Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1880-12-23
a PIECE OF RIBBON.

IL was 8 pr6tty tH6co 04 "
rare combioation Of two utterly
disslmilar colors. 1t was narrow,
not three fourths of an inch vice,
of a bright. light blue pink rose
buds dotted at regular Inter vais
along it. It was slightly mnssed
on both ends, and in the ceatse
we're tgo pin holes. &t
And that Was what Archer De-
levan Was caressing so f"ndly; the
ribbon that still bore the traces OF
having been tied around Maude
Lsicester's white throat by her
dainty fingers ,.5,.... -
/. Iss- ~a- ti:-> last person ,,you
would have selected FROM = crowd
to be the mau who had romance;
not that Ae vas NOT handsome, for
Archer Delevau was as splendid a
specimen of maukind as woman
could have desired; uo. that hs
was not full OF courtly grace ana
hfgnihed bearing, Tor he we've both
those charms as prince OF the
blood royal might have done: /: but
i: was because there vas settled
gloom apd shade in his brown
eyes, and s.ein willtulpess strong
| " marked around his lIps-ba,e
lips thev we're, aud rs perfect as
Apolio's.
There were very few people iu
this world but thai would haVe dc
clared NJ. Delevan to be utterly
demented, had they seen him tba
stormy wIutry night, with all The
would locked out from the warmth
and .nagnifeence OF his bachelor
chambers.
1t WAS certainly very uuto va, d
thing fer Il snar like Archer Dele-
y,n to do--a man who was AS rich
almost as failed C,9 sus. who had
but to ask them, TO hHyo any-peI-
hsps all of hts fair f,Iends falt III
his arms. and bless him for The
opportunity he had given them OF
beng Archer Dclevan's wife.
But all his wealth, style, posi-
ton aud infnence would have
weighed light in the scales against
that tiny thr"atiet of piDk-bndded
azure silk. and that Was what b.
realiz-9 Hs ha sat beside his Hiar-
BILE topped centre table, with n
dark, gloomy frown intensifying
in his eyes, aud his Whole frame
trembling from the passion Of the
kisses he poured on that perfu,ned
toy.
1t vas not SO much Of romance
after all, the story of tnat ripbnn,
ouly inasmuch rs Mr.. Delevan
uursed and cherished it.
Ten years back, when he had
bern moneyIe less and naineles~, and
altogether nobody, a gi,i of fttee"
had Iaughingly given him, at his
inpassioned request, this "trip OF
silk. warm from her shapeiy throat
He had only seen twenty two
years then, aud had pleaded with
! all his Dafive eloquencs for Maude
Leicester = lave aud she had been
SO witehipgly coy, YET not discour-
aging. as she laughlngly gave him
the love-token, and assured him it
WAS OF far more value than her
heart.
Suddenly the Leicesters van
ished from under his very eyes,
and be was lef, with only his new
er-dyiug memory of the violet
eyed beauty, and this sole link.
Aud tonight Archer Delevan was
yearning tor her whom be wor-
shipped with all bis soul.
'Well Maude, after a two years
seise, | have won the guerdon of
victory. See 2
ALMA Verener held up her hand
where a cluster diamond ing
sparkled in the morning sunlight
that came streaming in the east
oay-wiudo~ at Yerener. Villa.
a pale shadow gathered around
Maude Delcesters mouth, as she
saw the engagement ring.
'And | have been weak enough
to dream OF him all these long ten
years.
There vas q malicious sparkle in
Alma blue eyes, rs che listened
to the Weary wordsd coufesslon.
Il told y"nz chsr .Dei.yaD .v.s
'nots-theA mana tosfeHeiuber suoh
boylsh folly. .EoT- EIYF
She did not say the words that
might have gwen such gladness to
this young girls heart; she did not
thiuk 1t worth whtle to repeat
what Archer .Delevan had saia to
her, when. in qnle' matter OF fact
way, he had asked her to be his
wife. t'.'as.H '-9 @-fF . A2ta Wcd
Lean o1er you ooly>a second
love, Miss Vereuer, he said grave
~ q love that perhaps springs
from the loneliness and disappoiut
5nent Iyhaye ever exps,lenced since
| lost Maude Leicester. Ii yuu
think / am vorihs ha ving, viii YOU
take me, and teach me to forget
her ?"
Ah,. wasn't he worth baviug.
even though be had told her hated