The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1873-08-15

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little alcove which opens on to .
balcony. Drawing aside the cur
tain, they enter, and sinking on .
divan, Grace at first surprised,
then inexpressibly happy listens to
the outpouring Of her admirers
heart:
"Neyer was one loved before as
| love you, my only, my darling
love-" cried he. "Surely, such love
must be requited. Am | wrong?
All! you are silent; but that gives
me hope it inspires me. Oh! dare
/ hope for such happiness? Do not
droop your eyes. Tell me, love,
will you be mlne? Msne-how
much in that word!--to know that
nothing can wrest You from me; that
your eye lights up at my step, and
that you miss me in my absence.
Oracle, Oracle, answer me before |
sink into apprehension"
A soft blush and . tender kiss
were his answers, and when they
lett the alcove . new light shone in
their eyes and q new ieweled ring
glistened on Gracie's hand. Too
absorbed in each other were they to
see the shrinking figure draw closer
to the wall, ss Marshall drew aside
the curtain for Oracle TO pass out.
The halfbroken sob tell not on their
ears as the bent figure tottered from
her place Of conoealment and fell
prone on the heavy carpet. No
sound penetrated the ears Of the
outside guests informing them ofthe
wretchedness of the boasted beauty
OF the Hemlocks.
"Take me, God, oh take me J"
she gasped- u cannot live and see
him welded to her-Grace his
wife? Oh, God, mol love him |!
oh 90 dearly. Why is Fate 50 cru.
el?" and sob after sob rent the cir,
seeming sadly out Of place in that
festive scene.
But grief cannot last forever, and
rising from the place where she had
fallen, Marian, for it was she, with
weary, trembling hands smoothed
the folds from the lavender satin
dress. Listlessly she put back the
curling waves from her marble-like,
brow, and with an effort only gain
ed by her great selt-control, threw
off the hesrt-pierced look in her
face. None could tell other suffer-
ing save by the pallor Of her face
and the slight rings beneath her
beautiful eyes. A voice startled
her from her kind of trance, crying
-"Ah! Miss Darlington, here and
alone? All through the rooms
have / been wandering in search Of
you. Have you forgotten that this
is our Lancers.
"Oh, pardon me, Mr.. Derby, !
had not intended to neglect you; q
momentary pain caused me to seek
refuge here; but come, or we miss
the dance"
Little did Donald Derby guess
the cause of her ''momentsrv
pain" or perhaps be never would
have tried to tell Marian how he
loved her. But at the end Of the
hall there were at least two bleed
! ing hearts, as wretched as there
were two hearts happy. Sleep
did not visit Marian's eyes, and
when Grace came into her sisters
room the next morning sorrow
spread over her face at the sight Of
Marion Deathly pale was she,
with heavy black rings around the
full but now dulled eyes; her mouth
had lost It's sweetness and the ring
of blue bespoke Of intense suffering.
! "My sister, my darling Marian,
what Is itP--siCk, and not send tor
me, Tell me, what is it?"
| aNothing," said Marian, and she
shuddered at the sight Of Grace.
"Ieave me; | know Of your happi-
ness, but 90 away and think him,
for it must make you happy 20 do
so,' and she almost roughly shook
of Grace's hand.
aPoor sister, said the blushing
Girl, slet me stsy, and ! will be 70
quiet. May If''
"NO. I aid 70 leave me-"
A.a.t.. 81 REmrsam amI Ra@iv