South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1881-09-30
They were unfettered, unincum5ered,
and in every way splendid patri.

and in every way splendid patri.
mony.
had turned away from this fieeting
glimpse among the great folks, my old
brain filled with its idle dreams Of the
future, when my eyes Glanced to fall
upon one who, like myself, was en-
crossed in the animated.scene beyond
us. 1t was Miss Flo's friend; but oh,
how changed.
The mask had fallen from her beau
tiful face. The great black eyes, fair
~ scintillating with suppressed feeling
were fixed upon those two who moved
in such perfect harmony to the music.
A drop of blood was on her scarlet lin
where her little white tooth had rested
One small hand was involuntarily
cleuched. Her mouth moved but no
sound issued from it.
stood transtixed, a strange, cold
shiver running through me. 1t was
this fury whom Miss Flo, gentle and
unconscious regarded as her dearest
friend.
OF what stuff might be made her
dearest foe? | remembered then the
look had seen these same ewes fix
upon the jewels. Was she envious of
my young lady's fortune? What dan.
ger might not threaten her through
this beautiful pantheress? and yet how
dared l, an humble servant. utter a
word of warning.
Even with these thoughts passing
in quick succession through my mind,
there was so sudden and instantaneous
a change over Miss Revere's express.
ion that could scarce recall the 9th.
er except rs the result of some hidden
conluring of my own fancy.
Miss Flo was coming towards her
leaning on Mr.. Earle's arm.
returned TO my duties with hea.
Wy heart. | felt a shadow of i'll was
pending over us, yet almost forgot
1t next day, when my young lady's
formal engagement to Mr.. Earle was
announced. So loved and protected,
what possible harm could come to her,
even through u woman's malice?
All, my unspoken question remain
cd not long unanswered! 1t had been
all too natural for these two Young
heads to flow toward each other, obey
ing the lie mpulse OF both. They
had loved each other as children: they
knew each other as though the bond
OF brotherhood and sisterhood united
them; their memories circled around
the same spot, were haunted by the
same objects.
1t was the natural sequence, w hich
all had anticipated. Therefore, save
that Mr.. Earle was with Us even more
constantly than of old, aud that there
was a hew flush on Miss Flo's cheeks.
a softer, tenderer light in her blue
eyes, 1t was hard to realize any change.
But one was impending less diff cult
OF realization. The lovers had con.
slant companion in the person of my
yonng lady's friend. At first Mr..
Earle seemed TO dislike her, but Miss
flo's sweet influence and his own
courtesy led him first to conceal this
and later to overcome it.
Miss Flo's sweet influence an his
own courtesy, | have said: bnt there
was more potent reason in Miss Re.
vere's marvellous fascination. There
was not one i'll the whole household il
escaped, save myself, and ever. | had
TO pull myself NJ several times with 4
sharp turn lest L, too, should be blind
cd by its glamour But it wasn't my
old eyes with which she had to deal.
Miss Flo, all trusting and unsuspi.
cious, threw the two she loved so well
constantly together.
you must like each other for nv
sake she would say.
Is the danger ever so threatening
az when it falls on those who dream
not il is near? The sorceress had the
young master tightly in her coil ere he
dreamed that even a sill<en thread en-.
fettered him. lie struggled Their to
be free. The full horror OF it all o.
overwhelmed him; he grew pale and
haggard-eyed.
But tighter and tighter she drew
the bonds, and like a bird fascinated
by the serpent, step by step he ap.
P'OdCueQ tpe magic influence OF hei
sway.
Sometimes she would flash a sudden
bewildering smile into bis eyes; some
times she would assume q pcnsivc
coyness; sometimes n strange thrill oil
passion or grief would seem to sway
! her.
One of her most wonderful attrac.
tons was her voice. Even in speak.
ing one seemed TO listen to low music
but in singing it ranged the gamut Of
human emotion.
One evening-it wns in the twilight
Miss Flo and Mr.. Earle were sitting
together, on the broad piazza outside
the long French windows, leading in
TO the drawing room, when Just with
IN, from the music room beyond, rose
the words of an imprisoned song.
L-g...