Nebraska advertiser., 1875-04-01
THE FATAL TEST.
BY +. NJ. BLISS.

1t was midsummer at Newport.
The intense heat of cities had driven
crowds 10 seek pleasure and health in
this gay, sea-girt town. Hotels and
boarding-houses were filled TO over
flowing. The summer-residences
owned by the wealthy, and closed all
winter, were now alive with busy feet
and merry voices.
At morning the white beach was
covered with men and women in rob-
es Of various bright colors, while out
on the water other forms rose and fell
with the soft swell of the waves, and
the gsyly-colored dresses of the bath
ers made the sea look not unlike a
brilliant fiower-gsrden. Again at
evening the broad bosom of old ocean
echoed to merry voices and sweet
music, as the pleasure-boats of all
shapes and every size, floated over its
silver surface, freighted with fair wo-
men and brave men. And so, by day
aud night. the round of pleasure was
unendlng. Clam-bakes and pic-nics,
ride to the Fort hops at the Ocean
and Atlantic made the days fly with
winged feet
And the loveliest of all the lovely
women assembled there was the hero
Inc of my sketch-Florence Vane.
She reigned a very queen of love and
beauty. Adulation followed her evey
footstep. Men adored her, and wo-
men admired, even while uney envi-
ed. She was so faultlessly beautiful
In person, so graceful and winning in
manner that every one yielded to the
magic of her charms. She counted
her lovers by scores. Daily she list
ened to vows of love, and listened un-
touched. Many noble, manly heart
had given itself up to wild, sweet
dream of love, TO be awakened by her
careless rejection of It's holiest wor-
ship. Had she no heart, this woman
80 superbly beautiful? She seemed
utterly regardless of tue pain she |
caused, and when at her feet was laid |
heart, won away from one of her |
own sex, no regret passed her lips
Bright, brilliant. and glorious in her /
pride and beauty, she seemed imper-
vious to the shafts of the willy god.
Near one of the beaches that make |
Newport so famous is a romantic spot
called "Purgatory." Rising in
straight line from the ocean, and to
the height of several hundred feet, is
a rocky cliff. In this wall of rock
there Is fissure some fifteen feet wide
running back from the water long
distance, forming an abyss. the edge
OF which few care to approach, aud
into whose depths fewer dare look.
From it comes up the eternal moan of
the waters as they rush in from the
sea. The side of the Cliff slope gent
ly down, and are carpeted with soft,
moss, making the spot a favorite re-
sort Of visitors.
Near the close of the season, on ,
pleasant afternoon, many forms wan ,
dered siBgfy or In pairs, near this ,
chasm, while here and there a merry ,
group was seated on the soft sward. !,
enjoying the gentle breeze. .
Quite apart from the rest stood a
man and woman. silent now, she gag 4
Ing out over the sea, while his ewes r
dwelt on her with an expression of +
sad silent waiting. 1t needs but one +
look at that form of matchless grace.
those eyes of heavenly blue, the poise l.
OF the queenly head, with its wealth =
OF golden hair, to assure us the lady
Is none other than Florence Vane ,
One fail hand rested on the arm of g
her companion. Among all those [
whom her beauty had captivated I
Philip Gordon had been the most de-
voted. He was ever at her side. his =
devotion never concealed. His Oft \
repeated offers Of love had never been }
openly refused, and he had chosen to I
her silence into tacit consent. ,
He was we'll worthy of any woman's
preference. and Florence knew it.
aristocratic, noble in mind T
and person, he had been much court y
ed aud caressed: his attentions TO >
Florence had given many less FASH .
ionable fair one the heartaehe. f,
They stood on the shore of the deep
blue sea, the hearts of both impress +,
ed by the beauty around them. He
had been telling her again the story ,
Of his love for her, and been pleading ,
for an answer. Bnt she remained sill y
ent. Why did she not speak to him ?
She was eonmuning with her own
heart. Never until now had she felt ,
what it was to love. But something =.
within her rose up and called Philip +
Gordon Master" She struggled