Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1878-09-02

her cavalier in many country walks,
drives, sails, had quoted poetry under
trees, sung in a superb baritone upon
the murmuring waters, looked into her
eyes on moonlit porch and whispered
delicately-worded fattery. No more
than many another man had done. A
beauty and rich, Miss Cameron had
looked upon more than one languishing
suitor, and forgotten him when his
amusements wearied her. Scarcely
firt-for she encouraged no downright
love-making, but a beautiful, fascinating
woman wounded hearts with merely
careless grace.
Musing in the sunset it impressed
upon the proud heart that unconsciously
she had poisoned life that was already
sinking. There were capabilities for
better things than dissipation and suicide
in John Furber, and she shivered as
she thought he might be upon some
dangerous precipice, waiting for the
clasp of the hand to draw him back, or
its repulse to thrust him over. She
passed in review her host of male friends
and found none who had awakened her
heart to hours of such keen pleasure as
John Furber had given her. She tried
to recall one mind whose grasp of intel
lect had dwarfed her own as his had
done, who had met her fairly in so many
arguments and worsted her, and she
could only remember soft hattery of her
wonderful mind"
Finally lifting her eyes with soft
sigh, she saw him leaning against tree
opposite the low window, looking at her.
A vivid flush stained her cheek as he
said:
"What have you been thinking of?
You have not stirred for half an hour.
Only that your eyes were wide open,
should have thought you asleep"
Your powers of observation are mar
velous," she answered lightly, II was
dreaming"
/ "Of what %
"The world generally, my world in
particular. 1t is almost time returned
there.
She was prepared for some polite
show of regret, but not for the CHASTITY
change in his face.
She shuddered remembering her aunt's
words.
"Going awayl Why, of course you
would be soon," he said, trying to speak
carelessly, while his eyes hungrily de-
voured her face, and his white parched
lips were drawn as if in sharp physical
pain.
81 have been here three months" she
said, feeling her own heart ache at his
misery.
+" Yes, yes You will go certainly"
'And you." she said. very gently
"you will be in the city, l presume.
should be glad to welcome you to my
house."
"No," he said harshly, 81 will no
take advantage of your kindness; an
a man your friends would tell you t
shun, Miss Cameron man who ha
wasted his life till it is too late to tax
4 up the threads again. You do not know
, perhaps that my aunt keeps me her
from charity %
Il know you have offended your ia
ther," she answered but you are ma
u scarcely thirty, and it is cowardly t
S talk of despair at your age"
l Her words cut him like whiplast
The dark blood mounted to his forehea
It as he repeated:
Coward ! I might fight the whol
d world yet, but" and here his tone ws
bitter, and yet strangely pathetic, 18th
battle is scarcely worth winning. VIII;
II would 1 gain ? Money? 1 do not valr
it. Position? I have thrown it benin
/ me. l have played the fool and mu
t, takes FOOLS wages"
r. 81 will not have you say so," 81
IT said, reused by an earnestness she ha
d never intended to betray. "You sha
IS not uselesssly throw away your life."
A hope sprang to his eyes, new ther
IN lighting them to dazzling radiance.
t. "Miss Cameron-Leonie," he erie
d "were there prize to win, were one
/ hearts hopes centered upon me, I wou
\, trample down these demons of tempt
y ton, l would prove myself man if
had any motive"
e, There was no mistaking the prayer
his eyes, the pleading in his voice.
ur Only for moment, close to the wi
b. dow, before hand like a snowflake ft
n upon his shoulder. voice, low al
~ sweet murmured in his ear:
Mt "Be man for my sake"
ty She was gone before he spoke agai
7i- and he wandered of to the woods to mu
ly upon the possibility of this new life.
ch The next day Mrs. Tollman lost b
er summer boarder. Society, languid
or contemplating Miss Cameron for t
DIS next three years, found her eccentric.
n She was gay and grave by fash'
he fascinating in either mood. but she "