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

had to pull myself up several tiihes WIN "
sharp turn lest |, too, should be blinded by It's
glamour. But it wasn't my old eyes with
which she had TO deal.
Miss Flo, all trusting and unsuspicous,
threw the two she loved: SO well constantly TO-
gether
you must like each other tor my sake
| she would say.
Is the danger ever SO threatening as when 1t
! falls on those who dream not OF II so neal!
! The sorceress had the young master tightly III
her coil ere he dreamed that even a silken
thread enleitcred him. He struggled to be
tree. The inll 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 flash a sudden Devil
ldering smile into his eyes sometimes strange
thrill Of passion or griei 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 it ranged
the gamut of human emotion.
| One overnight was in twillght-Mlss Flo
and Mr. Earle were sitting together on the
broad piazza outside the long French windows,
leading into the drawingroom, when just
words of an imprisoned song.
From the dining room across the hall
could hear the measure, in lis wonderful mel
ody, and knew that che 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 it WAS intended sat with.
out, girls hand casped in his a girls far
head resting on his shoulder-a girls light
heart filled with his image.
| Did Miss Allne know that he would come
IN obedience to her call? Was ita mere &C
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 hid him, as her voice sud
denly died away in Il 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, faithless arms placed about her.
"Aline!" he SAID, my love, my love"
And then, uplifting the crimson lips to 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. l
glanced up Miss Flo was standing on the
threshold Of the music room. She had seen
ali. She would have fallen but that springng
forward, | caught her IN my old arms, as MIR.
Earle came hastily toward u.s.
forgot his rank and my position as 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 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 | saw lying in
the empty CRATE some torn scraps OF paper.
Mechanically, with a servants orderly instinct
| stopped and gathered them up, when my eye
was caught by the meaning of single SEN
tencc, THE heir of an adjoining estate"
OF course, a gentleman" would have gone
no further, but | was q 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
pcrs to my room, and there, bit by bit, with
hard work and infinite spelling, l maze them
almost a perfect whole.
Delay your coming q little longer, dear
father" wrote the traitress. THE fish is near
ly in my net. could laugh at his weakness
were there not such n stake. He is the hen
Of the adjoining estate, acres on acres OF which
can see from ny window as | write. | shall
be grand English lady yet, and then who
shall dare taunt me with being the daughter
of circus rider? We will wipe out tina,
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 l could
not have gloated more than | did over those
few words.
All, now indeed, now | could avengc my
young lady, and punish her recreant lover
But the time was not iyet ripe; l would wal
until he had gwen her his old and honoret
: name, and then would unmask her ere sht
had reapcd the glory, and to late for him Il
retrieve the shame.
: With this determination, went back to my
duties; but, passing through the hall, Mr.
> Earles voice, low and yet excited, caught my
ear
II have been mad" he said. "Aline, forgive
me for the wrong ! have done you; but 20,
must hear the truth. | know now that my
feeling toward you has been the intoSicatioI
of your fascination. Never can wipe from
my memory my darling's white, unconscious
!. face! | telt rs though had stabbed her t
" the heart, and knew then that my soul hat
i never wavercd in its allegiance, though you
beauty aud your marvellous power had turned
; my BRAIN. Allne, say that you do not low
me Do not make me feel that have marrct
! your life, toon
II cannot, Arthur cannot! oh, do no
i turn from mel l am doubly helpless now
/ Flo never again will care for yon. Let m
" teach you the lesson of love for me if indeed
i already you have not learned Itn'
1t was not my place. know that; but
; forgot my anger against him in listening t
u the few manly words which assured me h.
heart was still Miss Flo's and | strobe int
! the room and put the paper in his hands.
Z "Read this, Mr.. Arthur" said boldly, "bt
fore you answer her"
8 There is little more to be told. l mysel