The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-08-04
AN UNLOJKLD-FOR TEMPTATION,

bne mollens Bolueu moonllSut'-d
woman, whose lace was dream of
beauty. Her long golden hair, waving
back from her white forehead, was
wreathed with jewels; her robe OF
snowy silk swept tue balcony in heavy
folds, cleaning through the mesbes OF
the priceless lace which draped her slen-
der form. One pearl-white hand, droop-
ing over the carved railing, held listless-
ly a fragrant white lily, and her large,
dark eyes rested mourntully upon tue
fair garden below, with its marble
statues lying as,eep beneath the calm
eye of heaven. Within the princely
mansion broad glare OF light, the In
tOxlcating strains of music, the breath OF
countless flowers and the fair forms
gliding through the dance proclaimed
the reYelry that reigned. But she-the
fair young hosUess-she, alone, oil them
all, had crept away for brief space and
stood wrapped in blissful forgetGulness.
"She could forgetv groaned in bitter
agony, as | slunk, like ass criminal, be-
hlnd cIump VI shruDbery and watched
her with my soul in my eyes. But. L
outs de OF the lair scene, shut out from
my Eden before whose shining gaLes the
wrathtul angel did indeed hold u fam
ing sw0rd-l was doomed to walk, apart
from happiness, forgotten and alone
Yet | was conscious Uf a thrill OF eXulta-
llon; for l marked the sadness which
rested on her features, that spoke TO me
OF regret, and, although regrets We're
useless, was selfish enough TO be glad.
When last l had stood lace TO lace
with this woman we had loved each
other; but, now that l again beneld her,
| it was as though the grave lay between
her face and mine. Yet, we nad loved
each other, anG we had been very happy;
though IT was all passed, it was worth
| remembering, and, with some hearts,
happiness is always in the past tense.
1T had been 50 hard TO bear! And l,
with the fires OF youth burning strong
Within my breast, had 1ouna lie 50
bleak ana hopeless. l had loved her 50!
| had trelguted tnat one snip with al
the nope and all the light OF my lie, and
| il had gone down in stormy waters. 1t
was an Old story, old as age and trite as
time, the utter hopelessness and folly
OF u love which, though strong and pure,
| had only ltsell opposed 10 wealth aGu
influence. Aud So L was forgotten, and
she. mad welded to The SWayIuS OIL
stronger wills, aud had become the WIte
| of the Old man whose wealth hau DoushC
her. Stanuing there, hidden from OBJ
servatiou BY The huge trees which clus-
| cred upon the lawn and waved LheIr
branches like ghOstly arms In the cool
evening brl eze, | watched Eve AIRING
ton. l mad come miles TO gaze upon nef
lace tor one long mute iare ell.
And SO, louklns unsuspected upon
Der, saw the fair head uroop upon ner
cLasptd hands, and then the reu lips
qulye ed as they murmured half aloua:
80, e rlel Earl,w
| TWAS just one, wild moan, such as a
child mIgut make i'll the dark and gloom
ut night, suddenly awakening to lear,
and putting Iorth weak strength to grOpe
| through the darkness Tor some guiding
hand. But my heart leaped in my
breast like mad thing with one Wild,
| Lad thrill oil ecLasy, Tor it was my name
that had fallen from The proud, scarlet
| lips; and despite all the past, and the
dark cloud y nlch hung over us, impene-
,rable, and the gult which yawned be-
Tween us impossible, L knew that she
remembered, aye, and loved me still.
| sEVe!"
could not help it! 1t was weak, un.
manly, il you VIII, but l mad no power 10
resist the intense, longing desire wulcn
rushed over my heart, sweeping away
all barriers, the desire 20 lUUk into her
ewes, and hear ner speak once more.
| w tn a low cry Of surprise she turned
| her beautiful face towards mine. Framed
in with the lilies and tneir broad, green
leaves, il was like a snow wreath.
"EarIe p she cried like one in dream,
lis IL youW
For one moment I gAzed up into the
clear eyes bent upon my own, then a
voice from within broke the spell, a
harsh voice calling her name-ner new
name-how | hated it! She clencned her
hands together with quick, sudden
gesture OF despair, and turned away. l
caught a glimpse OF the gray head and
wrlukled face OF a man whose property
she was-wnUse name she bOre-as he
led her within; then great darkness
tell over my naart, and, bOWlng my mead ,
the bltter Tears Welled into my burning
eyes. Something tlutlered tlom the bal.
cony and tell at my leet. Only the lily
that mad dropped from her hand, with
cred and Sere nUW-llke my hopes.
raised it and placed it, reverently, IN my
breast. ] haN it still.
The next night l sat by my open win
dow, VITA cigar between my lips,
| watching the stars come out, one Dy
one, and glitter in the blue dome above
me. My thoughts were with ner, in her
prIncely home. Tomorrow l would
leave Lnis spJt-l ought never to Lave
cume-and nov that l had seen her, |
must 20 away, anu lOOk upon utt IdCt
no more. Never amy more! IL was ter.
rIbIe!
| could not rest. In that. secluded
country pIace-the outskirts OF a large
mining disLrlcl-nobOdy was stirrMg;
and | stro4ied slowly along, IN AN
aimless fashion, until at last l found
ImyseIt nearing tns miues, some two
miles distant Here there were some
Unused snalts, deserted long ago; to
stranger, this was dangerous ground tc
treaa-and, remembering their prox m.
ty, l turned 10 go back. At that nc
ment become aware oil a foOtstep close
behind me and moving rapidly in my di
recLion. paused, and glanced around
the bright starlight revealed clearly tnt
form aud features of the old man wht
had robbed me of all that made lltt
sweet. felt my breath come quick ant
fast, anu my heart throb wildly, as
recognized my enemy. He came nearer
nearer-directly up TO me-where, stand
ling sLiIl ana very calm, L awaited HI
approach. Tue starlight glinted on hi
gray naiT; be look OFT has hat, and wipe
Inc perspiration from mis- tofehead.
car. RIYerS-l presumeH he querled
stlfly. ...
II called upon you at your hoteI," con
:. tinued the olu mau, ''ivr The purpose .
= Requesting lew words with you. Ihe
!, | - # a1 lhi i