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

shower or opaIesceht Snot.
Tue pearly stones slanting in great
| sheets athwart the moonless night, rat
Tied tiercely upon the open shutters of
the windows of which score of golden
lights glittered and glimmered FAR over
the crus ted snow.
Mrs. Waverly was the hostess that
night of u lew favored guests, who had
been invited to recherche SOiTee that
was to end in amateur theatIIcaIs.
1t was early yet.
In one OF the upper rooms beautiful
woman stood before pier-slass pinning
a pale golden rose In her ebon black
braids. Her maiz, -colored silk robe be-
came well her dusky, warmly-tinted
SKIN, and it was gracefully draped, fold
upon fold, with precious black lace knot
ted here and there with yellow tea
roses. She arranged the comb of amber
and the amber bracelets that encircled
her soft, white wrlsts, and turned the
| cleaning topaz on her slender, indolent
uand, until 1T flashed and famed in the
gaslight, and then she began pacing up
and down the rose-tinLed chamber.
Octavia Waverly was bewitchingly
lovely, with a dark splendid beauty that
few could resist.
| The pride Of an empress flashed from
| her black, enchanting eyes, and haughu-
| ly curved her scarlet lips when her daz-
zliugs smiles favored her admirers.
But at this time there was a frown,
deep and dark, on the delicately-arched
brows; aud the sweep of the simmer
ing train about the supple limbs, give
an iuea Of imperiOus and sayagely-oon-
densed anger.
IL can nurse my hatred in silence and
secrecy" sue whispered, Ms her tall
and queenly form flashed athwart the
brilliant gasl ghI; "Dut it burns within
me like volcano, and it shall consume
every hope and ambition Of her life. l
cou Il Kill her-the impoverished usur-
perw
There was slight, timid tap at the
door.
I Octavia turned about with white
| wrath gathering on her beWllderlng
| face.
Gomez she said, in a voice as melod-
iouS as thrush-s0, g, though her black
eyes were lull OF flame.
The door was gently pushed ajar, and
q young creature gllded ina sweet,
taIr beng in snowy muslin and fleecy
Lulle, with cluster OF heliotrope in her
tawny curls, that were plainly banded
away over a broad, low, lily-white brow,
and single sapphire blaz ing like a
| blue star where cnaln OF gold lay low
aud heavily on her swelling bosom.
"Mr. Charteris is asking Tor you !,
O.tie," she SAID simply. Aunt asked
me to please tell'yUu'to make haste and
come down."
asking for me" queried the girl.
''For whyP
The rich red ola damask rose crept up
from her dimpled cain to her lovely,
dusky brow, and her eyes blazed like
black diamonds.
"SomeLhing about the amateur theatri.
calls, l believe" answered FIorrie
GeYelle.
"Ahr' said Octayia. sinking into a
great chair OF gOlden-hued satin, and
lasteniug a dainty slipper more secure
ly. "Do you know, Florrle dear, am
terribly jealous of your
"Of me ?" echoed Florrie, her star-like
azure eyes wide open, ana dilating with
a sudden and painful amazemenl,
"What lor?"
..Akscause. Bryan has recently given
YOU attentions that should be mine
alone"
Florrie blushed, and looked shocking
ly distressed.
:. you are cruel, Ottie," she observed
In low, musical voice. ''He and l are
friends, nothing more. And beside, did
YOU not tell me that five years ago yoI
rejected hlm because ne was poor anC
obscureW
A thrill of indignation ran through the
sweet young tones.
"And WhaL Of thatW demanded Octa
via, insolently. Gle loved me Their. Dc
you think true love can ever be forgot
ten? He is rich and famous now. W by
| should not remember auu-and claim
him StlllW
IL am sure | can not answer you,'
responded Florrle, shlYerlng sudden,
as If an Arctlc wind had blown oveI
her.
A CLEAN like that seen in the orbs of
!, tigTess at night, watching for prey
t blazed III the black eyes OF Lhe beautiiu
| belle.
: She ceased the supercilious blandish
: ments that usually characterized he
, conduct towards her cousin. A snee
distorted her bewitching dark face.
, zone would think, from your agita
I ton, That you were in love with Bryal
= CharterIs," she observed. 81 know h
has played mock courtship with you
: for 1 happened 10 oVernear an interest
ing CONVERSATION some days ago, when
; was reading III the back parlOr."
Florrie's blue eyes 0llated with angr
, surprise.
"indeed," she responded; and ther
t was meaning in her tone OF scorn tina
b. no words coulu adequately convey.
9 There WAS, in truth, very little low
1 between this queen Of bIunettes an
= this princess OIL blondes.
The contempt in The accents an
II angered eyes nettled the naughty dar
5 beauty.
"You think l meant to be an caves
u dropper, perhaps, but you are as mis
! taken as you are in other things. Sha
= l give you u synopsis of affairs? Vi
you need not tremDle and blush! L haV
a small fortune OF my own, and yo
nave nothing. Mrs. Wayerly, upo
l. whom you are dependent, has an i'll
s mense property that at her death WI
II certainly be devised to one of us. Whic
o Of US is her tavorite? l think yo
u Know" the girl said with bitterl
S taunting tone. "Do you think becaus
e che is KIND and forgiying tia she wi
e ever forget that attempted elopemel
It with some unknown villain, with VI
g face and form Of an Adonis, when 80
8 were at boarding. cnoolT'
Is You are cruel," answered Florri
=. struggling against her righteous wral
: You know that the story was only a
Il infamous scandal, manufactured by u
e thinking school girls aud lew gossl
0i ing moLners who were jealous because