The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1872-08-29
Y, PA. THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 1872.

| i"NS ~ tiO ioSOhb ChdhSeo Ill III utu DeSl
caused by the prospect of the speed,
arrival of her Jldnce.
Being busy in the middle of the day
and not caring to return home at tha
hour, strolled into the st. Charles, ant
ordered dinner.
Two gentlemen were seated at tn,
table where took my place, conversins
in a low tone, but earnestly. Withou
listening, or indeed much needing them
csuld not avoid hearing what wa
said. Evidently they were very init
mate friends discussing love affair.
IL should scarcely have known her,
said one
But" said the other, "you told M,
it was an affair of long ago. Can yor
have rival ?"
81 have thought of that" and the
speaker crushed double a little salt.
spoon he had held in his hand. "It's 6
new thing to see her sad and quiet
more, she is positively gloomy. Hel
father says she has never recovered from
the shock of her mothers death but
why should that make her shrink from
me Z"
care you sure she does ?'
"Sure! She never loved me- but we
We're always good friends. Now my
presence seems to give her positive pain.
If caress her, she turns so white /
think she will faint. If speak of our
wedding, she shudders, turns away, and
escapes from the room as soon as posi-
ble?"
"She. never did so before"
"No. We were friends though not
lovers"
"And you are not ill-looking."
Mentally 1 indorsed the last state
ment. l never saw handsomer face
than the one opposite me; yet, with all
the beauty of regular features, large
dark eyes, and even white teeth, there
was look of suffering there, as if from
ill-health, and the eye burned with a
fire that BODIED no good to any who
earned his enmity.
Suddenly, without word of warning,
he gave quick gasping cry, and bend
ind forward, glared into my face. He
was white as death, and q literal fury
seemed to possess him. Twice he tried
to speak, but failed, and rolling over,
lay in frightful convulsions at my feet.
His companion spoke at once to me.
"Loosen his necktie let him lie fiat |!
1t is nothing. He will soon recover.
Any sudden or violent agitation brings
on these attacks. You know him Z"
He's an entire stranger to me-"
All Have you not seen him
abroad, or before he left New Orleans 2"
he asked.
II tell you he is perfect stranger"
See, he is recovering. Do not let
him see you. You must resemble some
one he knows, and your face may renew
the attack. Pray leave u.s."
Not wishing to agitate the unfortu-
nate man again, and seeing that he was
slowly recovering, left my untasted
dinner, and was soon in the street once
more. forgot business-the approach
ing festival at Monsieur Lceourts-and
strobe rapidly along, thinking of the
strange incident. The face that had
looked into mine was strangely IA
miliar, Though I was sure had never
seen it before the voice, too, seemed to
recall some memory, and my mind was
deeply troubled by all.
1t wac very late when 1 crossed the
garden, and assembled the wide steps at
Monsieur Lecourt's. The windows were
open, and strains of music hoated out
upon the air. Looking in, 1 saw Adela
with guest, stranger to
me; and watching her was the gentle
man l had met few hours previous at
the St. Charles. knew now what made
his face so familiar. Brother and sister
could not have borne a closer resem-
blance to each other than Adela and
this man. He must be her cousin Theo-
dore, her affianced husband, and my
rival.
For the first time saw Adela in a
dress that was not black. She had dis
carded her mourning, and wore heavy
white silk, that left uncovered shoulders
and arms round and fair as marble stat
uary. Diamonds glistened in the droop-
ing braids of her hair, at her throat and
wrists, but no color broke the snowy
except the rays of fire from
the Jewels. A faint smile of courteous
interest hovered over her lips, as she
but she was as pale as when
first met her, and deeper sadness, if
possible, rested in the large soft eyes.
My heart was so heavy, was unfit to
meet gay faces. My own darling How
could bear to see her the unwilling
bride of another! No doubt now rested
On my mind that the match was one of
interest or convenience. The conversa-
bion 1 had overheard convinced me of
that. looked long in the lovely, sad
face, and then left the window, not to
enter the house, but to wander through
.he garden till reached the summer
house. l had spent many pleasant
hours in this retreat, and threw myself
lown in wide rustic seat, to try to
gain sufficient calmness to face the gay
scene to which / had been invited.
1t was no light task. Every nerve in
ny body seemed to me quivering with
pain and misery. was sitting quiet,
when rustling of silk near by aroused
ne from my painful reverie, and, looking
up, saw Adela standing in the door
way of the summer house. In the dim
light 1 was unnoticed, for, leaning her
head against the leafy lattice, she sighed
leeply, and spoke in low whisper:
"He has left mel No word-no fare
veil Oh, Godfrey, l could not SO desert
youp
Ny own name! I could not restrain
myself. .. ....-
"Adelal" cried, and was beside her
n a moment.
l cannot tell what I said. In rapid,
words told her my love, my
ealousy, my despair, and she listened.
After the first start of surprise, she
never stirred from her position. might
nave thought her cold, had not an occa-
ional sob convinced me she heard me