The Osceola times., 1880-07-10

Tor all these reasons You ought TO settle
here"
Its such bother. besides, have
never seen woman yet that | could
love"
"pshawl Do you mean to saw YOU
have lived 10 bo twenty-nine and still
believe in that old-iashioned senti-
ment2" asked the baronet, sneeringly.
Most assuredly do. / always ex-
pect 70 come in for it one day. am in
no hurry, uncle. will marry, but the
woman who will be my wife must be
very different 10 Mabel Eyerton and her
set"
"Indeei! Why do you dislike Miss
Eyerton?"
"She smokes, swears at her groom,
smells of the stables, and converses only
on racing topics"
Sir John shrugged his shoulders, and
suddenly a thought struck him.
What made you ask after that singing
woman?' he asked sharply.
Curiosity; nothing more. l fancied
might know her"
"You have formed no clandeetine en-
gagenents, Henry"
mo, SIR" And Sir John knew that he
might take the answer. No lie as vet
had ever stained Henry Aylton's lips.
That's right You go 10 London
next week. Bring me home the news
that there you have found woman who
shall one day shine as Lady of Briarville.
You are like a son to me, Henry, and /
would fain see you settled before | 60"
The close Of the next week found
/ Henry Aylton in London. He had
\ fprpad his haal t1a IL -
ville-Briarville with its forest fragrance,
lite wild wood beauties, its simple, home
ly, country folk, and gone to that
great crowded city, which we can never
see without feeling somewhat sad, when
we think of the thousands who live and
die there uncared for and unknown.
He had paid his first visit to Lady Cor
don and in his honor she had gathered
to her house q select company of her
friends. At dinner chance placed him
next to his hostess, and, after some des-
ultory conversation, he said:
Lady Gordon, you promised to take
me to the opera; will you 90 this eve.
IT my guests are willing, and they
never lose an opportunity Of hearing
our favorite."
Later in the evening, when they were
seated in her ladyship's own especia
box, he asked impstlently il the one
singer he was longing to hear had sp
peared.
NO; wait. ! want you to hear he
voice before you see her face. Listen
she is beginning now"
With eyes bent over her bouquet, h,
listened, and over the hushed sudienc,
SWEET . tide of melody flooding tn,
whole house. Never had Henry Ayltol
heard voice like this.
1T is superb-nsgnifcentw he mur
mured; and he looked up. to find tear
In the eyes OF his companion.
From the face of Lady Gordon h,
turned his gaze upon the stage, and saw
the women whose singing had swed anC
hushed the multitude. She was wo
man radiantly beautiful, with all th,
ripe beauty Of womanhood truly CLOWN,
as Titan; and Henry Aylton looked
at her in amazement, ~ she stood ther,
in loose clinging robe of olive-hueC
silk, her sole ornament clusters OF early
primroses, which nestled at her breast
and in the dusky masses of her hair.
Well" said Lady Gordon, who wa
watching him with an amused smile
"are you satistied?'
Satisfied? She ia simply the mos
perfect woman have ever beheld; an,
her voice."
You shall speak to her tomorrow;
receive then, and she is coming"
And SO Henry Aylton went home, {,
dream of the little Corail he had ono,
known, and finally to wake with the re
frain Of the prima donna's song upoI
his lips.
AT Lady Gordon's "At Home" he wa
among the first arrivals, and was in du,
form introduced to the Signora Niccola
whom he managed TO engross during TIA,
greater part Of her stay, He was not dis
appointed This woman was no stag,
beauty, no singing actress; she was patri
clan TO the core, and this alone PLEASED
him. From that afternoon the heir o
Briarville never missed his seat at tn,
opera or his chance of seeing the prin.
donna to her carriage. He WAS at he
side in the "Row." at crowded assem-
blies, at qsiet Richmond gatherings, anC
his friends averred he was hard hit,
and wondered what fate was in store fol
him. Scores of suitors had she, men o.
wealth and rank; but she refused all
and in way which allowed them to re
tain no hope. To Henry Aylton hel
manner was different. In his society
she was not the proud imperious woman
she was TO others; to him the viole
eyes were turned with softer glance
and the voice rang with fuller, cleare
music.
One day, late in the season, they wen
TO brilliant fete Of Lady Gordons's
and somehow they had been left alon,
in one of the cool glades of her Rich
mond villa. This opportunity wa
seized by Henry Aylton in which t.
learn his fate. Long he pleaded, but NJ
answer came. She stood motionless
looking across the velvet sweep of the
lawn, a wistful, far-away look in hel
eyes. She had gone back to the time
when she had felt the same warm finger,
clasp her own, and seen the same eye.
looking into hers. Then she listened
A. Eve might have listened to the tale
first told in Eden-that old, old story o
Love. When he ended she spoke:
"Mr. Aylton, it cannot be. love you
Yes, / cannot deny that; but you mus
wed with one whose clothes and whose
food have not been gained by the money
she has earned"
"Hush!' he answered, "my darling
What is that to me? That you love ne
is sufficient. Therefore | claim you, my
own. Who shall dare say me nsy?"
He took the queenly form into his
arms, and on the rich crimson lips laid
| the first kiss of love they had ever re.