Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1880-11-18
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cf youth. but who il siill beautiful with
sanity beauty. By her side j girl
: Fsdiant SIS. EsSfy eye =
turned Upon BET. And oh who could
bs more besntiful' Dressed in the
palest shade Of blue silk. with an over
dress of white lace. Iooped with flesh
color roses; her hair. lovely golden.
fixed 10 pufs and curls, encircIed by .
wreath Of small pink roses; her cheek
outrivaIing the rose in its varying color;
her eyes blue and bright as stars. She
wears no jewelry except a wondrous
diamond cross that flashes upon her
lovely neck She Is a thing Of light
and well may every eye be upon her.
Sir Walter advances with outstretched
hands:
"Mrs. Raymond. my dear friend, how
glad / am TO see you. But is this. can
this be little Evelyn. my little sweet
heart, now grown to a beautiful wo-
man -
"Yes. Sir Walter, this is Evelyn.
Speak, my child. to Sir Walter Ridg-
ley. You remember him when you
were a little child :"
"Oh yes, Sir Walter, ofcourse I re-
member you. But u has been long
time since we met. You were only a
boy and ] a little girl much younger.
But you have changed much since then. !"
and the beautiful violeteyes were turned
to him, and,he smiled, oh so sweetIy,
that it made the color deepen upon her
cheek. He turned to Lady Geraldine.
Excuse me for seeming 10 forget you,
my fair cousin. ! was SO surprised at
seeing these old friends Of mine whom
| have not mes Tor years. Lea me In
troduce them 70 you--Mrs. Raymond.
RAYMOND"
Lady Geraldine smiled graciousIy and
bowed. She could afford TO smile on
all, for she was the daughter OF the
Earl of AIsuFdant. and the afFianced
bride OF Sir Walter RidgIey. al have
heard Sir Walter speak of you both, and
am glad to have met you"
eve are also glad TO have met you,
Lady Geraldine" Mrs. Raymond said.
Just at that moment the band COM
menced playing a waltz. A gentleman
came TO claim Lady Geraldine as bis
partner, and Sir Walter asked Evelyn
to dance with him. She readily assent
ed, aud soon they were flying through
the dance with the grace that Terpsi-
chore might envy. The admiration Of the
room. Mrs. Raymond looked with
pride upon her child, and secret graf
iication filled her heart at the sensa-
ton she was creating.
When the dance was over, with few
soft words that made her heart thrill
with pleasure, Sir Walter led her to hel
mother and brought other partners and
introduced her 10 them. He danced with
her several times after, and when other.
were with her, tor she was sought By
all, he would whisper words Of love
that ere.enly intended for her. AnC
she, poor innocent child as she was
thought they were in earnest. and wher
that ball ,elo~ed Evelyn Raymond
went home with Sir Walter Ridgley'i
image so firmly engravened upon be
heart that neither time nol change eouls
ever erase it.
And was Lady Geraldine jealous o
Sir Walters attention? OH no. Sh'
was too beautiful and TOO conscious o
her beauty and station to be jealous o
any one. And she kad not q sensitlv.
nature. She loved Sir Walter as mucI
ss she could love any one. and wa
vain enough to think that her image wa
she only one ever in has heart.
For several days after The party, ga,
throng was ASSEMBLED Al Ridgely Man
or, bit when the guests had gone. Lad,
Geraldine with her father left for Italy
where she was TO spend her Winter
The Spring and Summer she would ira
Il
vel, and some time The next Fall sh
would marry. SIR Walter Ridgley.
When the guests had gone. Sir Wal
ter felt lonely. and being naturally Of
sOciabIe disposition. he visited all th
neighbors around, and amongst then
Mrs. Raymond, who lived near tb
Manor. He loved to see Evelyn; he
radiant beauty had charmed him, an
although engaged to another, yet b
would sit for hours and pour words 9
love in that girls ears. words that hs
neither sense nor meaning ia them, an
she unconscious Of his engagement. BE-
] lieved hem, believed that be vas !