Wilmington daily commercial., 1872-11-09
Lf1Y AND DIAMOND.


nefore the mirror, and the line between her
evehrows deepened as the pitiless morning
Iight BETRAYED the want Of that delicate
aI,snescent charm which belongs to youth,
M N IL alone. Then she sighed, and, bury
Inc her face In her hands, gave herself the
i,snrv of gloom for few moments. The
most determined woman has her moments of
uncertainty, the strongest woman has times
of yearning for somesupport Eleanor Rarnes =
heart was failing her for fear. "Oh, my rival
myrl ,a," she uyht, bitterly. s'CAn win
the battle against such fearful oddsY" Long
and earnest were her musings and gradually
her will woke up again and her hopes rose.
HWhy should fear her, mere child, shall
low and ignorant of lifef Pretty, 4 grant
but A painted image In pretty, too. Surely he
looks beyond mere pink and white,P 80 the
darkp-eyed widow rose, and began creating
one of those presentations which gave her a
magical charm above supplemented women
who never thought of being other than they
we're and knew nothing of magnetism, will
mower, and all the kindred influences which
subtle intellect uses with SO much skill
Another look in the glass as the dinner-bell
rang, and Eleanor Rarne was satisfied.
what a picture you are!" said Dakota
Weston, as Mrs. Rarne sauntered into the
dining room after the geusts were all seated,
and took her seat by the young girls side.
There! That is what mean!" whispered
Young lady number one to young lady num-
her two. 6If should dress myself up in thai
yay for dinner. ! should be caleda lunatic. ="
"And lunatic you would be, my dear,
replied young lady number two, helping her
seifto broi ed chicken "Try to be more
philosophical, and prepare yourself to hear
rhapsodies about the graceful Spanish style
from every man and boy about tne place,
Mrs Starr. ''Dora, child, don't skin the but
ter of your bread in that way wonder how
he got out here at this time OF day.
Il cannot imagine" replied Eleanor, indo-
,ertly tanning herself. ''Helooks sunburned,
does he not, Kota1 By-the-way, how well
Mr. Coast looks in that cool linen.
white linen suits are expensive on &C.
count of the washing" commented practical
Mrs Starr
such petty considerations, said Mrs. Karne
loftily. .D..
After dinner 10 three o'clock dinner, as
was The custom at Shorelands), groups loiter-
ed on the piazzas, or sauntered toward the
GLOW did you get out here, Mr.. Vinton5"
asked Mrs. Starr; ''you must have flown.
cover the water, with snowy wings, Mrs.
Starr. Westake, who lives beyond here, was
coming down with his schooner, and Offered
to take me as passenger"
~ hope you will stay few days this time;
Adam says you work too hard, continued
the little wife.
"a poor man must work, you KhoW, re-
piled John Vinton, carelessly.
81 hate poverty" said Dakota, abruptly.
"Oh, Kota, 1t is you young girls who are
the most pitiless alists, after all. You have
no conception of heart-depih, because YOU
hearts have not themselves been touched,
said Eleanor with look of dreamy retro
specl in her dark eyes.
Dakota's cheeks flushed. The dinner-bel
had reused her from her sleep, and she hat
come TO the dining-room just as she was II
her plain morning-dress, with hair snmewha
dsordered, and eyes only half awake; sh'
looked not unlike the picture Eleanors word
had called up, u schoolgirl ignorant OF Lii
and untouched by any deep feeling.
Let US go to the Nook" suggested MIR
Const, Joining the group. Il have some neV
books from New York, and 1t will be NOR
pleasant there than it was last week, for
sent my gardener to returf 1t, and put u
some rustic seats.
perhaps you will, wish TO make som
changes in your dress Kota, dear, suggest
ed Mrs Rarne, in an audible whisper.
Not l." answered Dakota, aloud "Whs
do care how look !" and, tossing back he
hair, she started down the path.
''Eoolish chid!" thought Eleanor, in secrt
triumph; ''sbe never appeared 10 worse &C
vantage. 1t is not often that can overshaC
ow her Young beauty, but to-day the chance
are oil on my side. feel as though shoul
win the game;" and, thinking these thought
she smiled upon Mr.. Coast as he opened h'
parasol, while John Vinton sauntered alon
by her side Kota went on alone in 'front.'
The Nook was a natural arbor formet
halfway down the lake bank, by wild crap
vines turning around the water-maples. Ele
nor took her seat in q shady corner; h
shapely feet in dainty black-satin boots we
just visible from under her black draperi
while above was mist of black lace with Il
fash of diamonds and the glow of crimst
silk vest outlining her graceful form. nj
Coast deliberately scanned this tableau;
man of the world, rich and fast dious, he a
mired beauty, and that intangible charm ca
ed style" wherever he found them, al
there was singular fascination about Ele
nor that afternoon which made her seem II
anew creature. 'Many-sided and dramatic
he thought; ''but how enticing she looks
day! lido believe am more than half
love with her, after all. l."-"I have him
my power, / see, thought Mrs. Rarne div
ing, without looking, the language OF we
ster Coasts face. "Oh, If could but Ia
his fortune and throw it at John Vinto
feet / am tempted to throw myself the
Heaven knows! This day cannon, and sh
not, end as the others have. know SD
betray myself If it were not for that girl
after all why should / fear her My sha
est observation has, not been able TO det
any signs of interest on Johns side. And
Tor her, l can fling her over to Webster Coa
when | am sure of my own success. In
mean while Dakota was thinking" do
care at all how / look He shall see ho'
hate him, Flinging his poverty up in my Il
L again l am tired of hearing about 1t, {
consider it positive ostentatlon He alw
/ treats me as though were given up to n
cenary ideas, and suspect he thinks
/ trying to capture that odious old Web
Coast Well, shall take this Afternoon
L show him how despise him; shall take
the millionaire just to see how enraged
Will be, and then tomorrow will make
Martha take me East, away from the WI
set. But l cannot quite make out Eies
this afternoon; l have always thought
liked Mr.. Coast, and was going to let
have him after while. But her eyes
different to-dsy-can it be that she is tn
ing of John?" and Dakota looked glooi
at her dearest friend as this new suspi
flashed up into her mind.
During these soliloquies, John Vinton
had bis. after this fashion: ''They are !
Interested in Coast, of course. We'll, It
one 10 me Luckily don't care for ei
n d. l.. ~ -