The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-02-03
Nobody had noticed their

absence but Lucy.
"You want bit of color about you"
she said, coolly, to Nab, and pinned
pink wild-rose on her left shoulder.
And now, day by day, All grew absent
minded, and was exceedingly alive to the
presence or absence of Miss Devereux.
If she were absent, he must know where
she was. If present, he made incOherent
replies to everybody else, and was like
the needle to the magnet, whatever the
young lady's movements were.
If she lounged. he noticed that the
sun shone in her eyes, and closed blind.
II she sang, he turned the leaves OF her
music; if she walked the piazza, he
would urge that the rooms were to warm
and find seat without.
Once or twice he caught himself up in
neglecting Lucy and attending Nab, but
the spell was too strong.
The fascination which this girl of a
wanton heart exerted he succumbed to
almost unconsciously. And the siren
smiled and smiled, and drew him on I'M
til there came feverish light in Lucy's
blue eyes and her cheeks grew thin with
the fear she yet repealed.
Yes. it was dangerous for all three.
this playing with edged tools. 1t was
true that the love between Allen and her.
self was not founded on mere fancy, but
in a mutual confidence, esteem and
sweet congeniality. If she had known
it to be fancy she would have had no
confidence in it.
For three years they had known each
other we'll, and the tie had even grown
stronger. She had often unused on this,
and, indeed, made it the strong point in
her acceptance of Allen Stopford.
She felt herself very young-but nine
teen-when called to decide this matter;
she had long been motherless. From the
depth of her heart to the heights Of her
wisdom she sounded herself before she
replied to him, and the expression OF her
face at that moment, Allen never forgot.
Eye to eye and heart to heart they
pledged each other. and now-could
Allen forget?
Apparently he had forgotten. She
could not accuse him of rudeness toward
herself-that was impossible to his ma
ture-or selfishness; but that he was
drawn from her the most casual eye
could see. And Mab's fortnight had al
ready heightened to three weeks.
"We'll have tea ON the lawn to-
night, Lucy" said Aunt Lucretla. the
house-keeper at Rosehome. 1T IS
such a very warm night, it will be pleas
ant"
"As you please, duntie; it makes no
difference to me. l shall take no tea; L
have severe headache"
Aunt Lucretia went indoors, but some
one else stood beside the hammock
where Lucy lay. She turned her head
and looked into Mab's hooking dark
eyes.
Confess you are fretting yourself sick
about Mr.. Stopford. Why don't you send
me home?" she asked.
"Allen does not love you, Nab. He
will never tell you that he does, replied
Lucy, quickly, and with dignity, though
there was sharp contraction Of her del
icate features.
Nab saw, perhaps experienced, apang
of remorse-for SHE sincerely liked her
gentle cousin; but she was full of a
wicked exultation, so strong was her
passion for power.
She turned and strolled down the
gravel walk among the cyprus vines,
flirting her pink fan, and Allen saw and
came from his seat in the avenue, with
Sultan, his great bowling hound, at his
heels.
When tea was served, he brought
Lucy cup of the fragrant beverage
and the cologne flask, and then he
was gone down the cyprus walk with
Nab.
The twilight deepened; whip-poor-
will called the scent of flowers stole up
from the beds and from among the vines.
Lucy lay alone in the hammock, and
few tears, which she scorned, would have
their way.
She sat up, at last. Apparently Allen
and Nab had left the garden; no one was
in sight. It's recesses looked cool and
dewy; perhaps they would cease the
throbbing of her temples.
She slipped from the hammock and
went down the piazza steps, one little
white kitten following and rolling about
her feet.
The fireflies starred cyprus vines; the
birds twitted contentedly over their
June nests; some beautiful evening
blooming flowers filed the air with
heavenly sweetness.
Lucy dragged herself slowly along
with half guilty feeling that this beauty
was so little to her. She was not in har-
mony with its peace; the stilluess irri-
tated her.
Suddenly it was broken by voices
which stole gently upon her ear. She
could see no one, but she recognized
Mab's tones.
al oh ovvI-