Weekly Trinity journal., 1878-09-07

my heart began to beat fast and furious
ly, How should begin What should
l say
Laura broke the dead silence with the
half arch, half tender inquiry:
"What is the matter Mr.. Carletsn ?
You don't look like yourself this even
ing"
Suddenly, as if by inspiration,
brilliant idea struck me.
"There is something the matter with
me, Miss Laura"
Docs your head ache ?" she inqur-
ed.
NO" answered, in q low and tender
voice, "a heartache."
Indeed !" looking down, then glanc-
ing up, shyly. II did not suppose that
you had heart"
at is true" replied, forgetting the
declaration had just made. II haveno
ago."
"Really BY whom, if | may inquirer"
Fixing my eyes sloquently upon her
blushlng face, said, earnestly:
Would you really like to know
Shall | really unbosom myselt 20 you,
and-sh !--reveal to you the secret
hope"
And hero, despite myself, l broke
down utterly.
"Of course" said she gently, and in
the most innocent and artless manner
possible-"of course. l shall appreciate
your confidence. Who is tho lady, Mr..
Carleton ?"
Al will show you her portrait, said,
carrying my brilliant idea into execution
and Immediately proceeded with tremb-
ling hands and beating heart, to produce
the photograph which q week previous
she had allowed me to steal from her al
bum.
held it before her, keeping my eyes
steudlastly upon her expressive counte-
nance.
She bent forward her beautiful head
until it almost rested upon my shoulder.
She gave start on seeing the picture.
| Was it real or effected ? A deep color
flushed her fOir face, then II left it quito
pale.
Sho raised her head and said, ooldly:
"Thsnk you for your confidence, Mr..
Carleton i hope that you may"
And just then tho door opened, and the
hateful Fitzroy was announced by
Master Jenny, Laura's brother, who.
rs he retreatcd into the hall, was
distinctly heard to say
"My ! ain't it jolly? They'll both be
as mad as n couple Of Tom cats in n
meal bag."
/ slipped the photograph into my
pocket, and moment after LauIs's
aunt came to the rescue, and proposeda n
walk in the garden.
To my surprise, Laura turned to
| Fitgroy, and led the way with hm,
almost entirely ignoring myself.
Her manner was cold and naughty,
and when | addressed her she answered
with chilling reserve. What in tho
world could possess her Had she all
along been trihng with mo Had she
encouraged mo merely to bring me TO a
point, and then cast mo off to smile upon
my rival. the odious Fitzroyr
The latter evidently perceived that
something was amiss between us, and
my blood boiled to witness tho confidence
and ooldness with which no took ad
vantage OF it. l cut my visit snort,
determined to have a speedy explanation
with Laura.
But when, on tho following day, |
called, the servant informed me that
Miss Laura was out. She had gone to
ride with Mr.. Fitzroy.
Next morning called again, and
earned from the amiable Master JENNY
that Fitzroy was In the parlor with sister
| Laura.
This looked alarming, and | started
again in the afternoon, but on tho
avenue met my rival coming bhskly
! from the house. / would have passed
him with an icy salutatlon, but he stop.
ped and shook me enthusiastically by
the hand.
"My dear Carleton, excuse me, but
really you must congratulate me on my
good iortne. l have just been accepted
by Miss Laura, and | feel SO grateful to
you for giving me n chance.
ITO me ~ / gssped, in astonsbmen:.
"Why, yes. To tell tho truth, had
an idea that you were my rival, and that
she liked you, until she herself unde-
ceivsd me. She told me yesterday that
ycu had no idea Of such thing and
that, in fact. you loved another, and mac
confessed it 20 herl !"
II 2"
"Why, yes you showed her the por-
trait Of the lady, you know. Well, |
hope you may be as happy as | am. +"
lie wrung my hand, and, with blissluI
smile. hurried on, needless Of my agony.
1t is some artful story of hers to deceive
him, and excuse her conduc; toward
myself, was my thought. How can a
woman be so heatess and unprincipled?
/ retraced my steps homewsrd in an
uncnyiable tramo of mind. / took out
my pocket book, in order to gaze once
moro upon that fair and false face which
had lured me to misery, but found the
blue envelope empty.
Then | rsmenb bered that, when had
showed the photograph to Laura, and
been interrupted by Fitzroy's entrance,
/ had hastily slipped it into my breast
pocket, where it had since reposed
unthought Of.