Mexico weekly ledger., 1876-11-23

cOuIO nell ner from ner nlgn reserve
and make her even by signs communi-
cative. I felt that my we're
fast failing me-there was but one left.
"Aurelia," I said, one bri ht winter
morning, |" let US 60 and pay a visit. A
friend of mine has just finished a beau
tiful picture-at least he considers it his
masterpiece-and invites my inspection.
1t will be a pleasure to you to accompa-
ny me, ] am sure"
eyes," she replied, simply, "I like
pictures. I hope it is a landscape, with
fine trees, mellow distance, and a blue
thread of q river crossing the fore
ground. I shall see then if he has
clothed his stones with the right kind
of moss, and tinted the petals of his
blossoms correctly"
Tt was the first time had known her
to show SO much interest. l was en-
couraged. I watched her as she DELHI
erately completed her toilet, by tying
the soft satin bow under her chin, ar
ranging the rich sable furs, drawing on
the delicate gloves, taking up the faint
lY. perfumed handkerchief, and the
pretty muf, and saying, quietly:
"NOW L am ready
1t was impossible, I thought, not to
love one so pure, so sorrowful, SO
sweet.
"It was very thoughtful in thee"
she said, as we walked along-using
her pretty Quaker speech as she some
times did in confidential moments
&C to screen me from comment and in
quiry by withholding my story from
thy friends. Sometimes, indeed, l feel
that I am leading myself to deception;
but dost thou not think it an innocent
"Certainly," l replied. "I think it
perfectly justifiabie under the circum
stances"
"And yet 1 have thought that if it
were discovered it might lend an I'M
pleasant seeming to our conduct. Dost
thou think there is danger?"
Scarcely" l replied. "Atleast the
probability is so remote, il it exists at
all, that it isn't worth while to discuss
it at present. By and by we may, per-
haps, feel justified in ourselves making
the revelation. Father Time is deal
ing tenderly with you, [ think, Aurelia."
Her beautiful eyes filled with tears.
els it kind or cruel of him." she said,
"to steal the sting from our sorrows?
When | a no longer nurse my grief
the last moments of my happiness will
have passed away"
"Ah!" l said, "the bitter fruits, like
the sweet, have their seasons of bloom,
maturity and decay. In place of your
asphOdel will grow up spring vi0lets
by-and-by.'
She only sighed and shook her head.
We had reached the studio. and were
entering. At this moment my friend,
Mr.. Raymond, was engaged, so we
amused ouselves for a time with the
paintings. hung on the walls, the lit
tie sketches, half finished, which Were
turned--their backs toward us-against
the ceiling, but which [ knew pretty
we'll how to draw forth and exhibit in a
proper light.
Yet while thus entertaining Aurelia I
was not so much admiripg the pictures
as studying, by side glances, the strange
lady with whom Mr.. Raymond was talk
She was a very striking person;
there was that about her which
not only arrested but rivited my
attention. The influence by which my
eyes seemed p~erpetually to turn to her,
from whatever station l assumed, re-
minded me of the ancient arts of fas-
.cination and witchery, and | wondered
she exerted the same power over Ray
mond, who was STOPPING V e the chair
in which she sat to catch her murmured
tones. Hardly Raymond was a man
OF many experiences and much pene-
tration.
Finally she rose, shook out her dain-
ty founces with a silken touch, all the
while that her full, expressive eyes
were turned upon Raymond, and, hay
ing given him her hand in a warm, i'm
pressive manner, that was full of art,
sailed slowly down the room. As she
passed us, l noticed that her eye fell
upon Aurelia. There was a quick, and,
it seemed to me, mali gnant glance of
recognition, a slight and naughty stoop
of the proud form, and she passed on
with an added touch of hauteur in her
manner i looked at Aurelia; her usu-
ally pale face was ~overspread with a
flush, and her breath seemed to come
and 60 between her parted lips in pants
like that of a frightened deer. Mr.. Ray
mond was approaching, however, and
[ touched her arm to recall her self
command.
The movement was effectual. The
flush subsidized, leaving only a faint
trace of rose in either cheek, which add
ed inexpressibly to her loneliness. /
could see by Raymond's eye, as l intro
duced my friend, that he was struck
with her appearance; and l purposely
engaged them in conversation, that they
might gain some insight into each 9TH
er's natures before we commenced
speaking of strictly artistic matters.
Then I questioned Raymond about the
sketches at which we had been looking;
and thus it was, perhaps, fifteen min
utes before the chief purpose of our
visit was preached, and by that time
Aurelia's composure was perfectly re-
stored. Raymond led us at once to the
center of the room, where, in the full
light of the sky-window, stood an easel
covered with a cloth. The covering was
nc rof1Dr I,.ouun oc;I1 AVID %Io ,o-4