Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1880-06-30
Cousin Edith.


the easement of as open window open
ing TO a sloping lawn, at whose base
flowed q sunny, rlppling stream OF wa
ter.
1t was one of England's fairest
scenes on which her eyes rested, and
she was one of EpgIand's fairest daugh-
ters. Even at this moment, spite OF
the fact that her brow Is gathered in a
frown, and the full, red lips are unmis-
takably pouting, her beauty Is undenia-
bic.
A few bold spirits have declared there
was little soul in the face; but the
large hazel eyes could melt or flash at
will, the dark lashes shaded a cheek
white as parian marble, with rarely
even O touch Of color upon its velvety
surface, and the 1.-the, graceful figure
ever unconscIously assumed new grace
in each unstudied pose, until one forgot
the question of soul in its perfect out
ward flesh -ana-blood tabernacle.
Near her, reclining on q low easy
chair, sat a young girl Of about her own
age. At first glance the exquisite soul
loveliness Of her face paled in Miss
Ames' more brilliant beauty, but there
were more TO love its possessor, and
fewer to envy her. Something like in
dgnation was in her voice, as she ad-
dressed her friend,
Il cannot believe that you mean it,
Lillian she said. You have been
engaged to Oscar Dsring year, and
how can you say SO carelessly that your
engagement shall be broken
Beg pardon !! interrupted the other,
in low, ironical tones. Il have not yet
been engaged to Oscar Derlng twenty
four hours. 1t was Lord Oscar Dering
l gave my PLEDGE
oh, but, Lillian, because he has lost
title and estate must lie also lose the
woman Of his lever Think minute.
You surely will not give him up 80
easily?'
Nonsense, Edith! 1 am twenty
one-no longer glrl of an age 10 live
upon sentimentalism, but to look upon
the everyday realities of life. When l
engaged myself to Lord DeriDg, l was
the subject of congratulation among oil
my friends. Now that the cousin who
was supposed to be dead crops into life
in some remote portion OF the globe,
and that Oscar insists upon renounclng
the property in his behalf without even
q stuggle, am not coutent to let these
same congratulations laps into pity
'Oh. Lillian, do you think any one
could pity you for possessing 80 royal a
gift as the love Of such man? Think
better Of it, dear, I know you care for
him. Do not so lightly renounce ysur
hfe's happiness!
'Yea plead his cause eloquently, my
dear. Really did not know posses
sed rival in my fair cousin. Perhaps
heart caught in the rebound-yot
know the rest, Of course, and can pom
the moral
Lillian. yeu are cruel-cruel! l.
But the late speaker has passed
through the open window out OF hear
| ing, and advanced 10 meet man quick
| ly approaching on the green swsrd
while the young girl left behind tel
back in her chair, the great tears cours'
ling down her cheeks, on which tn
crimson color-signat famed,
1t was as though some ruthless han'
had snatched the veil from her owl
heart, leaving exposed its most cher
lished secret-a secret she had no
known herself, until now betrayed b.
her shame.
'Imust leave this place. I canno
meet him again. 1 must 60 homo
but, oh how can she give him upV
| Edith Loring and Lillian Ames wer
cousins, but the one was the daughte
ofa clergyman whose rectory was som
ten miles distant from Ames Cour'
one of the noblest estates OF England
and Of which Lillian was sole heiress.
The girls, however, had been closel
united, more by the tie OF friendship
.. than cousinshlp, since the latter was
. distant bond, and Ames Court was a
lmost as much Edith's homo as HI
own. Now, however, the homeli'
r charms of the rectory were very CRATE
:, ful TO her. Hero no oae could prot
the discovery so new to herself
trace the scarlet blush which SCENE
40 often 10 burn on her cheek, until Oh
Iwondered that Il did not leave i
brand.
She had been homo six weeks, au
twice oscar Dering had ridden oyer
see her, but she had always denied be
self TO him On some household prctex
until one morniug he over tosk her