The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-04-22
LESLEY AND IRENE.
BY MARY REED cRowELL.


face-such piteous, hunted look in the
intensely beautiful gray eyes-such
visible, desperate attempt at self-control,
how deeply his words had cut home.
But Paine Alliger saw the white
pitiful face, and the anguished eyes,
and the proud, compressed lips that were
paler than he ever had seen them
sweet, luscious lips he had kissed again
and again-and rather enjoyed the
knowledge of his influence over her.
She had been SO proud at the first, 50
reserved and unapproachable, that Al
liger had been Immediately thrown
upon entirely new resources in order
to form an acquaintance with her.
Then very gradually, as an icicle
slowly melts beneath the suddenly warm
rays Of spring-like winter-day sun,
she had grown into something more than
an acquaintance, yet less than friend,
until by degrees it had grown to this
that Paine Alliger had come TO be all
the world to her.
He had been an ardent, persistent
wooer. He had been Just the one man
who ever cculd have hoped to touch
Irene Iredelrs he art-the first, the last, 1,
the only one-and once won, her icy
hauteur was banished forever towards
him, and she unhesitatingly gave him
al the srout love and ad0ration of whiCh
only such natures as hers are capable.
There had been one little, little month
OF blessedne;s, in which II seemed to her
80 much of perfect content ives COM
pressed that 1t was hardly less than
dangerous to her after-peaoe to accept it.
And then, suddenly, sharply, Just like a
fash of Lightning from a sky apparently
free OF storm, because the dark, rolling
clouds only happen to be little beyond
ones range of v.sion-just so startliDgly
and uDawares did it come to her-Palne
Alliger's detection.
For he had come, he had seen, he had
sworn 10 be conqueror, and he had con.
qusred, thoroughly, wholly, unreser
v"d'v; and then the sweets palled on hil
taste.
de was thoroughly selfish man, and
perhaps as handsome man as ever was
which two conditions so often 90 to
gether. He was thoroughly refined
too, and 80 mercilessly cruel in hi
aesthetic tastes. He was masterful-
none other than a prince among hi.
fellows could have touched Irene Ire
delps heart-and he had been eager
and devoted in his chase after this girl
heart, more than was his won't
But now he was tired of it. Ono,
won, his prize lost its value, and thi
baughty, perfect woman-a pur,
jewel, worthy the possession of the bes
in the land-was very quietly, in a yer,
gentlemanly way, discarded.
1t was characteristic of the man tha
he went to her and told her what
thousand other men would have sbrunl
from doing personally. But Paine ALI
ger wanted TO see how sne would look
how she would act, hear what she woul,
say, when he told her, in his caressing
pitying, penitent way, how his hear
had ruled his head, how her rare sweet
ness and charming influence had mad
him forget his duty, his honor; how
anguishful as it was 10 him, how agoni,
ing to her, he felt it was none the les
his clear duty to 20 away from her fol
ever, and return to the one who had
prior claim upon him-the fair woma
who, although she would take his name
could never touch his heart a. she ha
done.
1t was in some such strain as this tbs
he spoke to her, watching every shad
of change on her beautiful face, seein
the almost awful control she forced upo
herself. and, rather than otherwise, el
joyingit.
Tnen, when he had finished, 81
looked up to him with a steady, angus
full look-with piteous, hearth broke
look in her eyes, white despair in b
face-such Look as one might besto
upon dear, dead face, over which II
casket-lid Is to be forever closed d
next relentless moment.
1t must be as you say" she sal
brokenly-Irene Iredell, the haughtie
woman he ever had seen in ali his varil
experience. at has always been a. "
said with me, and if it is my fate to
left like this"
Then, ss il her old pride REBEL,
against the outcry of her woman
scorned love. she sharply hesitate
compressiDg her lips till. IL seemed
Alliger, as he stood Watching every c
pression, every gesture, every shade
paling color, MS physician watches I
ominous change on dying mans cou
tenance, that she never could part the
again. ~ ifA4L ~ i NJ
But that old pride struggled out
one swift, brief protest, and the 90
pressed lips opened in obedience.
perhaps l should be grateful to kn
this now. When you go back to I
other woman, / wish you joy of her. ,
But the sweet face was more dismay
and despairing than the voice was 5
castle, or the manner naughty. .F
Then he went away, with gentle, pi
..l ing adieux, when Irene would far ratl