Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1879-07-23

omHcu, bub III heoAs tnA~SSS" f'-
| fully under the ruby velvet bodice tha
be came me 30 we'll. Beneath the pres
sure OF those bearded lips my waywart
woman's heart had leaped from tender
ness to full, fierce, passionate love.
| I lifted my eyes, lustrous with th'
newborn feeling, to the handsome
smiling face of my brother, and agair
my heart sweled with jealous pain a
sight Of IFS unrufned calm.
But the next moment Madame Viele
claimed my attention.
wi, dearest, my great'niece, Per
Holbrook.' She smiled.
l turned my eyes from Alberts face
to meet the eager, half affrighted gaze
Of the golden. haired girl could not bu
admire.
I bowed. and somewhat coldly accept
ed the pronered hand. and answered the
few musical words of gentle welcome
Then l involuntarily flashed swil
glance ct Albert.
| All! how the blood leaped through
nv veins And how I hated the charm
ing creature standing before me, 30 re-
.ally graceful and sweet. Yes, hatet
her; for there could be no mistaking th'
brooding tenderness and passion will
which my step-brother was regarding
her.
Bot only for an instant did his eyes
betray him and, as the pleasant hours
of the evening few By. l grew half dis
posed to laugh at nv Jealous pain
Nevertheless, when my step-mother
followed me to my room smiled light
ly.
Peri is very lovely, mamma, and
Albert seems to admire her,
Madame Viee turneda glance upon
me that covered my face with flood oil
color.
Nay, nay,' she laughed softly the
next instant. winding her arm caress-
inqly about me. You have no cause
for jealousy. my love. Albert is heart
whole. and knows well that il is my
dearest wish to see him your husband.
Knowing this, she added, with naughty
sternness, he would not dare brave me
by loving another Then, with a swift
return 10 her former tenderness, she
continued: MY dear child, I trust you
can make me happy by loving my hand
some and noble son?'
could not bear the gaze OF the pene-
trating black eye, soft as it was, and my
face dropped blushingly to her friendly
shoulder.
L am eloquently answered, love-
she whispered softly and let me say
that, with our rare beauty and winning
grace, you are sure to garner his whole
heart. May Heaven bless you, my
dearp
Then, as she kissed me good night,
she cried earnestly:
'Don'trush into jealousy, vi. Peri
is good and beautiful girl, but Albert
gives her only cousinly afection.-
Though she is IN no way dependent up
on me pecuniarily, l promised her dying
mother to give her a home at Gray Fell
as you know; aud you can see, my love,
how very unpleasant 1t would make it
FOR YOU to brood over foolish Jealousy.
So, dear, put all that nonsense out OF
your charming head and rest assured
that am right. Ny eyes are keen, aud
in the eighteen months she has been at
Gray Fell must inevitably have pene-
trated a secret OF that kind
'Ofcourse mamma Is right, l MUIR
INJURED as the door closed on her impe-
rial form, and I summoned Manton.
But, my maid dismissed, l sat down
in my dressing gown and stared at the
glowing Goals, my thoughts and feelings
in an anxious whirl. After II time l
rose, signing impatiently.
Il can't sleep, will 20 down and get
book
With the words l crept out into the
hall.
| had traversed half Its length when
the sound ofstealthy steps on he stairs
sent me with bated breath behind the
heavy damask curtains ofa window near
me.
Burglars were in my mind, but | made
no outcry. The next minute the steps
passed few feet from ne and MAS
quickly undsceived.
A voice | well know, murmured IN
hushed tones, Don't grieye, my darl-
ing, 1t will all come right. If we only
be patient, my own.'
And felt more than heard the soft
kiss that finished the sentence.
1t was Peri's voice that answered.
oh, Albert! Albert!' she breathed,
falteringly. where is 1t all TO end?
We have done very, very wrong, dear
est. And oh, Albert, she loves you T! /
saw it in those great, passionate, dusky
eyes of hers tonight, and in vague
terror Of the future | stared almost
wildly at her as Aunt Ray presented
me-
'Nonsensel Do you want to make
me vain?' laughed my step-brother
softly. And then he murmured In grav-
er accents: You say we hayo done
wrong, darling. Remember that we had
to choose between two evils. Remem-
ber that my mother possesses an iron
will. She would have ground US both
TO powder rather than consent 10 what
we
Yes, yea, / know, sighed Peri before