The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1878-12-05

know you ought not to be out. Why
did you do it2 Where are you going ?
Into Spafeld ?"
"To be sure"
"But what for 2"
"To see friend"
"Who is itp" came the quick re-
sponse. "Not-not Nelly Cameron ?"
with shade of jealousy in the tone
now. care the Camerons receiving
this EVENING""
"Not that 1 know Of" returned Rob-
ert Edbury, promptly. "I swear to
you I was not going to see Nelly Cam
eron. have not spoken with a single
young lady to-day, except yourself.
"Poor Robert u and little laugh
rippled lightly on the air. "But do go.
You know what your health is, and that
you have no business to be riding at
this time of night. You ought to take
better care of yourself. You will be
laid up tomorrow your voice already
sounds strange and altered. Good"
night"
zone moment" !" cried Robert Edbury,
earnestly, as he leaped from his horse,
fastened the bride to the gate, and
stepped inside beneath the window,
where cleaned that mysterious, enchant-
ing face. "Won't you give me flow
er-you can easily reach that clustering
vine by your easement. Perhaps-per.
haps shall wish to ask you some time
to forgive me some great offense. Won't
you give me flower for a token ?"
How strangely you talk. OF course
would give you flower but these are
only honeysuckles, and you know we
promised to give each other nothingLA
roses. But stay r'-the pretty voice
caught itself. 81 have bunch of vio-
let's on my table. Would you like
them ?"
Anything - anything that comes
from your hand - whispered Robert,
more sincerely than he always spoke.
The bright face disappeared moment
from the window and then returned-a
white hand cleaned in the moonlight.
"There, take them, and now you must
gol Quick I hear some one stirring.
Suppose it should be mamma Good
night, dear Robert"
The window was softly closed, and in
an instant after Robert was cropping for
the violets in the wet grass. He found
them where they fell. But, as they
were falling, the quick eyes of Robert
Edbury had discerned something, bright
as star, falling too. The small strip
of grass where he had stood was entirely
the shade, hidden from the light BY
the large horse chestnut trees, and he
rhad to grope in the dark for this glitter
inS thing. An instant's search revealed
It 10 be what he suspected-a lady's
bracelet. 1t was O slender circlet OF
gold, studded with crystal. The quick
movement had unclasped it from her
arm and Robert, with smile, put it
side by side with the Tithered bunch of
violets in his pocket as he rode away.
"Soepter and crown I'd fling them down."
sang Mr.. Edbury as he rode swiftly on
in the purple dusk of the trees. "Scer.
ter and crown, if had them, I'd fling
them down for the one bare chance of
hearing that lovely voice once again. I"
He was alone; there was no one to
see him and taking the violets ont OF
his pocket he kissed them tenderly
IT was most absurdly silly of him do it 1;
but who of us does not do silly things
in the beyday of our youths morning
Silly things that we blushfor afterward,
perhaps just as Robert Edbury blushed
when putting the violets again quickly
away.
"scepter and crown I'd fling them down,
II might
But his song got no further than that /;
it died away in thought.
Passing arm arm down the crowded
dancing-room of the Spa the next even
,,,o~ xxy,k l., fuso
Edbury's quick ear was caught bya note
which at once arrested his attention.
He had said that he should know that
divine voice again, hear it wherever or
whenever he might, and he was not mis-
taken. A certain remonstrance lay in its
tone not to say mischief.
"But who could it have been, Robert,
if it was not you? 1t frightens me to
think of it. lit was somebody of
your height and figure. It must have
been yourself, Robert"
"But tell you it was not, Jessie. l
should like to know who it was."
He was gentleman, / am sure -
with stress upon the word. "You
need not be put out, Robert"
Robert Edbury turned and saw close be-
side him, leaning on that other Roberts
arm, a young girl surprisingly beautiful.
Roses mingled with the bright gold of
her hair, shone in the bosom of her
dress, and a bunch of them was some
how intertwined with the slender gold
wrist chain attached to her fan.
Mr.. Edbury caught his breath, as,
turning her face, the girls soft violet
blue eyes rested for moment unrecog
Mini ri On hio
"Who is she ?" he whispered eagerly
to his friend. "How lovely she is
What is her name By heaven I never
believed in divine loveliness before but
here it is, pure and undefiled. What is
her name?"
eft is Miss Chassdane," was the an
swer. She and her mother live at the
Grove, half mile out of town."
ga farmhouse" remarked Robert.
"No, it is not. 1t looks not unlike
one. They are people of property. Yes,
she is very pretty. I'll introduce you if
Half an hour later Robert Edbury was
bending over the young lady's hand in
the pretty secluded gloom of a yine-
wreathed window. They were as much
alone as it is possible for one to be in
the heart of busy, unheeding crowd.
The hrst notes OF Strauss waltz were
beckoning the dancers, and gay couples
went laughing, hurrying by.
" You are not engaged for this valse ?"
said Robert eagerly.
Some remembered cadence of his voice
struck the young girls memory, and,
forgetting to answer him, she looked at