The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1879-06-20
A BLooDLEss BATTLE.

clue, it is said, yet to who committed
the murder.
A BLOODLESs BATTLE.
The sun shone warm and bright, and
crowned the trees and flowers that beau.
titled the grounds encircling the Beltone
mansion with shimmering radiances. II
rippled and sparkled in and out among
the green leaves, and glOrified the many
gables of the stately mansion, for the
Beltones had always been power in the
district, and the quaint building that told
OF their presence was a notable one. 1t
boosted of pre-reYOlutIonary origin and
history, and though it had no tradition
linked with the name of Washington, it
still had the aroma of distinguished
presences lingering about it.
1t was built of stone, with many deep
bay-windows jutting out of beds of bril-
liant flowers, and holding the light of
wandering sun-rays in loving embrace.
There was righteousness of pleasure
in these bay-windOws of the BeltOne
mansion. They seemed to be made es-
pecially for certain delightful expert
ences. There was one looking out over "A
broad valley running away to the south
and west, which gave glorious picture
of natures painting, rich with cOlors
such as artists despair of, and this SEEM
ed made for dreamy reveries or glorious
thoughts. Another that was touched by
whispering leaves, and had large bed
of pinks, viOlets and pansies beneath it,
over which the sunlight ran and lit a
corner of the recess, leaving the rest
shrOuded in a delicious dimness made
by soft crimson curtains, was lovers
paradise.
The whole atmosphere of the place
was tinctured with oriental magnificencc
and mystery, for the BeltOnes were Law
ish of money, and spared no expense in
the embellishing of their ancestral home,
and there was strangeness in the man.
ner of their marrying, that hadigiven the
place sort of genii reputation-a pecu-
liar style of lamp rubbing, which pro-
duced mistress for the stately mansion.
the most curious point being that she
was sure to storm the hearts of the peo-
pie of the district, and to hold them Sc
curely nvassalage ever afterward. There
had never been a disagreeable or plain
mistress in the house, and up to the
time of which we speak, there had al
ways been a male heir to the name and
estate of the Beltones.
Now the only child of the master of
Beltone house was young lady, a love-
ly and talented woman, who slowly
walked along the path that led from the
road to the mansion. The rich sunlight
fell about her in warm masses, lighting
up the gold of her hair and shimmering
amid the soft Wilderness of her garments.
Her face was frank and pleasing, with a
perfectness of line and richness of color
that entranced all who saw it, and with
eyes that lit up strangely when happi-
naco OV anuar offaoto1 thoro
Her form was tall, full and symmetri-
cal, and she had a peculiar grace of
movement that made her seem a living
melody. AS some old poet says of his
sweetheart, "her walk was like sOng,'
aud her voice accorded with this musi-
cal motion, being clear, sweet and ring
ing.
Truly, Olivia Beltone was no common
woman, for her mind was strong and well
stored, and her discrimination and tact
made her ruler among her sex and a
leader among her masculine acquaint-
ances. Calm, stately and beautiful, she
swayed all who came near her with a
subtle power that they could neither I'M
derstand nor resist.
said she swayed all, but there was
one exception, Hubert st. Clair. There
seemed to be an antagonism between his
nature and hers which, while ignoring
her power of beauty, the power that ruled
so many, faded in the light of her intel
lect. Had she possessed no beauty he
would have been her devoted and es-
teemed friend from the first, but there
must have been some bitter experience
in his life that made the proud soul of
Hubert st. Clair distrust beauty.
He was strange man, repelling and
yet pleasing, with a mind naturally of
great power and name stronger by study
and travel. There was something in his
eyes that drew children to him, and made
little, tOddling mites laugh and crow
merrily; there was also something in
them that had the same influence on a
braggart that a wet blanket has on a fire.
He was a notable man, both in look and
mind. Strong, brOad-shoulGered and
tall. There was the solidnesS that told
of power about him, and when his face
lit up there was such a strength of soul
shown that people acknowledged him
indeed leader.
And yet, from the bright May morn
ing when he had come into her presence
for the first time, until this warm June
day, there had been strife between Olivia
BelstOne and Hubert st. Clair. What
was his strong, tall form, his brave, man
ly face, his rich and fertile mind, his
soaring and kindly genius, to her, when
he refused to bow to her beauty? She
knew that he was of the stock from
which spring the leaders of thought and
action, but when he refused to bend in
homage at the shrine of her loneliness,
how could she honor him2
And yet Olivia Beltone was not a friv-
Olous and fashioned-ruled beauty. There
was strength, power of soul, nobleness OF
thought and shining talent in her, but
she had been wont to see proud, and
great, and learned men bow before her
charms, and when she met one who threw
down the glove and babe her prove heI
wOrthineSS ere he declared her queen, il
nettled her.
There was nothing offensive in St
Clair's manner, nothing in his appear
ance that she disliked, and yet she had
fought wordy battle with him every
day they met, and she had fought them
well. 1t had been a healthy exercise for
her brain, as her antagonist was a ready
and witty debater, and the thing that If
ritated her most was that he generally
came out with colOrs flying, while she
had to retreat.
1t seemed pity to have them differ
SO, when they were so suited to make q
splendid match, and as Olivia walked
L oAO"Ay e4O4S S-O pain lllht leu
through the grounds about the old man
sion, she looked fair enough to make al
emperor envy the man who should wiz
her, his prize.
Whether Hubert st. Clair desired t.
win her was a mystery. Certainly hi:
coming had not thrown any obstacles il
he way of others, for he was very sure
o absent himself from the house wheL
a visitor appeared whose manner pro
claimed him a sutton for the fair Olivia'i
| favor.
He was with her now, however, anC
as she walked leisurely up the patl
paced slowly on beside her, nov givinI
q switch at some tall flower or weed witt
the cane he carried, and then bending u
pick up the. fragments his attack haG
scattered about.
AS one Of these blows severed q nod
ding pink from Its stem, Olivia spoke:
81 do not see, Mr.. st. Clair, how yol
can reconcile your assertion that you low
! all beautiful things with this wanton de
struction of flowers. But perhaps you
in the dictionary that rules your actions
do not call them beautiful"
He smiled, curious expression CON
ing TO his deep-set gray eyes.
81 u do consider them beautiful, Mis-