Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1878-10-10

grossest of falsehoods could have
wrought so sudden separation.
Il will find you, my love, and make
you mine if the world opposes me-" he
cried.
But, albeit his firm determination,
he was very desolate. He wandered
into the garden, and from thence into
parlor fitted up exclusively for the most
favored guests.
1t was beautiful room, with ex-
quisitely rich walls and ceilings painted
as his own quaint fancy had suggested.
One standing at the entrance would
imagine bower of living foliage and
flowers, behind and above which were
glimpses of blue summer sky touch
ed with rosy clouds. The carpet was
like still amber lake with golden
petaled water lilies strewn over it in
natural confusion. Only the calved
table, the ottomans and chairs, the
vases and the ormolu clock with its
ceaseless ticking on the mantle-only
these things could dispel the illusion.
In this room he had meant to bring
Rossie, and ask his mother to bless their
love.
But she was gone, and unless he
found her, life would never be the same
again.
He threw himself in a chair and
buried his head in his arms upon the
chill, cold marble of the table.
Presently little rustic of perfumed
air swept over him.
He did not hear nor heed it.
A woman, magnificently beautiful,
came through the length of the room
toward him, but he was unconscious
of her presence. Neither the fall of
her dainty feet nor the sweep of her
royal train, made a single sound as
they crossed the rich carpet.
And yet this woman was beautiful
perilously, magnetically beautiful
Her hair, black as night, was bound
in great, lustrous coils about her small
imperial bead, and held there by a
diamond hilted dagger. Her skin was
colorless and satiny; her eyes, like
burning jet. were veiled with lashes oc
lovely length; her lips were like cleft
cherry; her every feature was perfec-
tion. She wore some qucenly dress of
purple velvet, mingled with satin that
had the CLINT of mether-of pearl, and
diamonds and pearls blazed on her
bosom and on her delicate fingers and
wrists.
Many a man had knelt at the feet of
the naughty and peerless Leonie CHS
holm, but none had stirred her heart
as did Leo Severne in this hour as she
saw him there, bowed low in his sud
den misery.
81 have come to comfort you if you
viii listen to what have to say" said
the fair woman, tenderly touching his
bowed head with her jeweled hands.
He lifted himself and looked at her:
His blue eyes darkened with resent
ment.
"What doyou know of my trouble,
that you can help meP' he asked, al
most sternly.
The woman could not command the
skill of her coquetry just then. His
steady eyes confused her, and she for
got the prelude of the pretty speech
she had coined for the occasion, and
like Vivien, she used her hints inop-
portunely, and faltered forth a quota
tion:
--'tof some who priced him more
Than who should prize him most"
And, like King Arthur, the gentle
man gazed upon her blankly.
would never have run away from
you in such secret and cowardly way,
Leo" she continued, in nervous frenzy
Of ardor and embarrassment,
''Please speak plain, Mrs. Chisholm,
and tell me exactly what you mean,'
said Severne, with shadow of veXa-
t1on and disgust creeping over his face.
''Oh, Lee, thought you knew" an
swered the woman, in the random of
utter confusion. Il have been led to
suppose that you only fancied that
creature, Rossie Lynde, and that you
really loved me-. Oh, 1 did believe it
indeed l didp'
Her hard, black eyes grew soft with
weak, pitifui tears, that another man
might not have resisted at such time.
But Mrs. Leonie Chisholm as she
looked upon him knew her doom.
And Mrs. Severhe coming III hur-
riedly, saw that one of her dearest
hopes was wholly frustrated.
"Come away, my dearest Leonie,"
she said, ''you have visitors.
4! Who?
."Ah, that stupid servant! They have
been brought here" returned Mrs.
Severne, stepping back politely, as a
grey y-haired, sad-looking man entered,
followed by slim, shrinking girl
closely veiled.
Mrs. Chisholm looked, and with a |
shrill cry of horror and alarm, fell for
ward upon a couch and hid her whit
ening face.
''She knows me, it seems" said the
visitor, in tones that rung sardonically
through the beautiful room. "You
may have heard something of her hus-
band and child who were lost at sea
years ago. You may have heard how
she appropriated the worldly goods be-
longing to them, and left her native
place leaving no trace behind her. l
shall say nothing of that part of her
history that made her life hateful to
her in her old home, for l am that hns-
band, and this is her child and mine"
He lifted the veil from the face of
the reluctant girl, and Leo Severne
looked upon the beloved face Of Rossie
Lynde.
Mrs. Chisholm uttered one startled
shrek.
Look at your wronged daughter,
madame" said her husband, sternly.
Look at the child, whom, but for my
timely discoveries, you would have
slandered into her grave, for what pur-
roro -onl,- ,-o,,r o,.rr .rr,;It.- ro,,l ao,,