The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1877-08-17
LESLIE GRAY.


Two men standing together and
watching the slender form of Leslie
Gray,as she stood beneath the laburnum
trees.
Barton Conway, with his dark, Apollo
face, his deep blue eyes and faultless
form, and plain, earnest James Gray,
who had loved Leslie from childhood,
and almost worshipped her now, in her
pure young maidenhood.
She was slender, graceful girl, with
shadowy, passionate eyes, with lips
scarlet flushed as the geranium, and a
complexion of creamy fairness; and
Barton Conway, the elegant man Of the
world, felt his pulses thrill for the wild
rose beauty Of this girls face, as they
had never thrilled for woman before.
Had Leslie been the niece Of Farmer
Gray, Barton Conway might have made
her his wife, in spite Of her want oi
wealth and position.
Yes he would have married her, and
gloried in the perfect beauty Of her face
But that was past and he stood
there, knowing he had won the first
love Of her heart, and decided he could
give her up; and James Gray, watch
ing his handsome, naughty face, a hal
scornful smile resting on his own, could
almost read his thoughts.
Barton Conway's heart told him to
take Leslie for his wife, and be happy
but his reason said:
"Why ruin your prospects for elias
sical face and graceful form, and wed
girl who has not even a name of hel
. owns"
"Not even name of her own"
James Gray had often thought Of tina
from the day she had been left, help
less baby, at his fathers door, but thu
very fact of her utter helplessness onl!
made her the dearer to him.
But Barton Conway had come, anC
with a deep pain at his loyal heart, h
had seen how Leslie's innocent hear
had gone out to the royal-looking stran
ger.
Barton Conway had won I,eslies love
; believing her to be niece Of Farme
Gray, instead of being an adopte
founding.
He stood looking at her now, know
ing he was going to do cowardly a
ton, and selfish and egOtistical as b
was, he shrank from the pain he kne
would come into her beautiful eyes
less than an hour.
Suddenly Leslie turned and can
: towards them, her soft eyes glowing, b
scarlet lips apart.
James Gray's face grew pale, for h
! own tender love told him what was
store for Leslie.
He had known Barton meant to gi
her up from the moment he had Sc
the expression on the dark, APulio' =
as Farmer Gray had told the story
the night he took dark-eyed Leslie in.
AS Leslie came up, James turned q
entered the house, the one prayer Of
heart being that Leslie may not /
Barton Conway as deeply as, alas !
/. fears she does. :,
Two hours later he came on n
standing at the window, gazing, WI
n dark. hopeless eyes, out on the distan.
!, She looked like a statue then, WI
no tears in her shadowy eyes, only t
deathly pallor Of her face telling WI
sbe suffered, and the firm line OF
red Inns the effort made to repress 1t.
~ Two hours had changed her from
! tender, loving girl to a cold-faced '
man who seemed to hold her heart
her hand, and look half-pityingly, hi
H.. scornfully at it. y,
Only one short week before sne
stood at the same window, one wild,
lirious thought filling her whole bel
She was to be Barton Conways "
rs Oh. God the intense joy Of that
ment! and now-and now--Oh, '
could she not die
james sprang forward, for her Slen
RY form was swaying.
iich q James-James r she cried,
80 ouSlv and the next moment the ?.
/, fair face was lying, white and stll
his shoulder !.
The branches Of the dropping 4
NUNS swept against the window Of
seAt' pretty room where Leslie Gray iay
You would scarcely know heI
s"' was 80 woefully wan and pale, wit
SETS. hair cut closely to her queenly
nina head. and curling in short rings
suit. her low, white brow
land From the hour james had held
aIpino IN, lie n broken flower, in his arm
had lain there, fighting with death
chase ] 1 ravine Of her lost love, calling pi'e
for his return. \, !.
.SyisAg onsd into months, health and str
= =, rstnrned r, to her, and though she
newer the gay, bright Leslie o. o.
.WRf VA a nobler, sweeter woman =
s"s sufIering she had gone through
4 xa aoo;Ies returned to her lips again
sos the brilliant smiles that once {
them. but gentle smiles, that only
u 10 rare IOvelincss Of her swee