The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-07-19

| Tracy, remembering his tenderness and
goodness, until she could endure the
tolGure other struggles no longer, and
sought to- end them by sending Erie
laway; and they had parted, he prom sed
4 her, forever; but he'had broken, his vow
to return this morning, aud he,was sure
to'gaiT tue victory.
| They are Tar out on the ripping sea
before the silence is again broken. Then
Erie speaks softly:
''Ouida, do not blame me. l could
not 80 and leave you! Do not strive
against fate any longer; it is a cruelty
to both. My'iove, my life, love your"
She. lifts her great, brOwn.. adoring
eyes to his face, and he goes on:
"My own little love, any one would
tell you The wickedness OF marry ing one
man, Loving another; and, my darling i
can not be mistaken, you do love me!
| Tell me it Is true, Ouidar'
The girl leans over and lays her small
hands in his. He lifts them, drawn from
the leit.one that pledge which binds her
| to another, and then kisses the slender,
ringless finger. A magnificent opal
CLEANS on one of his own white hands;
he substitutes it tor the diamond.
Ouda shivers, and he says tenderlyi
"Yon are chilly, darling; we will 60
home."
| CLEANS the opal.
mo, not cold; but this is an evil
omen, and dit.frightens meP' Then quickG
| ly and passionately: II have done
wrong, butit is all for you, Erle!r
"You think too much OF signs, nv
lovew. not noticing the latter part OF her
sentence. mo evil eau come to you
throush me-"
The row back over the water and he is
triumphant.
| ~
On the plaza of a villa overlooking, a
river Ouida Rutherford stands on a
bright October morning. She is very
beautiful in her blacR trailing robe, W it'll
a knot OF pale flowers in the bronze, b air
that falls in a curling. cluster about her
and her small brown hands toy with his
Bilken ears. ....
A step comes through the hall and she
turns, with gladsmle, to her husba nd !.
Efie bends over her te1Idesly.
"Ma petite one, I'ml 10th to,leave " ou,
even tor dayl just think, four mont this
married, and we've never been parted
so long! Are you not almost tired OF
me?"
"As If l ever could be tired oryou.
| Erie! But l think Pll manage for Il
| days" laughing softly. 20! there comes
the boat" She walks by his siue to the
| landing.
"Good-by, my darlingw Erie breathes,
| passionateiy, and watones Ouiua retrace
her steps, until q dark cloud nome ntarI-
ly hides the sunlight, and throws som.
bre shadow upon Inc fair head that had
shone like FURNISHED gold, under the
glory OF the morning sun. Before the
| shadow lifts, the steamer has borne him
from sight OF her, and he trowns darkly
as thought OF Ouida's strauge belief in
omens crossed his mind.
"NothIng can take her from me nowl,
| he mutters. "Eyen that should notl 1
love her, though 1 have sinned against
herV
Ouida walks slowly back to the pretty
vida, where she is visiting friend of
Erle's, and meets her hostess, young
brother. i g., .. .I'.
"Mrs. Rutherford, will you come with
mef tits pretty drive," says Jimmy
Deloraine. ''ruon1as has rheumat SIN,
and I've TO go for medicine. Do come,
| won't your" :
The boy worships beautiful Mrs. Ruth
| ertord, but complains TO his sister, zone
can'tspeak two words TO her, tor RutA.
| erford is always at her elbows"
ives, Pll come, gladly" says Ouida:
ana they 60 oil directly, with. gayest
spirits.
Tney reach the farmhouse after MANY
delays; the carriage is mass Of ferns
and foliage.
You will have to wait bit." says an
old lady, coming to the door; "but ii YOU'LL
come inside, mise, will bring yuu
glass OF fresh mix, and make you COM
| fortable."
Ouida walks into cool, scrupulouslv
| clean room, and seats hersetIn one Of
the great, old.iashloned arm chairs, and.
then begins to turn the leaves Of little
album lying on a.small mahogany table.
Sne pauses at the picture of u beauti-
full young girl, with soft eyes and sWeet
lips, and wonders haw she knows it 30
we'll. Then comes the memory Of a day,
when looking over some old photographs
OF Erle's, she found the counterpart OF
THIS picture, and noticing his start OF
surprise, rather curiously Questioned
him of the original His answers had
been satisfactory enough. She was an
Iacquaintance only, and her name
ma lched her FACET was Lily. Ouida
wondered at finding the same picture
here.
"Here's your milk; you'll nnd it re-
ireshlng."
OuIua lifts The album.
'"Witl you tell me whose picture this
is3"
SO, my dearie, it is sad story; don't
rightly Know who the poor thing was,
but AT least one name she had, and thai
was Lily"
"A sad story, why should SO sweet q
creature have SORROW Y' Ouida asks,
shutting the cover over Lily's tace, and
idly twisting her opal ring to anu fro
| On her fnger, as she looks al the old
lady.
SAY! why should she ?" answered the
woman, seating herself by Ouldas side.
"She was so gentle and LOVING. 1t was
a year in June that she came mere with
her husband, or we thought HIM that,
and l do believe, i'll spite OF his wicked
lies, that he was her husband. They
wanted to board her here for the sum.
mer, and she was in delicate health and
50 pretty, couldn' say no, so they staId.
EGarnet was her name" i,.,
| Ouida puts out her hand quickly.
"WhatT she says, "Whasp
"Garnet, l said, dear. LIS an uncom.
jmon name."
"Yes,p says Ouida. "Go on please."4
swell, They were pretty pair, ne
tall and dark, and she lovely anu fair
as aoweE; and he seemed so ioId OF
her at first, and she fairly worshiped