathing devotion.
Now she must give him up to this
child who had lifted her eyes TO
Roy Vinton, and dared to love Egg
lantine Camcther's lover. She must
give him up now, for had she not
promised Leuie's mother to shield
her darling from all harm or disap-
pointment; for Lcuic had inherited
the delicate constitution of the
sweet lady who had been 4 mother
to her orphan niece, Byzantine.
ANY sudden shcck would carry Of
gray eyes Byzantine could see the
love that had taken deep root in the
young life.
"NOw, darling, repay confidence,
and tell me your true loves name"
4 look of pain stole over the pure
face.
Il have none, Leuie; / have loved
and | have lost" and few tears fell
upon the claspcd hands.
"By death?" Whispered Leuie, as
She saw with surprise her regal
cousin so moved.
"No, Lcuie," came the low re-
sponse.
Louie Rossitcur forborc to qucs-
ton further, but fell to wondering
who the man could be that had re
sisted the spell Of her beautiful
cousin Eglantine Camethers.
= Come cousin, We'll 90 back now,
it's after ten, and wen not be in time
for the German unless we start nOw,"
and Leuie took up q pair Of oars,
and the boat bounded over the dane
ing waters toward the pier.
"No. Lcuie, l shall not dance to-
night; you may go and win tri-
umphs in the German, for you must
not miss your favorite dance. Good
night, my darling; God bless your
love and make you happy"
Eglantine's kiss fell soft as a snow
flake on the pure, upturned brow OF
her cousin, and as Leuie entered the
dancing hall Byzantine flew lightly
up the stairs to her room, and bolt
ing the door, she sank on her knees
by the window, and burst into
passion of tears. Outside, Lake
George lay in its beauty beneath the
broad full moon.
so that l were buried beneath that
heaying water mOaned Byzantine;
"would that its silvery pillows were
over NV weary head. The only man
lever truly loved, and now to give
him up to Leuie; but it must be so,
IL ,~rlV,V1 f1fa urr,loer IN fhR hnusn-
after we may meet and be happy"
The soft music stole up to her,
mocking her silent anguish with its
ripping cadences, the mOOnbeams
streamed in through the open win
dow over the floating golden hair
and white. drawn face of Byzantine.
Alone there in the moonlight, with
the breath of sweet flowers and the
dreamy notes of music mingling,
did Byzantine Camethers struggle
with self and her love for her cous-
in. At last her Gave, ave." said,
"Adieu, adieu forevermore," for
the love she had cherished for Roy
VintOn.
Again it is moonlight night, and
on the balcony, OVerhanging the
lake, sat sweet Byzantine Camethers
with her white burnos wrapped
about her, and her lovely face look
ing like that of some statue so calm
and still was il. Opposite her, with
his arms folded across his chest,
stood Roy Vinton leaning against
the railing and drinking in with his
eyes her glorious beauty. Byzantine
- 90 Fn to InI
come, and ii was best to have it over
at once. She sat there not daring to
lift her brown eyes to his face, to
read the expression which she knew
was there, for fear that when the
words were spoken that she would
yield TO the spell of his voice, and
whisper ''yes," regardless of poor
Lcuie. \ movement from the 81
lent figure opposite, and Byzantine
knew what she dreaded TO hear was
coming.
"Eglantine," his full rich voice
fingered lovingly on her sweet
name, ''it is meet that tell you now
of my deep love for you"
Eglantinc's tiny hands went up to
hide her face.
ooh, Roy, Roy, spare me, spare
me! 1t is III vain."
''Eglantinc, is it possible that you
do not love me? l was almost sure
you did. Am l deccived?"
"Roy," and Byzantine had risen
to her feet, her face like the driven
snow, ''no, no, a thousand times too
well, but oh, it can not be-"
"Why, my darling, what is to pre-
vent? l can wait any length of time,
what reasonable objections can there
| be?'
at is impossible, Roy" she sob
bed, and then in broken tones she
told him of Leuie's love, her health,
and the promise made to her moth
er, then she begged him to marry
Leuie.
"But, Byzantine, can not, l do
not love her; you must not sacri-
flee yourself for a promise made long
ago. l win appeal to LeUie herself,
she is too noble to wish another's
lover, and that other her cousin"
81 forbid you to do so, Roy Vim
ton, if you ever breathe a word OF
this to any one you viii never see
my face again. The moment that
you told Leuie that you did not love
her, that moment would be her last
Oh, Roy" and Byzantine bent be.
fore him with clasped hands, the
golden hair floating back from the
pure brow, her upturned face seem
ed that of an angel, so holy was its
expression " If ever you loved me
l beg Of you to marry Leuie. Oh
save her life, and l will bless you
Roy, my hero! Take her to yOul
arms: she needs some shelter, yoU
will soon learn to love her. Oh
Roy, grant me this request, the only
one I ever asked you"
Roy Vinton looked down on thil
noble-hearted woman, begging hin
to bestow his love OH another, anC
his soul yearned for this self-sacri
ficing Byzantine Camethers.
"NIy God! it is impossible! How
could / love one woman and marry
another? What would you thini
of me, Byzantine You would des
pise and loathe me. Oh, / can not
r do not ask me.
Byzantine rose slowly to her feet
"ROy NintOn, thought YOU Wer
; a noble man, but my hero has fallel
; from his pedestal. GOOd-bv forev
er! We shall never meet again
2 and in your hands lies Leuie Rossi
2 teur's life"
"Oh, Byzantine, come back. com
l back! III promise anything if yo
will only withdraw Your anger froI
/ me-"
I "YoU promise 10 marry Leui
e ROssiteur then -
5 81 promise, but Eglautine, l ca
not feign q love l do not feel"
5 "You will in time; treat her s
kindly that she'll never miss it."
/? "Eglantine Camethers, your wi
n is my law, Leuie Rossiteur shall /
d my wife, but you"