The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1873-06-13

"When will Mr.. Keith come ~
asked Isalins next. ..a 4s8 n
u am sure have no knowledge of
Mr. Keith's movements" responded
Marcia, bctraying some surprise at
the inquiry. hg3all
II presume pot,n Isaline said, mis-
cheivonsly, "but didn't know but
that you might know by intuition
when To expec. him."
q ''Isaline, what do you mean ? You
talk ridicnlonsly II said Marcia, plain.
" annoyed At her sisters words and
manner.
{ '.Why, Marcia, I thought you were
in love with him." said Isaline,
line. !unocently.
Nov stop that foolish talk, Isaline, y
her sister. said in displeasnrc. II
never said anything that should give
yon such an idea. !" t 2
10, yes you have, Marcia. You
never say much about any body or
anything, but You have said more 10
the praise of Lawrence Keith than
any one else. l don't think there is
anything so wonderfully attractive
nbout him, but then tastes differ great.
ly in these cases 8
This was all said in the calmest pos
sible tone, but she was fully aware
how much it was increasing her Sis
tcr's vexation, and shc wns enjoying
Marcia's discontinue. 9sa
"No. it il probable you would pre-
prefer Mr.. Parkhurst," Marcia said /,
attempting 10 retaliatc.
"Of the two. infinitely" replied Isa.
line. not disturbed at all by'her sis
ter's allusion H a
Marcia was not in her element at
NIL IN this sort of skirmishing. aud sni-
i.red from conflict of the kind with
her sister, who had a way Of cvading
all her shnfts, while each one she sent
at Marcia reached home.
Il will tell yon, Marcia Isaline
continued 'for your satisfaction, that
Mr.. Parkhnrst could never be my af.
finity. The man AMI 10 love must
be hero. He must distinguish him.
self IN some way. or save my life in
some heroic manner At imminent
risk of his own. He must rescue me
from drowning. or n runaway horse,
or something equally delightful, and
then could Worship him for life"
Isalinc delivered this with an inim-
table air tia. brought a smile 10 her
sisters lips.
"Quile romantic fancies yon have
| fear they will never be realized
ALAS. | fear not Then | shall pine
and lie in single wretchedncss," re-
Piled Isaline with deep sigh.
Her sis,e: made frantic effort te
change the conversation. aud snccecd
ed. Isaline. interested in something
else. forgot 10 tease her sister abou'
Mr.. Keith
Lawrence Keith visited the Kirk
lands very soon, and without being
marked in his attentions, made him
self agreeable to Marcia.
Isaline's watchfnl eyes saw his pref
erencc for sisters society, aud wa
highly amused thereat. After Mar
eia's implied denial Of anything lik,
lose-makipg between that gentleman
and herself, Isaline fancied her sis, G
was very web satisfied 10 receive MIR
keith's delicate attentions.
She said emncb less To- Marcia thar
one would have expected her to; sh,
only informed her sister that she ba,
noticed that Mr.. Keith and she ha,
been naturally pleased with eacl
other.
Edward Parkhurst came quite OF
ten to the Kirklands, and Isaline'
agreeable first impressions increase,
upon further acquaintance. The,
met. too, quite frequently during th
winter and spring, ut parties give
by different friends of both. Isalin
on these occasions permitted hersel
10 be the object OF Mr.. Parkhurst'
almost exclusive care.
She declared Marcia that he wa
the most delightful waltzer that eve
existed. and that went o very Ion
way with Isaline. II there was an
one thing of which she was ea
cessively fond. it was dancing, IN
the heighth of ecstasy slow, d.
licious, dreamy waltz.
| Mr.. Parkhurst was scarcely les
foDd-though not as demonstratiy
than she OF the pleasurable 9,
ercises, and to him there was som
thing exqnisitely agreeable in th
1 strains of Strauss waltz music, whe
IsaIine foated in graceful circle
around him, and. with his arm er
circling her waist, and her breat
upon his cheek. they together drifte
away in the, sea of moving figures.
In her way Isaline learned to car
for Edward Parkhnrst, but she ha
romantic fancies about the man sh
should day marry, and thei
was more truth than one would hay
imagined in the. jesting remark sL
had made to Marcia about her love
being hero. iSsf ns IS :
/ It was when returning one evenin
from one Of these dancing sociable
under the escort of Mr.. Parkhurs
that Isaline came upon. to her, tt
most startling and alarming inc
dent of her life. ap ~. e 80
To those to whom it ID given
4 have their life path continual
smooth, it is often in a sudde
i and unlocked for manner that the
encounter the first serious event
their experience.
i They were leisurely approachir
the home Of the. Kirklands, wlt
| suddenly before them o bright she
Of flame appeared for a momei
above hthso tree tops, but o sho
distance in,advance. Ell
n Both started and Tsaine exclair
ed, in breathless alarm: fa