The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1879-12-13
A HEART OF STONE.

The old clock in the wall rang out five
mel0dious chimes, rs Cora Smith softly
closed the kitchen door, and ran to the
little bedroom for her blue scarf.
Five O'clock" she said, as the last
stroke died away; che is wondering
Madge, little Madge, are you coming
with me tonight / am all ready"
Little Madge, the twelve-year-old sis
ter, came flying through the hall.
"Auntie says you have forgotten to
get the potatoes for breakfast, and we
must prepare them before you go.
Never mind if he does have to wait a
little for you; you've waited for him
many time. Come quickly and l will
help you"
So sweet-tempered Cora Smith united
the blue scarf, and tripped away to the
forgotten task as merrily as her little
sister, albeit her heart beat like an i'm
prisored birds at the delay.
The West was all afame with the au-
tumn sunset ere the sisters closed the
Gotta e door behind them, and ran down
the garden path toward the stile, where
ne was waiting-in other words, where
hazel-eyed, sweet-faced Cora Smith
city lover was waiting for his lady-love,
as she had many a night waited for
him.
Almost every evening they met there
at the stile-their TRUSTING place." he
said, just halfway between her home
and his boarding house. He had pro-
posed it, and she was nothing 10th to
accede-it was so pretty and roman
tic.
Then, Auntie Smith was not at all
pleased with this dark-eyed young
stranger, and though she had not for
hidden him the house, both lovers knew
she preferred CHS room to his COM
pany." And so, always with dear little
Madge at her side, she daily tripped
down the path through the leafy woods
to the halfway trysting place where she
met her handsome, dark-eyed lover,
Neil Rowan. How her heart futtered
tonight as she thought of him! and the
warm love-lighJ deepened and darkened
the soft bro wn eyesl
Neil, Neil" she said almost uncon-
sciously, aloud; and little Madge clasped
her sisters hand closer, and looked up
in her face.
"Do you love him so very much sister
CoraF"
A swift, hot color came into the girls
cheeks, and then she paused suddenly,
holding the hands of little Madge in a
fervent grasp.
"Love him love him Madge? better
than all the world-better than my
youth, my life-aye, sometimes better
than my hope of heaven And l want
to be his wife, little Madge, this good
mans wife, when the beautiful Spring
comes. l shall leave you, and auntie
and uncle to be his. But this is our
secret, little sister, and only you can
share it."
And then her hands relaxed their
hold, and drawing the light scarf over
her shoulders, the pair tripped slightly
on. They were almost there-nearing
the edge of the wood, and the stile was
but a step away. Another step for
ward, and then Madge held her sister
back.
Waltz she whispered; 81 can see
two men on the seat, Cora. We do not
want to see strangers there"
No." she said drawing back in the
wood; it is Neil's friend, Willis Dean.
We will wait until he goes for | do not
ike to meet him."
Even as she spoke the figure arose,
and the sound of the voice came on the
twilight air, distinct and clear.
And what of this love affair. friend
Neil? When is it to end, and how?
Are you really in earnest, and do YOU
mean to marry the girlT'
Cora Smiths hand closed upon the
arm of Madge till she shrank in pain
while they waited for the answer. Neil
Rowan laughed softly.
Marry herp he repeated. "She is
just the subject for grand filtration,
and l assure you | have done the thing
well. But for anything further-bahl
l am going back to town tomorrow.
and this is our last meeting; so be off.
old fellow, for | expect her every mo-
ment."
Just for one moment Madge Smiths
heart stood still in awful fear. for she
thought that Cora was dying. That
white, CHASTITY face there in the twilight,
that motionless figure, those tightly
locked hands: it surely was not the fair
sweet maiden of moment before. But
the spasm passed of, aDd without a
word, she arose, and glided noislessly
away, and Madge followed her in
silence.
Neil Rowan waited until the light
had all died out in the West, and the
dew lay like summer rain on the grass
at his feet. His cigar was smoked
down to ashes. and his lazy reverie
was broken by the cry of the whip-poor-
will
"She isn't coming tonight" he said
mentally; that is certain. The schem-
ing auntie up yonder managed to pre-
vent it this time. Oh, we'll. it saves
scene. | will drop a loving farewell
note, and SO it ends-a summers amuse-
ment. Ha! hum!' and Neil Rowan
strolled homeward, singing half uncor-
sciously, IL won't have her, know
won't have her, | know-I don't care
straw who has her, know"