The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-09-27
SuAetsn,1 SatelligeaeeS'
a STORY OF A wHIsPER.
CHAPTER !.

"When the sun sets, tomorrow, be at
the stiie, by the cross. road.h
The people were pourin.; out of St.
James Church; the chief church Of the
large town Of Marlborough. The organ
ist was playing some ead, itful chords,
something from the Messiah; and under
cover of their melting sweetness, the au-
dacious whisperer, 8 young and hand
some man, had bent forward to make
this appointment.
The two young ladies, to one Of whom
he had spoken, were walking down the
aisle side by side. Dorothy Stevens, for
whom the whisper was undoubtedly in
tended, glanced up mute look of assent
through her golden curls. But it
CHANGED that the other lady heard it too,
for her eara were subtle, and dark
cloud driftcd over the sunshine Of her
face; her little hand clcnched itself spas
medically under the rich lace of hor
shawl. She fell back n step, and glanced
cold!y into the gentIeman's face. He
was holding his hat in his gloved hand,
ana ne bowed cercnoniously on his eyes
mot hers. At least, as tremendously as
one can bow, coming out Of church.
Good morning, Miss Lawrence he
said, distantly !; and just then hey
emerged from the aisle to the YES; buie.
Miss Lawrence held out q tiny hand,
which he could not do otherwise than
take.
lie released it Immediately, ro:w;.h-
standing hef clinging touch, but the lit
tie hand was not to be SO repulsed. 1t
fluttered TO his arm, and rested there,
"There is such throng," murmured
ha ar ,troo t.,p e cl
and people never mind where they put
their feet. am sure my founccs will
be in rags"
Mr.. Hastings perhaps mathematical
first the crowd and next the perishnble
f0unces but what could he do, save
take the girl under his wing7 Dorothy
looked back and saw him coming down
the steps with the beautiful heiress hang
ing on bis arm in that frighte ned, ap.
pcnling, ciingirf manner, which Sie
knew 30 we'll ho% TO put on. But Doro-
thy only smiled and nodded brightly
she felt perfectly secure in the love ol
Dean Hastings, after that aweet Whisper
Each of these three people, when once
in the open mir, went their way home
war1 IN the mellow and bright October
sunshine. But not before Miss Lawrence
had detained Dean Hastings for n chat
care you particularly engaged this al.
ternoon, Mr.. Hastings7"
"Yes, I am. / am going out of town
mt once to SEQ sick friend, and shall not
be back before nine o'clock"
mine O'Clock ?" she repeated, musing
ly. "Well, that will be tins enough.
Papa wishes to sec you. if you can call"
"Dut I-oh, very WE'LL" broke Oft Mr..
Hastings. "rell him, if you please, that
| will endeavor TO come"
Within the shade OF her own chamber
AnnaDelln Lawrence threw Off heT hat
and grasped at the lnce collar around her
thront as if it wero choking her. She
paced up and down; then, pausing before
tho pier-glass, she bent forward, and
looked atchcrsclf long and earnestly.
Her dark hair was silky, her black eyca
flashed fire.
"Youth and beauty will work wonders
for their possessor. But what have they
dcne for mef They cannot win for me
tho love l need; the love he gives to
that pale, spiritlcss working.girl. All
it makes me sick TO think Of her! !
knoio he cares for her-and does he think
| do not see that he cares not for me 7
1t is her fault. But for her, he would
turn to mo and love me. Oh, Dean,
Dean. love youi Why do you not see
it7-or do you see it, and yet will not re-
spond to it3"
She threw her arms up with passion
ate gesture of sorrow and then bent her
lead on her hands in pain.
''If find-if ! fnd," she resumed,
lifting her pale face, ''that he cares for
her aeriously-that he neglects me for
her, swear that both shall anffer-he as
we'll as she. I-sWear-itFr
Anything more vindictive than the
tone of her emphatic words, than the ex-
preston Of her pale face, was never seen
OF heard. Bella Lawrence was not girl
to be crossed lightly. Her face, anffi-
ciently beautiful when sls was at rest or
in her tender moods, was half diabolical
now. Her great, dark eyes flashed
fiercely, o hot fusE burned on her soft,
round, olive cheeks, and through her full,
red lips her sharp. pointed, white teeth
cleaned craftily. It was no fable that
in her school days she had been nick
named "the cat" and that her compan-
ions had given her full credit for all n
cats spitefnl nature when angered. Sho
and Dorothy Stevens had been educated
ut the sane school the one was rich
heiress, the other was to be- only gov
erness. Dora was in family now, and
Miss Lawrence condescended TO speak to
her now and then when they met.
Bella walked to tho window and stood
looking thoughtfully out. What love-
ly scene it was The house etood on the
outskirts of the town; hill and vale lay
stretched out before her, and waving
woodlands tinted with autumn'a unri-
vailed colors. Along the line Of the
river, spires and clustered chimneye
marked the site of her fathers factories
-mile.stones on the road to wealth. "It
is all mine," che mutaaured. "It will be
nina In time, and ] would give 1t ell to
him with thi1," lifting her hand. "I
would give it to MIN, end he rejects it.n
Yes; is Miss LAWRENCE conid feasi
signs, Dean Hastings would reject s.S.
hand were it e!!a.s0 MIN. But she wae
not sure; not quito. Again her quick
mood changed. Tine hush died out oi
her cheek, and team crowded into hol
proud, dark eyes. 'Dean, Dean, Twould
give you the tendesest, truest lovo q
Woman eyer profered. oh, why do you
despise itfn
And yet, who was Dean Hastinga I
Nobody. He Has O gentleman by birth,
its true, but no had no means save what
he earned as ono Of the chief clerks in
this very factory--thRt Of Lawrence and
Lawrence. his cousin was baronet in
an adjoining country; and Dean was In
the best eociesY shat Marlborough af-
forded.
$50 absurd, SO incSngruous,n thought
Bella, "for him TO notice that stupid gov
r1h1i, 1azsn ~ ~ ,S--.i- :