The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1876-06-22

lll't ltb oit, INV CiuclitS CSCdtICt HCl lOtIl
er's notice. But Celeste observed tina
Flores exquisite cheeks had soft pallor
and that she ate little breakfast. Yet sh
, saw it only to watch wistfully that beauti
ful face. and to wish for q little, only
t little, of that perfection cf contour
| That evening Mrs Walford called Flor
| into her dressing-room.
Shut the door, my dear, and lock it,
! not observing her daughters quick breath
Il hope the walls havn't ears, as they say
, You may do my hair to night. instead o
Rosa. Flore, | want to talk with You
) What do you think of Hawkeshome?
Flores first thought was that her meet
ing with Deslonde had been detected. Sh,
slipped behind her mothers chair, thread
ing out her black braids with slim, un
steady fingers. But her secret was undis
covered. Mrs Walford's thoughts wer,
on another track.
Superb. isn't it ?-the old place Yol
: never saw anything like it, did you Flore
though the Lines is pronounced fine es
tate. But this is like the old English home
ofmy ancestors. And Llewellyn is wealthy
may as well tell you, my dear, that We
are not Your fathers habits-well they
made bad work of my property. We have
only the place, our home. and if war comes
as is threatened, we shall be absolute beg
gars, How do you like your cousin Llew
: ellyn?"
He IS nicer than any one who comes
,, to see us at the Lines"
"Certainly he is. l am glad YOU have
sense enough to see it, Flore, since he is
worth several hundred thousand dollars
J and can keep his wife like princess"
The cool, pink dressing-room was full
Of the scent Of rose-water Flore's mar.
velous eyes looked thoughtful at hel
mothers desire.
There must be y mistress here, OF
course Why not you!" continued Mrs. w
'My dear, my hair is just dripping with
that rose-water. What are you doing =? As
| was saying, Llewellyn must have wife.
and though he probably does not give
much thought to the subject get, here we
arc in the house, and you know your at
fractions, lore. There, that will do.
think | have said enough for the present
Rosa makes the braidS Il little closer, but
it will do Go to bed now, and wear youl
rose-colorcd cashmere in the morning
You are looking pale, now | look at You
That insolent Darrah woman has insulted
me so to-day"
Elore escaped. She went to her own
room Yes. Mrs Walford had said enough
Celeste was passing through the hall as
Il gust OF wind blew Flores chamber door
open. The latter was standing before the
long cheyal mirror, triumphng in her
own beauty Her white loose robe had
slipped from her polished shoulders-the
wax light was striking her ruby lips, broad
| lids n,,l oil faplci1 boi
"Aly dream !" murmured Celeste with a
start.
The thought OF marriage with Llewellyn
ate intention was. But Fiore followed her
lead, and adopted that readily. At her
age, Heloise Greer had had the same vo-
volnptuous easily swaycd temperament
which her daughter now possessed.
And now no wonder that Llewellyn
Greer ceased to remember that there We're
such things rs death and sorrow in the
world. All that two attractive women
could TO to make his lie a paradise was
done And all the good cheer, the music.
the gayetv, circled about Flores beautiful
figure; her presence lent the most potent
charm to every hour To this end she
lived She WAS fired with ambition, and
her mother arttully famed the flame She
spread before her glowing pictures of her
future, rs it would be when she dwet at
Hawkeshome. its mistress She pointed
ont changes to be made-a hot house ad-
ded (to supply flowers tor evening par
lies,) terrace raised here, II rockery
made there, until the wish to become mis-
tress of Hawkeshome grew with Flore in
to passion. She studied her powers, her
charms as never before. Rapidly she de-
velopcd from weak, idle, beautiful girl
into 4 handsome woman of bold passions
and bad principles.
Celeste felt the presence Of evil. There
was that in Mrs Wallord's hard, black
eyes, in her daughters flush Of loviness,
that gave to her sensitive heart the alarm
She drew Rae into companionship, while
4 profound astonishment filled her that
Llewe]lyn did not see as she saw.
Day BY day she beheld them hatter him,
blind him, win him from her pure intiu-
ence and tender love. Warn him she
could not; reproach him she would not.
A month, SIX weeks, and she saw him 50
changed as to be utterly infatuated and in
love with his lovely young cousin.
He never loved me !" said her aching
heart.
She believed that he had felt for her on
" pity, kindness, and that it was but fit
ting that one younger and more beautiful
should win him from her. But sense of
void and desolation began to crush her
She strove to be patient-to be true to
herselt-to let no anger or bitterness stain
her soul but ever a shrill voice within her
seemed calling "Cruel cruel."
If she had made an effort to counteract
the Walford influence. for she had more
power than she knew. But she had no
disposition to make such an attempt She
was humble, and yet proud, in her way
The long, lonely evenings that come to
her while the sound of piano and guitar
rose up from below The confused, miser-
able days. in which even the child in her
care noticed that she had no heart in the
lessons once so carefully given
A crisis came at last She was alone in
the school-room, when there came q light
knock at the door. 1t was pushed open,
and Llewelyn Greer entered
She rose up, pale, her eyes dilating with
surprise.
"Celeste."
He came and took her hand kindly; she
felt that was all. His blooming face had
in it look OF concern, little OF deeper
feeling. She pointed to Il seat, sank into
another, knowing all hope was gone.
81 wish to :alk with you, Celeste. You
will listen to me?"
"Certainly."
'The change you know-you know l
could not help it," he stammered.
''You could not helpit nc" )" she repeat
ed. quietly, holding down her breaking
! heart.
"lou cannot care much for such ticS-
le fellow" he continued, with an uneasy
laugh. You must have decided that it
was all mistake'
Yes, a mistake she murmured, a
strange, physical sickness making her, for
moment, both deaf and blind.
She took no sense Of what he was say
ing, though he continued talking with COM
parative composure and ease.
But what do those mere words matterp
| told you that | was not the one for
YOU, at first, YOU remember, LleWellyn, -