Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1877-06-22

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some emotion lent a, passing flush was
exquisitely fair; the expression of the
mouth, perhaps little too decided, was
softened by the dreamy look that was
habitual to the deep black eyes.
But three years had taken away quite
as much as they gave her The simple,
trusting faith of the little country girl
who had poured her hearts devotion at
Edward Wolverton's feet was gone for
ever. She had grown selfish, cold and
worldly. In all these years she had new
er once met Edward Wolverton, and, of
course, her revenge had not been con
stantly in her mind; neither had she en-
tirely lost sight of it. And now the time
had come.
Presently she heard the noise of
wheels, and at the same time the quick
patter of Ethels little boots, and the
rustic OF her dress in the passage outside
her door. She ran out
Ethel" she cried, Il have a whim
that | want you to crafty. | wish you
to introduce me to Col Wolverton by
my middle name-as Miss Emerson.
Will you? Hamilton does not know |
am here, so he will not have mentioned
my name to HIM
But why?" replied Edith. Are
you afraid if he knows what famous
coquette he has to deal with he will be
on his guard against your beguiling arts?
Oh, | pity him, but | won't betray you
never fear. Why amt you dressed?
You will be late for dinner
And Miss Ethel vanished down the
staircase to receive her guests.
Miss Lenworth returned to her room
and began hasty toilet-hasty, but
carefully suited to her style and com
plexion. When she appeared in the
drawing-room she was attired in black
dress of some thin texture, that display
ed to advantage the cleaning white mar
BILE Of her rounded arms and shoulders
The heavy masses of black hair, that fell
far below her waist when unbound, were
gathered in loose coil behind, with no
ornament save a cluster of yellow lilies;
and round her throat and wrists she
wore necklace and bracelets of curious
ly carved amber, clear and transparent
as crystal, in golden settings.
A CLEAN of triumph shone in her eyes
as she beheld Col. Wolverton's start of
admiration; then, wreathing her lips in
a sweet smile, which added to the beauty
of the pale, naughty face, her deep eyes
dropped beneath his gaze until the long
lashes almost hid them.
Ethel turned away her head, to hide
the sparkle of amusement in her eyes,
for it was by no means her wont to be so
gracious to strangers.
AS the summer days few by, filled up
with boat excursions, rural drives and
walks along the beach, in which Col
Wolverton was Miss Lenworth's con-
slant attendant, it became evident that
that young lady's plans had succeeded
perfectly.
She sat before the piano, one cool Sep
tcmber evening, running her fingers list
lessly over the keys. She had declined
going to the beach with the others, on
the plea of headache; and now she sat
alone, the purple twilight shadows fall
ing around her, and a numb, desolate
pain at her heart Suddenl Y her voice
broke through the slow. wailing notes
that had been dropping from her fingers
like falling sea-spray, in calmer strain
-" Sweet Bonnie Doom.
A tremulous throb sounded in her
voice, at the second verse, about the
false lover
Through the open window stepped
Col. Wolverton to her side, where he
stood for a moment i'll silence.
IF it were not impossible, | should
think you had felt the pain of false
lover once, you sing that with 50 much
feeling" remarked the Colonel.
: | was not aware had a listener, she
replied, without noticing his remark. -
" | thought you had gone to the beach
with Ethel and Hamilton
p" did; but the attraction here was so
great that it drew me back in spite of
myself.
She turned her face away from his
earnest gaze, and the lashes dropped
over her eyes, yelling the pain that shad-
owed itself there. Then came the words
she had expected eager, eloquent words
of passionate love and entreaty But no
syllable answered him. Emboldcned by
her silence, he raised the little hand that
rested on the keys and pressed it to his
lips. Instantly she snatched it away
and rose to her feet
: am very sorry for you, Col. VOL
verton, but cannot be your wife. You
are right | had false lover once; he
stole my rose of love, and | have never
had any to give any one since.
"A false lover-you!" exclaimed he;
" and you have no love to give me, when
all these weeks you have been leading
me ON, giving me to understand that you
were not Indifferent to me?
Leading you on don't know have
II" she carclesly " answered; then modu-
lating her tones to careful imitation of
his, as she remembered them when he
uttered those words, she said
Cant one amusc ones self a little
without being accused Of serious inten-
tions?"
A flush rose to his very forehead, and
he looked at her with an expression of
utter bewilderment, through which a
flush of recognition soon broke
You are Alberta Lenworth!' he ex-
claimed. From the first you reminded
me of some one-l could not tell whom
but now | see Alberta My own little
Alberta, you loved me once; you cannot
be indifferent to me now. | was weak
and foolish-but | did not mean what
said. Oh, Alberta! forgive those cruel
words, and tell me you love me still"
Miss Lcnworth's dark eyes flashed.
Forgive your she said. you don't
know what you ask You don't know
what great wrong you did me. You
destroyed forever my faith in truth and
goodnes you took away my every hope
and joy of life But the ignorant little
country girl had pride enough to keep
her heart from breaking, and to make
her wish to be revenged upon you
He looked at her for moment in
silence There was no shadow of ten
derness in the dark, flashing eyes, no
flush on the pale, proud face, only a
scornful curl in the red lips. He saw
there was no relenting, and turned away
with an aching heart
Revenge" he said. well, if that
was your purpose, you have accom-
plished it., | hope it may bring you
happiness"
And without another word or glance,
he was gone, and, perhaps, for ever
AS the thought of what she had sacri-
feed for her pride swept over her, she
bent her proud head and wept unre-
strainedly; for she had learned, in those
brief weeks, to love him as dearly as in
those old days, when he won her heart
but to trample it under his feet. Had
he returned then, love might have con-
quered; but pride had too long held the
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