The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-08-25

picture, but in flesh and blood, and in
LucIan Malvln'sleyes, she was exceed.
inrly beautiful, with her soft color, heI
| @ ear, dark gaze, and her bright haI 4
/ that broke into cloud OF sunny rings
| about her sweet face; such gentle
tgayety went with her wherever she did,
| such tender grace of manner, too, in
| The intervals Of her buoydnt spirits, her
voice was such warbling voice, her
ways were such winning ways. Lucian
Malyin Ielt tnat he must iorswear her
presence unless ne wanted to make life
a burden to himself; and he ceased
going to Mrs. Barnetta'S, where she was
staying, almost as suddenly as the day
torsakes the horizon IN that dreary sea-
son when twiliyhts are not,
Butif he uldshut himself out from the
Barnettas, he couid not shut Miss r jsa
out from general society; and 60 Wn1re
be would, he mel ner aImosl nightly,
laughing gayly, singing weetly, dancing
ligutly, I'LL he declared TO himself that II
tins was gong 10 last he must indeed
cease going out atal. But this was a nt-
tie too much; he did not know how posi-
lively 10 deny hlmselGthe mere siguU of
her. Yet things were growing very pre-
carlouS when ne could not take a book but
he saw that blusntng, gold-enringed face
slide in between the pages, wnen he
could not make out u writ without being
in danger OF slipping her name into the
| blanks, when ne heard the delicious
voice murmuring in his ears wnen he
walked, and walked all night with the
li.t e spirit when he slept. He made a
compromise with himselt-it was all he
could-and declared tnat at any rale he
would not dance with her again. 1t was
an idle effort. He might almost as well
I ~ II
| looking ut her, quite unconsc Gus Of his
general air, and all The lover in his
| glance. Mrs. Barnetta beckoned b m to
ner side ;he stood there ju t as Rosa
came up from her prOmeuo de and LEI I
the arm OF one cavalier TO be carried of
by another. "You are not dancing, MIR.
Mulvln," she said. "On, would you holI
my ian and handkerchielW He followed
tuem with his eye again as the music
crashed into dashing galop.
What right that other man with his
clasp about my darling? Why did she
suffer il? WHAT decenoy was there ii
the society tnaJ commanded sucn sacr-
nee? In his WhlrlIng wildly
TO this wild music.
"Yuu do hate him don't you~ said
Mrs. Barnetta, in his ear. "ll looks
could shay" He started. Was he
\
daws W peck al? "Ou, L dou't pity you
bit," laughed Ms. Ba Meta, low
toned; and, putting out her hand, sue
took ROsas Tan and opened it as she
TALKED. Anybody" said she, "wIth
such power VI making misery ought tc
enjoy it,"
ii beg your pardon, Mrs. Barnetta
but Ii you read me riddles L must ask
you also to be their SPHINX"
"On, NO; it was the junction of the
sphinx to PROFOUND the riddles, not t,
solve them" And Mrs. B4rnetta
laughed her low, pleasant laugh. You
| do not come to us any more" she said
| "And as L used TO be in your confidence
| before you deserted me, can imagine
The reason. do not Ike TO say that it
is very shabby treatment Of an old
friend. o. course, can not say tDat II
| is rude. But If you do not dance with
Miss Mercier this evening | shall be
feartully Utfenaed. L am not gong tU
nave my little treasure made unhappy
tor the sake of the safety OF the prince oi
all good fellows himself"
Luclan changed colOr so suddenly that
Mrs. BarnetLa put out ner hand in al
trIgnt, half expecting LC see m fall; bu,
in IN Jment he was uIms self again
"Do you-ls MISS Mercier-' lie be gan,
ana paused MALT way.
"As il l should say another word, and
had not already SAID altogether too
much!" said Mrs. Barnetta. There, she
has lett dancing anu gone for the Ice.
What DO you Lhlnk OF round dances OH
the wh0leW Anu tney were to al ap-
pearances, deep in the discussion Of the
subject Wnen Rosa returned and swept
her Iate partner courtesy, and took
shelter on the other side OF Mrs. Bar.
Meta. Perhaps she had seen the way
Lucian's eyes mad followed her, and il
nau given her a certain illumination thai
Ii ad made her SHRINK.
just then. the band began one OF the
| Hungarian Waltzes-a sweet and rap
! Luruus measure tuaJ set the blood it3el
| 10 dancing in one's veins. Why not!
One last dance, one last moment of ec.
stacy, ere he went out forever into lone.
| lness. Directly he CrumUIed the bit oil
lace into his pocket, and was bending
| before The Ilvtle Rosa, VINO seemed sui =
| denly 10 have lost all her light gayety,
ana who put ner hand to nm with a con.
scious burning blush upon uer lace that
| has neart rem -cteu III q melting glOW
| And then there was no thought of pl1de,
vi negaLion, or forgetting; tue music was
| swinging them AZ IT'S Will; tney circIeu
! in eacu others arms to IJS uelic .ous and
QelIrlOuS mOVSm GuL--eLeTulGy WOQlu
| narGly have any bliss for lovers beyond
the bliss OF this moment. Yet only a
| moment was II, a lew moments, a brIet,
sweet space vi hat-consclous TIM; and
| then laInG recognition crept through It's
! sp Jli and warned Luclan OF the poison
| IN The money. He was i'll the act OF sur
render; ne was about 10 seal his late aud
| that OF THIS dear girl; TO take her away
from her latAer's wealth and her luxurI.
Gus ease, and condemn her to the cark.
ing cares Of poverty. All his nature re.
Delled; he chose not 10 De sWayeu by
this melody OF horns and string; he
would have no passion, neither mus G
nor love, 50 master his soul as to be.
come the elem ent in whiea it swan, AN
exclusion OF Lnougat and fear, OF sight
and sound, aud AL other emotion; and
with his 1mperioas determhaLIon, he
cuo5e 10 break the enchanLment; the
real wo Id crept back upon mis- senses ;ne
heard The tune, beyond this el oud tnat
wrapped them, breaking again into iUs
distinctive measure, aud, eKerting his
will, he controlled their steps. and
paused at last beside Mrs. Barne Sta,
and, with low bow, and wlvnvuG a
word, gave Rose back iuto the lady's
care, and passed into the crowd and out
OF the place, and home TO his lonely
rooms. . ..
1t was daybreak before he sought re-
pose, walking tue floors till theu, hardly
iauy la No a a p