The Beaufort tribune and Port Royal commercial. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1877-1879, 1877-08-09


"We are happier Alone" he said,
when Elinor gently demonstrated with
him for his plainly evinced Indifference.
"But You have not seen her yet, per-
sisted EGnor. She is just lovely, Max
they all rave about her in the studio
but Max was loftily uninterested.
The first day that Max ventured down.
stairs with his hand resting heavily, on
Elinor's shoulder, he came suddenly upon
the "new cousin sitting in the sun
shiny, untidy little sitting-room, with
Mrs. Paul's baby in her arms. He had
thought very little about the "new
cousin" and this sudden meeting was a
revelation.
He had seen many beautiful women, but
this woman, with her fair face, her great
dark eyes and her wonderful crown of
glttering golden hair. was even to him a
surprise and wonder.
The bright sunlight fell on her bowed
head, and on the pure, sweet, almost un-
real face, and she looked up and smiled.
For moment he gazed at her as
though spellbound; then with sudden,
awkward consciousness of having express
ed in his look an admiration which he
had no right either to feel or show. He
greeted her lightly, and in moment
was his whimsical quizzical self again;
laughing and jesting as in the old days
before the dreary sick-room was even
thought of.
That night EGnor, watching Alice as
she brushed out the glittering waves of
her hair before the little looking-glass in
their chamber, felt new, sudden pang
of-was it?-jealousy it in her heart; and
when Alice, turning suddenly, smiled
down at her through the golden veil, she
shrank back in the shadow, half fearing
the great, dark eyes would read her
thoughts.
GA fine fellow, that Max Valentine"
said Alice, as though following out
train of thought "odd for him to come
here to be i'll. He is his uncle's favorite
nephew, and will have mint Of money
sometime. You didn't know it !? You
are the oldest people, you and Paul,
that ever saw. [ haven't been here
two weeks yet, and I know more about
all your friends than you do. However,
it's so;' and the white elbows were
placed on the shabby bureau, the dim
pled chin resting on the pink palms, and
the owner of the perfect face gazed at it
long and earnestly in the mirror,
while Elinor sank into an astonishlngly
sudden and deep slumber, from which
she awoke as suddenly when Alice was
at last asleep beside her.
Those next days were very dreary
ones to Ehnor. Her loyal heart refused
to believe at first that Max could be un-
true to her even in thought !; but daily
Alice's fascinations were exerted, until
at last, even Paul noticed it, and spoke
of it in his rough way.
"The girl shall 60, he said "she
shall not ruin your life in this way,
Nellie. Max does not really care for
her, but she monopolizes him; and, if
it comes to that, he is yours in honor
bound :" but EGnor pleaded with him.
"I care for him." she said, "more
than for all the world-so much that my
happiness is nothing if he be not con-
tent. Would you have your sister marry
a man who cares for another woman,
Paul? Let him choose between us, If it
comes to that"
And so Paul was silenced; but, one
day, Max returning from walk with
Alice, called "Nellie in vain, and Mrs.
Paul, with the ever-present baby In her
arms handed him little missive directed
to him in Elinor's clear hand:
"DEAR MAX (the note said)-I am
going away for time. Don't come for
me. don't write to me, until you are sure
of your own heart. Remember that you
can do me no more cruel injury than to
marry me when you love another. Let
no false idea of honor influence you.
You know me thoroughly. Learn to
know her, and if you love her, God bless
you both. Think of this we'll for a
month, and then do as your heart tells
you. As ever, ELNoR.
Slowly the days went by, dragging
wretchedly along to Elinor-slowly, all
too slowly, to Max Valentine, although
he was Alice Barden's constant COM
panion all the while. He missed Elinor's
bright smile, her ready, helpful hands;
he missed the long, quiet evening talks;
in fact-and every day made him sure OF
it-he missed EGnor.
At last, one morning, as Paul Marce-
lon was working industriously for a
wonder) in his studio. he was inter-
rupted by the advent of Max Valentine,
pale but very determined.
"What is it, old fellow ?" said Paul,
looking back over his shoulder, with a
brush uplifted; and then Max broke
out, savagely
"Tn be hanged if can stand this
kind of thing any longer. Marcelon. Tell
me where Nellie is. I must go and
bring her back. She told me to do as
my heart told me, and my heart tells me
that she is the only woman in the world
whom I can love-"
The uplifted brush fell to the floor,
and Paul Marcelon's hand, adorned with
divers daubs of paint, grasped Max Val
entine's heartily.
"Iwas sure of it p he said, enthusi-
asticallv. "I knew it would come out
all right :" and before another day had
passed Elinor Marcelon knew that all
distrust was at an end, and that her lover
was hers, and hers alone, in very truth.
A Festive Turk.