Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1878-03-28
ETHELINDE's LOVE.

BY L. A.
Ethelinde Lourne came out
from amid the binding beauties OF
the crowded ball l-rocm-out into
the shadowy glory of the early
autumn night-to hide herself
among the tall old trees that rose
like grim phantoms before her, and
dream of her life's great happiness
and her hearts great and glorious
love.
She was wondrously fair in her
own gentle way, this Ethelinde
Lourne wondrously fair with her
calm, sweet face, her large deep eyes,
her 1.-THE, graceful form, and her
golden hair. And to night the
growing glory Of her life had come
to her in the guise of Carolyn La
Roy's love. He had told her his
hearts story-how he had loved
her so long, and asked her 10 be his
wife. And OH the morrow she was
to give him her answer. So it was
she had left the pertumed parlors
and come out into the autumn moon
light to think over once again the
impassioned words he had spoken,
and listen to the answer that would
echo in her throbbing heart, as if
she had not known that answer for
many days as if she had not known
how she had striven to suppress the
love for tear he might read her Sc
cret before sue knew his. He was
SO knightly, SO supremely noole
| that she loved him as she loved her
life. All what men is worthy of
SO great a love
She stood for one brief moment
in the full glory of the autumn
night and pressed her hands, glitter
ing with flashing Jewels, to the
golden head and asked herself if
life would always be as beautiful to
her as it was now. Like an answer
to her question, football upon the
carriage path close by broke the
Stiffness. She turned around quick
| ly, ard saw woman standing
mntely before her-a woman with
face as white as the driven snow
standing there IN the moonlight
She looked into the girls face in a
wild, frightened way. She tried to
speak, but not a sound passed her
qniverin5 lips. A: last she thrust
out her white thin hand, and caught
the girls fair arm, crying:
al want Ethelinde Lourne
Will yon take me to her For the
love OF heaven, take zoe to her |"
The fingers closed convulsively
about the perfect arm, and left their
impress on the quiverilg fesh.-
Ethelinde, with one wrench fling
ing aside the womau's hands, freed
her arms, and said calmly:
81 am Ethelindc Lourne. Did
You wish to see me 90
"Wish tc see yon! Why, Ethe
linde Lourne, those words are II ock-
cry Did / wish to see you Did
l wish to live ? Do you know, had
[ not seen you tonight, would
have flung myself into yonGcr pool
My heart is bursting with its load
of misery. feel at times almost
berctt of reason; my sorrow is sc
great, SO maddening. Ethelinde
l.ourne, have come to you as las
resort. Come to you, the woman
; who holds my reason, my very life
! suspended in her hand. viii yoI
have mercy upon me, oh, Etheiind'
Lourne-mercy upon me and mine g
Ethelinde looked into the woman
face. 1t was flushed and purple
her eyes were glowing: but on
thing was possible-the woman wa
E mad And yet Ethelinde stoo'
close beside her-so close that th
+ heated breath swept across her face
She tried to move, but the effor
was without avail an unseen pow
!. er had brought her TO this spot, an
an unseen power held her Il prisone
there.
"You think, yon fear, I ar
insane" the woman went OH abrupt
e ly. "But I am NOT, I am only
p poor, wretched, forsaken woman
who has lost all that honor whlc
re women 30 highly prize. / hav
,oss lost home, friends, happiness an
8. honor, all for Carolyn La Roy an
:, his guilty love. He stole my hcal
IS just as lie has stolen yours, Ethe
IT. Iinde Lonrne, and then be took III
honor and left me branded, heart
broken woman, without a frien
IT'S upon this great earth. Oh, Ethelin