, 1881-12-23

=
the tall masts OF the shipping tapered
skyward.
Down the street an Italian organ-man
was grinding out a gay little waltz which
held a suggestion Of tears under its light
melody.
As l paused for moment in the cen
ter o. the room, Lord Hadly stroiled
about the corner of the house and halted
beside Arvie's hammock.
She smiled half shyly at him but look
ed away directly, and faint rose-plnk
crept slowly TO her brow.
NV heart gave a wild throb as | watch
ed Hadly; for, if ever L saw strong and
passionate love, it was then and there III
Lord Hadly's eyes as they dwelt upon
my sisters face.
Whom the gods love, die young,
little girl, he said, softly, yet much as
he might have addressed a child: Let
us hope you may be an exception. can
imagine nothing more cruel than that
your life, so sinless and happy, should be
ended in your youth.
He drew the tips of his fingers lightly
over her fair hair, an6 then passed on
down the steps and across the lawn to
the street.
Aryie looked after him with strange
new sorrow, unlike anything l had ever
seen before in her lovely eyes, and then
making n little passionate gesture with
both hands she burst into tears.
ran-actuully ran out OF the parlor
and up to my room in order to collect
my wits. felt stunned with horror and
amazement. WHAT terrible thing had
come upon MS, growing so silently all
through the long, bright summer days
Lord HudIy and Arvie loved each other
i was sure OF it Hadly was too hon
orable a man IL break his engagemeh 1T
with Blanche and If he would-would
I desire to wreck the happiness of one
sister to make that of another? Would
Arvie herself accept such sacrifice?
1t seemed crul thing-that Arvie,
whom l had always hoped to keep from
heart-aehe, should have this great sorrow
come to her so young.
But at dinner she seemed so perfectly
natural, with her quantity saucy speeches
and merry girlish laugh at Lord Hadly S
compliments, that / began to think l
had made mistake, and mentally chided
myself for being a soft-headed old maid
who saw probable love affair IN every
sentimental incident.
Arvie had been rather indisposed for
two or three weeks, and doubtless Lord
Hadly's words touching the possibility
of an early death, had made her nervous.
That was ell assured myself, and put
the matter out of my mind.
A fortnight later came suddenly upon
them in the parlor. Lord Hadly held
Arvie clasped in his arms and was kiss
ing her swiftly and passionately on hair,
forehead, cheeks and lips, while the girl
with bushes. and softly stemmered re-
monstrances, was endeavoring to free
herself from his embrace.
NV face must have expressed my hor-
ror.
Arvie. looking up, saw me, and uttered
low cry. Lord Hadly's arms dropped
by his side, and my sister ran swiftly
from the room. I never saw her again
alive.
stayed to hear Hadly's confession
how Arvie's fresh girlish beauty had won
him from his allegiance to Blanche; how
he had fought desperately against the
change, but in vain.
He was very humble. He said he had
held himself to be an honorable man, but
he had overrated his own strength; he
could no more have resisted the tempta-
| ton to take Arvie once into his arms and
kiss her sweet little face, than he could
have arrested the course of tornado.
He would tell Blanche, and go away.
He made no attempt to defend himself.
He seemed utterly humbled and
| broken.
/ left him, for I wished to talk with
Arvis; but could not find her. She was
neither in the house nor about the
grounds.
Toward night they brought her up
from the shore-my darling little sister!
Wet, and white, and still, with a beauti-
| full, solemn smile on the fair young face
that would flush no more beneath low
ers caresses.
| Some bathers had found her not far
from the shore; there were none to say
| whether it was an accident or-suiclde.
Hadiy was quite beside himself. He
cried like child, and nearly tainted
away at the sight of Aryie's still, white
| face. OF course the truth came out then,
and to my surprise, Blanche took 1t very
| quietly. We were all calmer than Hadly.
| Our terrible bereavement was SO strange
| and sudden that we were quiet from very
/ dumb dismay at first. Tears, a blessed
relief, came later.
Lord Hadly went away, with one little
silken curl, which l cut from our dar-
ling's head for him, next his heart. L
saw him, many years later, gray, care
worn looking man, who hal never mar
ried. Blanche became the wife of a
wealthy banker; and L, q lonely old maid,
! live at home with father and mother, and
recall the days that are forever gone.
John PlOWman's Proverbs.