The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-09-13


unless
Violet stified the pang that was tear
ing at her heart, and finished the eoquet'
tbhly hesttating sentence:
"Unless you have right to know.
Tell me, please, her name.S
Her heart told her who it was-she did
not need to have Beatrice's lips confirm
the truth she felt in her own soulj and
vet she felt that if there was the shadow
of possibility that she was mistaken
Beatrice's were the lips to tell her so.
So, with an agonized little prayer away
down in her heart that she might be mis-
taken, she put the question.
And the naughty beauty laughed, and
evaded it gracefully.
81 was afraid you wouldn't like it,
Violet, knowing so well as do that you
are in love with Charley yourself,
and"
"Beatrice Miss Brandon stop, II
you pleased"
Violet fairly gasped the words, and her
face grew white and stony; but Beatrice
went on softly, gently, mercilessly:
81 speak in all kindness, dear, and you
will thank me some day-when Charleys
wife comes, and you find what l have
said is true, that you will no longer be
welcome in the house where you will
almost be rival to her. You will thank
me for telling you, so that you can get
away quietly without anybodys feel
ings being hurt-tor of course the flu
ture Mrs. Charles Ashton will not want
you here, and the old people would hate
to send you away, delicate, weak as you
are"
A hot, scarlet wave rushed over Violets
face, This from the future Mrs. Charles
Ashton" herself!
"No one shall send me % she exclaimed,
passionately, 81 know as well as you
have no business here, and you can tell
the future Mrs. Ashton will never
trouble her"
The sweet, panied voice quivered, and
she walked hurriedly away, as if the
brilliantly beautiful face of Beatrice
Brandon was Medusa head, while Bea.
trice's red lips slowly curved into
smile of triumph, contempt and satlstac
ton, as she watched the slender, willowy
figure.
"She is dispensed with, at all events
As if hadn't read both her secret anC
her pride! And with her out of th'
sight of Charles Ashton, it shall not b.
my fault if he does not propose to me, a
that credulous little fool thinks that hi
has already done! We will see whethe
or not the new furniture is for Charley
} wedding and-mine
The round harvest moon was coming
slowly up the dark blue sky, looking
like great golden ball, and Violet, wit,
her eyes looking as if they had neve
. known a tear so bright and clear the
, were, for all she had been crying all tn
, afternoon, for all her foolish little hear
was throbbing and pulsing with pain
l Violet was waiting beside the bi
shady fir-tree for Charles Ashton t
come.
$ "l will hear it from his own lips thu
he is going to be married to Beatric
q Brandon. And if he is, l will go away
: London, where l shall be able to eal
< my living in some of the shops or factori'
I've heard Beatrice speak about, where
e shall not be in their way
r And she stifed the sobs she felt we
coming, as Charles Ashton came stridir
along, looking grand and manly enoug
d to win any girls heart. He stopp,
q short as he saw her, and drew her hal
g through his arm.
Il "Waiting for me, Vie? That's go'
o of you, puss. What glorious night
r. is"
Violet plucked up all her courage.
u 81 was waiting for you, Charley, to a
IL you-whether or not-whether it is tr
y whether-if-C Charley, is it really tr
you are going to be married %
~ Her sweet face was pale with earne
: ness, and Charley looked down on
half-amused, half-gravely tender
= "What of it, dear? Surely you "
a. not be displeased? Tell me who t.
d you. Vie?"
If His face was averted, for her rebellic
lips were trembling had as good
l. admitted it,
s. "Never mind, Charlie; heard il, a
m | wanted to know if it were true, &c
might tell you how truly happy he
y you will be-"
- Charley caressed her fingers softly
great tenderness in his handsome eyes
. Truly happy2 I could not fail of
~ ing perfectly happy, Vie, with the d
n ling I have dared to hOpe-Oh r,