The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1881-01-13
FOOLED.

where you may spend the summer
Now Iknowsof one which will surely
suit you-where | always pass the
warm months myself" And kindly
Mrs. Wilmington went on to speak sc
enthusiastically about the charms O.
"Wieve Hurst" that before we parteC
[ had promised to accompany her there
a few weeks later.
The time rolled around, and as I wa
ushered into Il cosy, old-fashioned par
lor, and noted the subdued harmony Q
its arrangements, acknowledged tina
my friend had not exaggerated whel
she. said that "Wieve Hurst was nota
all like ordinary boarding places.
Just then the door opened, anC
framed in its dark oak carving was :
young girl, in dress Of soft gray, with
her brown hair, little disheveled by
the wind, curling down over her shout
ders from beneath wide garden hat
the only spot of bright color about he
being the tiny knot of rose-hued ribbon
at her throat.
"Ah, here she is? Miss Carlisle, lie
me introduce you to Miss Christabel.
I started. Iknew that was the name
of our hostess, and my mind had pic
tured a tall. spare maiden lady like my
self
"Miss Christabel, this is the new
boarder-an old friend of mine.
Mrs Withington's eyes fairly beamed
and the diamond drops in her ears
seemed as if they glittered with sym
pathy, as with her head on one side she
enjoyed my astonished expression {
moment. Miss Christabel was evident
ly Il great favorite with her.
That was my first meeting with
sweet Violet Christabel. I learned af
terward from my friend that her father
had once been wealthy, but that hi:
money had gone through unwise spec
ulations, and that it was only through
the eNertions Of his daughter they ha,
since been enabled to live in comfort
There was another boarder who vii
figure in my story, and l will describe
him at once. His name was keatl
kimball, and he was staying at tn,
Hurst with an invalid mother. Hi
face interested me from the first
and though Mrs. Wilmington called
me romantic old maid for think
ing him handsome. l still cling to m,
opinion.
To be sure his expression had almos
too much gravity, and there were :
few deep lines carved by time an.
thought upon his brow; but it was
noble, powerful face, and no one coult
look into the soft, dark depths of hi
eyes without feeling that faith reposel
in this man would never be regretted
soon saw that he felt no small de
gree of interest in the sweet youn!
creature whose fragile shoulders up
bore so bravely the responsibilities he
position entailed; and in my mind
had a nice little romance all planned
before I had been an inmate of tn,
Hurst many weeks. l did not dare t,
contide it to Mrs. Wilmington for fea
of her ridicule
Old MI. Chrlstabel seldom made hi
appearance, as he was not strong, an,
kept his own room pretty much all tn
time.
One day visitor came to the Hurst
and Miss Christabel introduced him t.
us as a Mr.. Dacre. He was rattle
young and stylish in his appearance
but something made me take dislik
to him; and when in confidence Mrs
Wilmington told me that our youn,
hostess was betrothed to him, and
saw my air castles thus overthrown
my dislike did not lessen. But, if i
were true, I made up my mind tina
they were the strangest pair of lover
my old eyes had ever rested upon. II,
was very devoted, but it seemed to M
the girl shrank from his attentions
and yet she did not avoid him. Alto
gether l could not understand it,
One afternoon | was seated in tn
bay window, hidden by the lace drape
ries, idly looking out, when the sitting
room door opened and two persons en-
tered, and before l could make m,
presence known voice recognized
as Mr.. Kimball's fell on my ear.
Violet, tell me the truth Can i
be that you are engaged to thi
Dacre?" Without giving her time t,
reply, he went on hurriedly: "Only
| short time ago you did not chide m,
when told you Of my love, but let m,
leave you with the blessed hope that i
! was returned. Why is it that you ar,
so changed? Must l think that yo,
are that false, cruel thing--a co
quette -
Then Miss Christabel's low voice an
swered with CULVER of pain:
ooh, do not, Mr.. kimball, do no
speak thus, for l am Robert Dacre'
betrothed wife"
There was moments silence; thel
he said passionately:
Farewell to faith in woman, | se
it all. You loved me when l was Will
you, but when l was obliged to leav,
you to go to a sick mother in foreign
land, Weather sutton came and-wa
acceptedr
| He had gone; and then 1 heard
bitter, sobbing cry, and hurrying from
my window nook was just in time t.
catch the slight, fainting form and t,
pillow the young head upon my bosom
l did not understand it, but l knew
there was some mystery. When sh,
came to I read her look of surprise a
seeing ME there, and told her how i
had happened and what l had over
heard.
After that Violet and 1 were no long
er mere strangers, and the more cam,
to know her true. womanly character
the more admired and loved her, anC
the stronger grew my wonder that sht
could slight such man as keatf
kimball for the foppish, snpercilious
Roger Dacre. But | had no right tt
interfere. Mr.. Kimba1l had left the
Hurst with his mt therssome time ago
| My wealthy friend, little prosaic Mrs
Wilmington, knew nothing of what haG
passed; and the days glided by une-
ventfully, until, to my great disgust
Mr.. Dacre came again. l often won.
dered if he noticed Violet's shrinking
from him: if he did he made no sign
but seemed quite content with things as
| they were. One night. soon after he