The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1878-04-13

prudent"
She opened the door Of her room. Elsie
followed her with dropping head.
al must warn you, my dear child. Of
course, Mr.. Knox admires yot very much,
but men weary Of girl who shows her pref
erence as openly as you do. If you want to
marry this Mr.. Knox-though they say he
is poor-you must not follow him about SO
like pet kitten. You must not sit at his
feet and let him caress you so openly"
"There was no one on the veranda," !" cried
Elsie, her cheeks on fire. "Mr. Knox would
not let me do anything wrong"
Angelique laughed merrily.
"You little simpletoni Well, have warn
ed you, and if he tires Of you shall not be
to blame. Help me to take down my hair,
Elsie; have dreadful headache"
The trees were sparkling with ice at Lin
den Walks. Aprofuse rain had frozen upon
the trees, and sheathed every branch and
twig with silver. At the end of this spark
ling drive, the stately gray mansion stood,
the drawing-roon windows clothed with
crimson silk and frosty lace between which
a woman's face looked out
A cold, covert face, silken-pale hair and
agate-blue eyes-Angelique Wharton's. 1t
was Christmas morning. Her guests had all
arrived save one-and for that one she cared
more than all the rest.
mol Hubert Knox had not arrived and
in her dressing-room, little Elsie was piling
up her chestnut braids with heavy heart.
What did it matter that her beautiful rose
pink dinner dress was done, and that she
looked like Hebe herself in it7 1t did not
matter if all the rest of the world cried ap-
proval if his. blue eyes.did.. mot look approval.
1t was nearly twelve o'clock, and though
she had letter referring to his expected
visit to Linden Walks, he had not arrived;
gradually, assthe minutes went by, her heart
sank in her bosom, until it felt like lead.
Suddenly, rapid wheel ground sharply
up the drive. The driver sprang down and
opened the carriage door, and gentleman
leaped out.
Little Elsie turned from the window to
the mirror. Her cheeks were as red as roses,
and they matched so beautifully with the
pink silk. She was glad that it was done
now, for the new conner was Hubert Knox.
He was talking with Angelique in the
drawing-room when she came down.
"And Mr.. Wharton had no childrenP"
The wordslwero uttered by Hubert in
casual manner, but close observer might
have discovered that he was intently listen
ing for the ladys reply. She began to look
a little bored.
"There was runaway son, not of age, l
never saw him, and Mr.. Wharton did not
remember him in his will. Elsie, dear, do
you know that Mr.. Knox has come.
Elsie was waiting to give her heart time
to calm its rapid beating before she spoke to
Hubert. But she was at ease and happy as
soon as she felt the clapse of his warm hand
and looked into his face.
Yet Elsie was hardly the condding child
she had been six weeks before. She had re-
| ceived still other hints and warnings from
Angelique. But Hubert did not understand.
He missed her frank glee, and thought she
seemed more womanly and less a child.
But the old, care-free, confding days were
gone. Knox was grave and preoccupied,
and Elsie felt the presence of a shadow which
she could not dispel.
ADgelique was 30 beautiful. No longer
she wore mourning, and the pale, half-tint
of widowhOod. Her dinner dress of azure
silk made her alluringly beautiful. Con-
stantly Knox talked to her.
Was he fascinated by this mature woman,
so much more his peer than she-foolish,
adoring little thingH Did he dream of low
ing her-the heiress of Linden WalksH
lie remained at the old mansion for four
days. Elsie had certain daily duties TO per-
form, and among them was the supervision
of the sleeping rooms of the establishment.
She was in Mr.. Knox's chamber the next
morning giving the servants some instruc-
tions concerning it, when his foot sounded
on the stairs, and he entered the room.
At first he did not see her. lie began
walking the floor, his hands locked behind
him, his head bent, evidently thinking. She
put down the vase of chrysantheums she
held, and he turned towards her.
"Elsie, are you hereY"
dyes"
"You said that Linden Walks was beau
tiful place." he said, after moment. "But
think it a very melancholy place, Elsie"
1T is because of the time of year." said
Elsie.
No, il is not that"
"What is it thenH"
perhaps will tell you some time, Elsie
do you know where the key to this cabinet
is?"
1t was an old Louis XVI. cabinet of ebony
with mosaic pictures upon the panels.
There is bunch of keys in the house
keepers room. will go and get them"
She came back with the string Of KEYS, be-
lieving that he wanted to examine the
' quaint structure oftle cabinet Bnt with m,