Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1878-11-14

. ~
u ell matters Of difficulty.
But il was oil over. / was rich
Rudolph rs q home ~ y tenderly
los ~ Is a eppl6 - Qn'y-as we
walked 10 The conservatory, ! wished
Lillian bad not grown 30 pale when We
ehangrd partners m the quadriile, and
RudoIph took Ser little white gloved
baud In bis. He talked gently 10 me
A. We stood BY the FLASHING foantaln--
told me Of some purchases be had made
for our home, and commented pityingly
upon my weary eyes and cAeeks.
IAN this dissipation 10 zoo much for
yOu, Debby," be said, and / hated my
0ld-faaIioned name rs he spoke IL. LIZ
liam was sogfrf, more musical. Why
wss named fcr my grandmother
II viii bring . carriage Tor you to-
morrow" Rodolph said, .sagd tilke gen
10 sosne quiet Place to rest for a few
hours. Only you and me, Debby. re-
memberig - ..s.F.
And I was content again until. pass
ing Lilian's door, long after We returned
home, I beard her sobbing. a,,.
what allied the child For weeks
she had been growing pale and nervous
or fitiully gay, and Beyer bad her music
moved me otears ash bad done Of late.
Aunt Charlotte seemed changed, too,
tender to me with an added tenderness,
and oyerscrupulous about leaving me
alone with Rudolph. -, <a4xatr
wished sometimes that Rudolph was
not quite so careless and merry; he jes-
ted about al things; and yet / have
heard bin sigh over Lilian's sad song
as if he vas broken-hearted. II made
me feel old that so often their merri-
ment Jared upon me. Cor when Rudolph
6rst came BE treated Lillian like the
child he had left FIVE years Before
When We rode they would race their
horses, leaving me far behind, for am
not brave horse-woman, while Lillian,
so sensitive and gentle at all times, is
fearless on horseback.
They would sing gleeful duets togeth-
er, Rudolph's clear tenor well supporting
Lilianis sweet, pure tones, while l. hu-
milisting 70 cahfess, Mad 6becorne4 80
disguised with !. aiding childish fingers
Though scales and texetcises that |
never touched piano when it could be
avoided. asr
looked upon il all complaccntly
enough, often turning to smile at John
as these tW0jested or made merry at my
expense; but ] did MT like 70 see it all
change. OF late Lillian had seldom
come into she drawing room during Ru-
doIph's visits, and Rudolph missed her.
was sure OF that; Tor, while be was
always a6ectionate and kind, he was
distracted often. affta - .k
John, too, stayed away more than us
nal, and John was my best friend. l
wss not even as confidential to Rudolph,
for he had been Eve years away. and
was not changed as | was.
IL was altogether strangely uncomfor.
table, when one considered that was
to be married 10 October, aud 60 TO Eu-
rope with Rudolph, whose ancestors
were German; and who had desire to
visit his grandtather's home IN Munich.
Lillian had helped TO plan out q most
tempting tour Cor us through England,
France, Spain, Italy, aud Germany, and
Rudplph complimenting us both upon
our German. which was familiar 10 ban,
his mother having taught him TO speak
il at home. ...f5 fslf~.-.t
The day after the ball was stormy,
and we slept late. At least / did moi
sleep, but stayed N my room. There
was some letters 20 be written, and !
was preparing . rough draft !; a deed
OF gin TO Aunt Charlotte. did not
want two town houses; and Rudolph
had bought a superb mansion that he
was fitting up for his bride. So my
house resolved to give to Aunt Char
lotte, with Z snihcIant sum to maintain
her in comfort ailef lsft her. Nobody
knew but John, and be was coming to
take my papers and make them out le-
gally. Did ! say that John was sue
cessful lawyers l knew that he would
come, even lift did rain, though scarce
~ expected Rudolph tilt evening, as
the rain would prevent our proposed
II vas ls.e inths forenoon when /
went down 20 the library. email room
adjoining the drawIng-soom. and sepa-
rated by curtained arch. Being n NO.
mans home. the library had never been
very extensive-more cosy reading
room than study.
was waiting there forJohn. nesting
in the easy chair, and wondering IL il
was the ball that made me languid,
when heard the drawing-room door
open, and presently Lillian touched the
keys of the grand piano, her fingers
gliding into dreamy nocturne that was
one OF her late favoFiies. The curtains
were looped 80 that | could sec her, in
her white dress, with no ornament but
soft lace. and | sighedto see how wan
and white she looked. what quivering
pain was On her sweet meath and in
her large eyes.
Some one else saw IT. Tor while we
played. Rudolph came in. All the mer.
riEnent was gone now from his face,
and be leaned on the piano. listening.
and not netting bow her fingers faltered
- he fixed his eyes upon Lilian's
face. u
When he spoke he said:
81 am going away. Lillian"
You are wise, she said fsinflv.
81 can make some excuse 10 Debby,
and win stay ID town until you al
e0me--to--ihe seeding! Twas mis-
ersble coward last niehl, Lillian. iosiar-
ing you aud myself. but viii notoasnd