The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1881-10-01

I sharp turn lest ], too, should be blinded by its
glamour But it wasn't my old eyes with
, which she had 10 deal.
, Miss Flo, all trusting and unsuspiclous
threw the two she lOvod:so well constantly TO-
gether. =.
You must like each other Tor my sake,
She would say.
; Is the danger ever so threatening Us when II
falls on those who dream not OF 1t SO near
The sorccrcss had the young master tightly IN
her coil ere he dreamed that even silken
thread enlettcrcd him. He struggled to be
! tree. The tull horror Of it all overwhelmed
him he grew pale and haggard.cyed
But tighter and tighter she drew the bonds,
and like bird fascinated by the serpent step
by step he approached the magic influence OF
her sway.
Sometimes she would fash sudden Devil.
dering smile into his eyes sometimes a strange
thrill Of passion or grlei would seem to sway
her.
One of her most wonderful attractions was
her voice. Even in speaking, one seemed to
listen TO low music, put in singing 1t ranged
the gamut Of human emotion.
| One overnight was In twillght-Mss Flo
and MIR. Earle were sitting together on the
broad piazza outside the long French windows,
leading into the drawing room, when just
within, from the music room beyond, rose the
words Of m imprisoned song.
/ From the dining room across the hall
could hear the measure, in It's wonderful mel.
ody, and knew that she who sang 1t was sing
to one who could not be deaf 10 the appeal the
words conveyed.
Higher and higher rose the exquisite voice,
trembling with its weight Of passion and he
for whose ear alone 1t WIS intended sat with
out girls hand clasped in his girls fair
| head resting on his shoulder girls light
heart filled with his image
| Did Miss Allne know that he would come
IN obedience to her call? Was it a mere ac-
cident which summoned Miss Flo from his
side?
| However that may be- when left alone, with
slow, reluctant movement he rose, and passing
through the open window, walked, with I'M
certain steps into the room beyond. The sing
or sang on.
| Did she see that figure standing still and
silent just beyond the threshold. Perhaps the
evening shadows hld him. "a her voice sud
denly died away in choking sob, end her
head bent forward on the keys.
| Instantly he was by her side. Instantly he
had raised her head 10 his breast with his
strong, faithcss arms placed about her
"Aiincw he SAID, my love- my Lowell"
| And then, uplifting the crimson lips 10 his,
he bent and kissed them.
| | WAS busy with my silver, knowing naught
of this, but wondering how | might unfold to
my young mistress my suspicious, when |
heard close beside me low startled cry.
glanced up Miss Flo was standing on the
threshold Of the music room. She had seen
ali She would have fallen but that springing
forward, | caught her IN my old arms, as MIR.
Earle came hastily toward US.
| | forgot his rank and my position rs waved
him off; but even in my bitter indignation
against HIM felt for what he suffered when
saw the white look OF misery on his young,
handsome face.
Up the broad stairs l carried my Young lady
to her room and laid her on her couch Then
her mother came and left her; but AZ | pass
ed through the room beyond l saw lying in
the empty CRATE some torn scraps of paper.
Mechanically, with servants orderly instinct,
| stopped and gathered them up, when my eye
was caught by the meaning of single SEN
tcncc, "Thc heir of an adjoining estate"
| OF course, a gentleman" would have gone
no further, but was mere servant, with the
interests of the family whom | had served
more than two-score years, over and beyond
all else.
carefully carried the little handful Of pa
pers to my room, and there, bit Ivy bit, with
hard work and infinite spelling, maze them
almost perfect whole.
Dclay your u lulu lVuSCI,
father wrote the traitress. 1.-THE fish is near.
ly in my net. could laugh at his weakness
were there not such n stake He is the heir
Of the adjoining estate, acres on acres of which
can see from my window rs | write. | shall
be grand English lady yet, and then who
shall dare taunt me with being the daughter
of a circus ridery We will wipe out that
stain, on my mothers side, and you shall have
your reward for all the sacrifices you have
made for me-"
Had | discovered a vein OF gold could
not have gloated more than | did over those
few words.
All, now indeed, now | could avenge my
young lady and punish her recreant lover
But the time was not Iyet ripe; would wait
until he had gwen her his old and honored
name, and then would unmask her ere she
had reapcd the glory, and to late for him to
retrieve the shame.
With this determination, went back to my
duties but passing through the hall, Mr.,
Earle's voice, low and yet excited, caught my
ear,
II have been mad, ;" he said. "Aline, forgive
me for the wrong have done you; but you
must hear the truth. | know now that my
feeling toward you has been the intoSication |
of your fascination Never can wipe from
my memory my darling's white unconscious
face! | ielt rs though had stabbed her to
the heart; and knew then that my soul had
never wavercd in its allegiance, though your
beauty and your marvellous power had turned
my BRAIN. Allnc say that you do not love
me. Do not make me feel that have marred
your life, toor
II cannot, Arthur cannot! Oh, do not
turn from me! am doubly helpless now
Flo never again wall care for yon Let me
teach you the lesson of love for me if indeed
already you have not learned IT."
twas not my place. know that; but |
forgot my anger against him in listening to
the few manly words which assured me his |
heart was still Miss Flos, and / strobe into
the room and put the paper in his hands.
"Read this, Mr.. Arthur" SAID boldly, "be.
fore you answer her"
There is little more to be told | myself