The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1881-03-03

plness was aS dear 20 mo aB my own.
One evening--it was the 18th day Of
December-I shall never forget i'll
entered the dHawing-Goom somewhat
later than usual, and found them all
assembled; every one seemed gay and
Jean--so fair and lovely in her blue vel
vet dress and Scottish agates-how she
loved everything belonging to her coun-
try!-I felt that something was wrong.
/ could not tell what it was, but soon
found there was q cloud between her
and Norman. Miss Darst was at the
piano, and the beautiful strains of her
music Hoated through the roc-n. She
sat In the full glow Of the fire-light, her
rich olive dress, strewn over with golden
leaves, falling in heavy folds around her;
her purplish black hair was wound like q
caronel around the shapeIy head, while
tho blood-red rubies on her throat and
arms, and the smouldering fire in her
dark eyes, reminded me of Tintoret's
beautiful picture, 'the Temptation this
hidden fire and the reflected light of the
ruby armlet being the only hint given OF
the character of the real tempttress, who
Is otherwise represented as an angel Of
light.
"Lord de Clifton, his handsome Saxon
over Miss Darst, apparently absorbed in
her music; it was his passion, and here
tofore he and Jean, night after night,
had listened to it standing in the deep
embrasure Of the Doric window, almost
screened from view by the heavy CRIMSON
curtains. Now, Capt. Dalton sat by
jeans side; and, though the blue eyes
had lost much of their luminous light,
and the mobile mouth was trife
prouder, still no one who loved her less
than I did would notice any change;
pride spoke in every quiet glance, and
her sovereignty was exercised not only
over other hearts, but over her own emo
Gons. Only once feared she would be-
tray herself to the careless admirers
around her-as Miss DarSS finished the
last stanza of her song:
"'In love, IL love be love, II love be ours
Faith and unfaith can ne'er be equal powers
"Jean and [, in answer to o summons
from old Lady de Clifton. crossed near
the piano to seea new book OF engrav1ngs;
Lalla Darst's eyes shone like stars as she
finished and glanced up at Lord de Cliff
ton, whose blonde head almost touched
hers.
"'Does it remind you of the Alham-
bra? she whispered in her broken, musi-
cal English.
Joan heard the words, and saw
look Of anguish on her face such as few
women ever know. It was gone in mo-
ment, though, and no one noticed. Not
once during that-to me--long evening
did Norman de Clifton approach his
affianced bride; though Capt Dalton,
whom we oil believed to be engaged to
Lalla Darst. hovered around her most Of
the evening-his dark, Intelligent eyes
wearing a look of trouble almost as great
as Jeans.
" 1t was over at last; the good-nights
were spoken, and all had gone off to their
rooms save Jean and myself; we fingered
in the drawing-room, beside the bed Of
glowing Goals, for our usual talk-prom-
islng, as the domestics had all retired, to
extinguish the centre wax-lights before
we left, and not to trust them to the
drowsy old porter, who slumbered in his
chair by the hall door.
My darling knelt on the warm velvet
rug as soon as we were alone, and threw
her arms around me in her unhappi-
ness.
"'Oh, Elizabeth, she knew him in
Castle-and he never told me! They
loved each other before I ever saw him
she told me this evening of the happy
hours spent in the Alhambra, and how
they learned to love each other. Her
father took her away, and they never
met until Norman and L were betrothed.'
She shivered as she spoke, Shall keep
them apart? Oh, Bess, help me in my
troubled wringing her little white hands
piteously.
"I took her in my arms and held he1
close
"'Hush, Jean!' I said, in harsher tones
than ever before heard addressed to
her. Il do not believe one word Of it;
Lord de Clifton is a man of honor, and
loves you.-you only. The story this
woman has told you is the coinage of her
own brain. It is the diadem she covets
hot Norman de Clifton's heart
elizabeth, haven't you seen how he
has treated me? he has not been near
me this evening.
"I know it, love; have seen it all.
She had poisoned his mind, too. It will
all be right tomorrow, little one'
"'Bess, looking at me with startled,
eager eyes, If thought he loved her, /
would die! Do you understand? Iwould
die!
"Come, Jean, let us go to our rooms.
will not talk to you any more tonight.
You are not reasonable. Tomorrow you
will be happy again.
"l threw my arms around her and we
walked slowly through the wide. dimly>
lighted hall, past the sleeping porter
not yet retired-and on to the second
hall; as we approached the library door
we heard the subdued sound of voice,
and as we passed it heard Lalla Darst
distinctly say, in low, gentle tones
"'No, Senor de Clifton, no! cannot
give you the love you ask The fair
haired Scotch sonora loves you well, and
you must be true to your vows to her.
"With smothered, gasping cry Jean
started from my side md ran swiftly and
noislessly up the stairs and down the
lone corridor to her room Rafnra I