Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1879-05-19

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newborn feeling, to the handsome, smil-
ing face of my brother, and again my
heart swelled with jealous pain at sight
of It's unruf1ed calm.
But the next moment Madam Viele
claimed my attention.
"Vi, dearest, my great-niece, Peri
Holbrook." She smiled.
turned my eyes from Albert's face
to meet the eager, half-affrighted gaze
of the golden-haired girl could not but
admire.
bowed, and somewhat coldly accept
ed the profered hand, and answered the
few musical words of gentle welcome.
Then involuntarily flashed a swift
glance at Albert.
ALL how the blood leaped through
my veins And how hated the charm.
ing creature standing before me, so
regally graceful and sweet. Yes, 1
hated her; for there could be no mistak-
ing the brooding tenderness and passion
with which my step-brother was regard
ing her.
But only for an instant did his eyes
betray him; {; and. as the pleasant hours
of the evening flew by, 1 grew half-dis-
posed to laugh at my jealous pain. New
ertheless, when my step-mother followed
me to my room l smiled lightly.
"Peri is very lovely, mamma, and
Albert seems to admire her.
Madam Viele turned glance upon
me that covered my face with flood of
color
"Nay, nay," she laughed softly the
next instant, winding her arm caressing-
ly about me.
"You have no cause for jealously, my
love. Albert is heart-whole, and knows
we'll that it is my dearest wish to see
him your husband. Knowing this" she
added, with hearty sternness, she would
not dare brave me by loving another" "
Then, with swift return to her former
tenderness, she continued: "My dear
child, trust you can make me happy
by loving my handsome and noble son p
l could not bear the gaze of her pen
etrating black eye, soft as it was, and
my face dropped blushingly to her
friendly shoulder.
Il am eloquently answered, love" she
whispered softly; 'and let me say that,
with your rare beauty and winning grace
you are sure to garner his whole heart
May heaven bless you, my dear!'
Then, as she kissed me good nj ght,
she cried earnestly:
don't rush into jealously. vi. Peri
is a good and beautiful girl; but Albert
gives her only cousinly affection.
Though she was in no way dependent
upon me pecuniarly, promised her dy-
ing mother to give her home at Gray
Fell, as you know and you see, my
love, how very unpleasant it 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. My eyes are keen,
and in the eighteen months she has been
at Gray Fell must inevitably have PEN
etrated secret of that kind"
"Of course mamma is right" l mur-
INJURED, as the door closd on her impe-
rial form, and summoned Manton.
But. my maid dismissed, | sat down
in my dressing gown and stared at the
glowing Goals, my thoughts and feelings
IN an anxious whirl. After time l
rose, signing impatiently.
al can't sleep, will 60 down and
get book"
With the words l crept out into the
hall.
l had traversed half its length when
the sound of stealthy steps on the stairs
sent me with bated breath behind the
heavy damask curtains of a window near
me.
Burglars were in my mind, but |
made no outcry The next minute the
steps passed few feet from me and ]
was quickly undeceived.
A voice l we'll knew, murmured in
hushed tones, Don't grieve, my darling,
it will all come right. Only be patient,
my own"
And l felt more than heard the soft
kiss that finished the sentence.
It was Peri's voice that answered,
"Oh, Albert Albert p she breathed,
faltering. "Where is it all to end ? We
have done very, very wrong, dearest
And. oh, Albert, she loves you | saw
it in those great passionate. dusky eyes
of hers tonight. and in a vague terror
of the future stared almost wildly at
her as Aunt Ray presented me.
"Nonsense Do you want to make me
vain ?' laughed my STEP brother softly.
And then he murmurcd in graver ac-
cents: "You say we have done wrong,
darling. Remember that we had to
choose between two evils. Remember
that my mother possesses an iron will.
She would have ground US both to pow
der rather than consent to what we"