The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-12-11

and Alfred still turned over the prints
| seeing them not-eyes and heart far
away. The low, sweet voice of Ernes-
tine, plaintiye and sad, broke the silence
| first:
"How 1t stormsl How the lamps of the
lighthouse glitter in the spray. And see
that boat-it will surely be swamped. o,
| Alfredl come heIeW
He went, Of course.
"There Is no danger-the boat is safe
enough. Those fishermen know what
they are about. WHAT a dismal scene it
| isl Yes; l am tired of it. am going
away tomorrow"
| "Golng awayW How he stalI. ). and
how White he turned.
go, Ernestinel WhereW
NHome-down South. 1 am tired of
this cold climate, and the cold hearts in
it. o, my beautiful Louisiana a | th at any
one should prefer this wild, desolate
country to youW
l saw him turn and look at me; but 1
| sat ike astone-my hand over my ewes.
| "Miss Maggie is asleep" said Ernes-
tine, with curling lip. Show l envy
her calm, phlegmatic temperament"
Had she only seen my burning heart,
my white lips, my vailed eyes, at that
momentl
He made sudden, passionate ges-
ture, and strobe up and down the room
like Gagged lion. What strange red.
fire was in his blue eyes and how white
and fierce his face looked! saw it all
in one fieeting glance.
| 81 wonder you can stay here, Alfredo
said the sweet, plalntiYe voice; "do you
remember the happy days we spent in
dear old Belle n Normandie, as you named
litf Our rides and walks and sai!s2 All,
those beautiful days! What pity the
past can never be recalled, Altredw
Would you recall it II you could,
ErnestineW
"Weuld II" How well that look of
childish innocence, In those great dark
eyes, was feigned. "Would 1 recall the
nappiest days l ever spsnt9 On, AL
fredW
"Then you have not forgotten themY'
"No-no, indeed Oh, what ply
what a pity they are gone foreverp
"Nothiug is past but can be renewed"
"Ahl those can not. You will never
come South again, Alfred. l will never
be La Rose de la NOrmandie any more"
| That sad tone-so soft and touching,
| so childlike and sweet. How well she
read hlm-what an actress she would
have made!
| Again that fierce, passionate gesture,
as If all within was at war; he looked at
me and turned white, even TO his lips,
That promise on the beach, knew it
was soaring his heart like a red-hOt Iron
-was dancing before his eyes like let
ters OF fire, but as yet my lips were
sealed. And that ring on my fnger-l
felt as though living viper were colled
there.
"How soundly she sleepsW said
Ernestiue, looking, with a puzzled face,
lat me. 81 wish l could take tue world
as easily as she does. Aud she-this
girl without heart or bran-is all the
world to you, Alfred; and all you once
said to Eraestine is forgotten" she said,
iu voice OF sad reproach.
| he turned as if TO speak; and then,
with frantic motion, checked himself,
aud paced up and down as before.
"Ah it is so, then-it all ends herel
Well, good.by, Alfred. Tomorrow l
leave; tonight / shall remain in my
ROOM"
| She held out her hand-what beauti-
| full hand its was land looked in his
face with her sad, repreachful eyes, full
of tears.
He took it in his-looked In those
beautiful eyes, and then opened his
his arms, with great cry:
80, Ernestine! l eau not! Ny own,
own darIiRg-I love you better than life
| CAu nob leb 9Ou Go|
In his arms she lay-my place onoe-
and sat there aud SAW all. Something
went to my heart like a bullet, shary,
keen and quick, and the blow was over.
rose to my feet. They started back,
and the guilty blood flushed over tue
faces of both-but Lhey turned white
the next moment at the look OF mine.
| held up my hand-his ring glittere d
in the fading light.
| "You placed it there ten days ago,
| Alfred. give 1t back to you to-uay,
with all you said that night. May Cod
forgive you as l do! Here-you are
free"
He took 1t with look of dark remorse -,
so, Maggie! what villain l ana! You
may forgive me but when shall be able
to forgive mysellT
"You will forget my existence in a
month. Ernestinew How she shrank
before my gaze! "lwas not asleep, YOU
see, after all. l wish you both many
happy days in belle Normandie. Good
by"
l turned away; neither spcke--and
passed from the room. One glance l
caught Of her as lett the apartment
standing with her face hidden on his
shoulder, his arm encircliug her walls 1.
l sat In my room tnat nIght, while the
| hhlNhAA Nv AAooh iVAS 8 u ia bno HCdfCub,
and watched the serene sky aud sea.
Rain and wind and storm had passed
away, and far up in the blue sky shone
the light OF the high, bright, solemn
stars. Floating ON the sllll nighl-air
came the sad, sweet strains OF a brass
band, as the steamer passed UP the
river, playing "Love Not" A book lay
open on my lap-the Book OF books
and clear and distinct, in The light Of the
moon, shone the words: "rhere shall be