Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-08-07


ance.
We went down stairs to the little
morning room, now brilliantly illu.
minated aud serving as tea room.
While we we're having some tea,
Eva whispered TO me-
'Grandmamma might have asked
Gunn-Mr. Elliot
Then he will not be here p
Eva sh'a eyed her shoulders.
He WA DOT be at the ball. she
said. with strange smile, which l
remembered afterwards.
'EVa,' | said, with an odd presen-
timent, do yoa care for him still p
'Stilli' echoed Eva. "You are
like grandmamma. She thought a
little separation would undo the
mischief She thinks il is all over
now-that any LITTLE romantic or
sentimental feeling | may have had
upon the subject must have died
away
'Eva,' | said, startled by her tone,
you fIighten me Has it not yet
died away p
st will never die away answer
ed Eva venemeatly. We shall new
er give each other up as long as we
live. This night will prove TO grand.
mamma that she has made great
mistake.
At this moment tho lights all ov.
er the house flashed out with sudden
brilllancy and tho quadrille band
dashed into gay tune, and very
soon Tire rooms began to fill. We
left the tea room and went to grand
mamma.
1t was deligh full call / danced
great deal, for my chaperon paid me
no attention, and never thought
OF feeling tired. | believe it was
lord Ayenhoe who chaperoned me
after all. | had plenty of partners
Just as many as Eva herself. |
felt almost bewildcred with delight;
it was all so new to me- More than
once my eyes sought out Eva in the
brilliant throng, always to find her
surrounded by circle of admirers,
and playing with her fan with care
less grace She was accustomed to
that kind of thing, and took it more
calmly than | could, just yet.
Seeing her SO like herself, | grew
less anxious about her, and by de.
grees forgot to watch her move
ments. Il was after supper, and
very near the end Of the ball, when,
walking through the rooms with
Lord Avenboe-we had danced the
last waltz together-he startled me
by saying, Where ia your sister? l
have not seen her for some time
He was surprised at the su iden
terror that took possession OF me.
Oh, look again!' | cried, in
tone of suppressed anguish. Do
you net zee her? Is she really not
in any of the rooms?'
He looked around, slowly and
carefully No, she was not there
but she might be in the garden
several groups had gone out.
Shall we go out and look for
her 2 he asked, bending his head to
me.
| looked out at the rows of color.
ed lamps, and the restless reflec-
tons in the. lake, at the gay groups
moving under the trees, the trunks
of which were illumined, while
their branches were lost in dark
ness, and the laughter and music
and soft, warm night air made me
feel i'll.
No, no. | said, trembling and
turning away, she ia not there-it
would be of no use. Take me up to
her room-she may not have left
the house at al ,
1t was forlorn hope, but he al
lowed me TO hurry him up the stair.
case where the banks of ferns and
exotics stood on either side 10
dazzling glare of light, and into
Eva's white boudoir. whore the
soft glow of three or four wax can
dies lighted up the dressin table,
with it's pretty belongings. No one
was there; it looked undisturbed,
as usual, and lovely picture of
Eva, in her presentation drese.
smiled down at US from between
the windows, the curtains of which,
of white and silver brocade, were
costly drawn.
rang the bell, expecting to see
my sisters maid, but, instead of
her, another servant came.
Where is Desire p
& do not know, Miss Ethel. /
have not seen her for sometime.
She may be in the cloak-room-the
people are all going away
The constant roll of carriage
wheels attes.ed the fact very PLATA
ly.
Send Mrs. Esm onde's maid to
me- | said, feeling as if / should
| faint.
| Lord Avenhoe put me into q
chair and bent over me anxiousIv.
ooh, why don't you follow them p
exclaimed, YEARLY, turning away
my head. What shall we do |?
What shall we do p
sit is better to do nothing till the
house is clear, which it will be soon.
| wish | had glass of wine for you
You have had q great shock
1t is worse for YOU said, Look
ing at him blankly.
He appeared shocked, panied. but
| saw no trace of the despair | had
dreaded so much to witness. He
returned my look with grave
smile
Are you such a child, Ethel, as
not to know that 1t is not Eva
care for, but your
Aud still the ceaseless roll OF car
riage wheels sounded below and
for what seemed to be hours. but
were, in reality, only minutes, we
waited patiently till the last
should have driven away. Then
grsndmamma Esuonde, missing US
all, came mp to Evs's room.
Where is Eva 2 she asked. with
a surprised look at my white face.
Gravely, kindly, Lord Ave nhoe
told her the terrible truth.
She has killed mel' was ali
grandmamma said when he had
\