The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1879-12-03
DIsILLUsION.

There is strange looking old hous.
on the franklin road. 1. il three
miles FROM any other dwelling. There
is deadly looking marsh on the op
posite side Of the road. and directly il
front, in the yard, stands q tall pins
tree. that has been riven down its trunk
by the lightning Of soms long gon.
tempest. 1t is enough 10 make one
saudder TO look at the blsekened and
distorted thing which was once {
stately tree.
It was before this house that one af
terneoa in July . light, low phaeton
drawn by a slender, spirited white
horse. stopped. As the horse wa.
stopped. terrific peal ofthunder rollet
along the west. where purple -bl lacl
clouds were piling themselves, anG
where streaks OF lightning darted il
red flashes.
The white horse lesped on Us hind
feet, as the thunder smote the air. and
the face Of the driver grew winter. ai
she tried to soothe the animal. The occu
pant Of the pbaeton was . young girl
dark and proud locking. with eyes sc
beautiful that man or woman would
stop and turn back, impressed BY the
soft. frank glance. For the rest. Elesu.
or Fairlie was not beautiful; but there
was . lovely grace in the girlish figure
which was dressed faultlesrly and rich
ly, but in the simplest manner. The
appointments Of the harness aud car
riage were such - betokeued wealth
that could lavish freely.
'Ain't this q sumner. though 2 said q
man to himself as he came sIouchine
from the barn, which was a few rods Ia
tho right. staring at this spparitiou
under the pine tree
Can / find shelter here until the
worst Of the tempest is over 2 asked the
girl.
Bot before she could have . reply, q
crash Of thunder came. and, with q
shudder. she covered her ears with hel
hands; but she watched the horse
meanwhile, and the next instant she
had an arm over his neck and was
whispering softly to him.
He seized the bride As he spoke, and
began leading the horse toward the
barn.
'You jes' go right INFO the house. he
said.
No. no; ia rather g. 70 the barn,
replied Miss Fairlie. who had glanced
ut the open window of the house, and
who decidedly preferred the presence
of the cattle to that Of the slatternly.
inquisitive looking woman who was
staring out at her.
Suit yerself. said the man. But I'll
have to leave ye out hero. The old
woman IL be scarf to death ef let her
be alone in this tempest
After q moment. during which horse
and phseton had found place in the
one compartment Of the huge barn. the
man hurried into the house. while tho
girl was standing by her horse. trying
to forget her own fears in her attempts
to yoothe her pet.
The horse trembled at every fash Of
lightning. and seemed half crazed when
tho thunder rolled across the south.
1t had not rained as yet; but in few
moments the thunder subsided some
what. the white horse became quieter,
and Eleanor. tired from excitement,
went and sat down on . bundle Of
straw that lay against the partition.
The rain now began TO- eome-frst IN
single. huge drops, then pelting down
in rivers.
As the shower began the girl thought
she heard voices on the other side Of
the board wall against which she Loan
cd; but tho next instant tho rush of the
rain drowned every other sound save
that Of the thunder.
In short time, the torrents beat less
furiously. and in the murmur ,of the
water there now came The distinct
sounds of . mans tones-tones that
thrilled through the girls heart as only
the voice Of the beloved one can thrill
the heart Of woman
A glow OF pleasure came to Eleanor's
facs. and she half started from her seat.
whispering:
He here. All. that is fortunate!
But before she had risen, another
voice, soft aud sweet, was heard upon
tho sultry air. II was . woman who
spoke those last words. and involutarily
Elesnor's figure stiffened little. and .
pallor came in place Of the glow that
had been on her cheek.
What should I care for the tempest
for apything-so long as am near
you. said the man.
And Eleanor heard each word dis
tinc.ly. low though il had been spoken.
Had not such words been whispered
TO her Had not they made her heart
beat quickly, and did she not know
how the blue eyes looked when that
tone was used ?
Without knowing that she did %.
sLe turned her tread ths bosrds vf tbc
partition were carelessly put up; they
we're rough. and there were large cracks
between. Plainly. then. Eleanor saw
before her . woman who seemed at
that moment to the girl to be superhn-
manly beautiful. so lovely WAS the deli
cate pink and white OF her face, % per-
feet the bright. scarlet lips. % fair the
abundsnt golden hair that. half loosen
ed, wandered over the shoulders OF this
siren. whose wonderful eyes were fixed
on Cyril Home, who Was looking down
at her 40 il tho world ., that moment
held no other being for whom be could
care.
Eleanor FAirlie shivered IS II she
were cold; she could net have turned
her gaze from that group. any more
than the bird can take its eyes from the
scrpcn, whose mysterious. power holds
it.
II VAS that man. whose passion ate
look seemed to caress his companion-
|, was that man TO whom Eleanor I'd
given troth-plisht. and heart. ard utter