Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1875-04-28
The Warming.

dreary scacoast, and over the throb-
bling, restless sea. The wind lifted
q itself with a swelling sound, and
roved about lonely looking fish,
erman's cottage that stood on the
beach, shaking the doors and win
dows, ever aud anon sinking into
low murmurs. Shapeless clouds
driftcd across the dim blue flrma-
ment. The moon sbone 1t inter-
walls; but its fitful light lent no
charm to the dismal scene. There
was only one other habitation in
sight, and it was a large, old fash
toned mansion, standing far back
in the country, yet whose massive
frame stood out boldly against the
steely blue.
A light glowed in the latticed
window Of the fisherman's dwell
ing-it looked cheerful. Before a
fire which burned on the hearth of
the capacious fireplace within, a
young girl sat, listening to the
roaring, moaning anthem of the
winds. 1t was a pale, yet sweet
face, with bright, black eyes and
an abundance of soft dark hair
the face of young girl scarce past
her seventeenth year.
This was Lila Wynde, the only
child of an old fisherman who had
dwelt in this cottage on the beach,
as far back as she could remember.
There was something remarkable
about the young girl. Looking at
her, one would probably call her
lovely, but add, weak and timid.
She was weak, truly, as far as ply
steal strength is concerned, but
beneath her timidity lurked firm
ness of purpose which waited only
the proper moment to bring it into
life and action.
There were two doors leading
from the room in which she sat
one to a sort of closet used as a re-
ceptacle for books and various
miscellaneous articles; the other
into a large room, which was oc-
cupied now by her father and
man into whose hands she had in
trusted her happiness.
Carl Connor was a sailor-a firm,
true friend of old Casper Wynde,
and although Lila felt only an or
binary regard for him, she had,
when he asked her to be his wife, |
ODE! ed the often expressed desire
of her father, and excepted him.
More than once dark whispers re-
garding Carps early life came to
her, for she had known him but a
short time but these she refused
to believe, OF at least affected in
credulity.
Rhoderick Owls resided with his
sister Alice, a beautiful girl about
Lila's age, in the capacious man
sion on the hill.
They lived in almost rigid seclu-
sion +; but Lila, somehow, became a
welcome guest beneath their roof;
and in this way an intimacy sprang
up between her and the young man,
which daily ripened into deeper
feelings-aye, into deep, pure, en-
during love.
But Rhoderick Orvis hesitated to
breathe his passion and Lila did
not know how deep her feelings
were enlisted in his favor, until
Carl, who all the time had kept
a strict surveillance on their ac-
tons, broke forth in a storm of
passionate jealousy. Then Lila
knew she loved Rhoderick Orvis,
although her faith was plighted to
another.
Her position was pitiable. To
appeal TO Carts better nature-to
ell him that marriage vows to him
we're lies to kill her soul-to ask ;
lin to release her-was, she in
felt, futile. Instead, there ,
ore, Of denying his accusation, she
burst into a wild fit of weeping.
which fully confirmed his suspi-
cions, while it added fuel to the
danes of jealousy smoldering in
his heart. His was a nature ut
once crafty, evil and cunning. So ,
he pretended contrition, asked par
don for doubling her love, and
changed the conversation.
All this, and more, passed through
Lila Wynde's mind as she sat there,
and had grown weary of listening
70 the clamor of the winds. The