Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1881-06-15

shed.
Or for Love dead?
Chambers Journal.
PARTHEN0PE.
The dull yellow sunlight of the Eng.
lish autumn struggled vaguely through,
the silken curtains. Shadows lurked
everywhere in the richly furnished
apartment, but nowhere so heavily as
upon the faces of the two men who stood
regarding each other with gloomy eyes.
The younger, strongly built, hand
some man of thirty, confronted his COM
panion with look of open resentment.
The other, double his age, but erect and
stately as a pine, returned his gaze with
assumed calmness. His lip quivered
Perceptibly, however, and there was an
accent of rage in his voice as he said:
"You appear to forget that you are
my secretary, sir-my hired servant"
"And you would intimate that I also
forget that you are Sir Thomas Ulmer,"
was the bitter retort, lone of the worlds
leaven and something better, by Heaven s
vii, than we poor common mortals
Therefore, because I was born plain
Luke Talbot, am no match for your
daughter"
EXACTLY, sir" replied Sir Thomas;
s'your logic is excellent. My admiration
for your talent is only equaled by my
wonder at your impudence.
Z" You speak according to your code,
Sir Thomas, when you call my just as
sertion of the rights God has distributed
equally among all men by so Insulting q
name. But in your supreme prejudice
you forgot one important fact. Your
daughter loves me.
II do not forget that you assert it, "
was the sharp retort II do not believe
it, for I have better opinion of my
daughters good sense
"She has told me So, was the prompt
reply, "and can trust her,
'Indeed y said Sir Thomas, ironical-
~. "It has gone as far as that? It is
high time grain of sense were cast into
the atmosphere of foolery which you
have brought into this house with you.
There are laws in England made to pro-
tect weaklings like my daughter from
scoundrels like you. Be assured I shall
lodge you in the nearest jail if you pre-
sumo to breathe a word of this subject
again during the brief remainder of your
stay. Now leave the room.''
Talbot's face flushed holly.
"You are fool to threaten me-" he
cried, "when it is in my heart to put
you and your pompous pride out of the
world"
Il haven't a doubt you number assas-
Thomas coldly. cat the same time we
vii
please. Come here at 9 o'clock this
evening, present your accounts, receive
your salary, and get out of the house
within the hour, Orwell, will not
handy words with YOU"
Talbot glared at him fercely for
moment, and then, as if he really feared
that his temper would get the best of
him, he rushed out of the room. As he
opened the door, a woman dress whisked
quickly into an alcove in the corridor.
In his excitement Talbot passed on, IN
conscious that there had been a witness
to his interview with Sir Thomas.
At the foot of the stairs he was met by
young girl, who approached him with
pale and agitated face. She looked up
at him anxiously, and seeing the heavy
frown upon his forehead shrank back
from him murmuring TREMENDOUSLY:
"What did he say, Luke %
Say, answered Talbot, harshly, che |
heaped insults upon me, and ordered |
me out Of his house like mongrel
dog
"Poor Luke" said low sweet voice
behind them, and a tail, slender girl
came to his side, and took his hand with |
an air of compassion. "You are learn
ing the hard lesson which is as old as the |
world, that love has more sorrow than
joy in it. y
Eyes, Parthenope, returned Talbot,
more gently, "pray God when your turn
comes the lesson may not be as bitter as
nine"
The girl dropped his hand and averted
her face in silence. One rarely sees so
wide contrast between children of the
same parents as there was between the
two daughters of Sir Thomas Ulmer.
Pearl, the younger, was small and fra
gile of figure, with large timid violet
eyes, and pale gold hair. A sweet thing,
born to live all her life clnging child,
and to be the meek shadow of those she
loved. Parthenope, the elder, on the
other hand, was of grand proportions,
graceful as deer, with hair and eyes Of
a Moorish blackness. Her very move
ments were expressive of mental strength
and decision. In the old time she might
have been chosen by an emperor to be
his royal mate. As she stood beside
Talbot now, however, there was
strange air of submission in her atti-
tude.
"Help us, Parthenope, said the
younger sister, clinging about her neck.
" You can influence our father where I
should anger him: Speak for us, my sie-
ter. We love each other so.''
The elder sister looked down at her in
silence. There was pink spot in each
cheek, and hard expression about her
pale lips.
"What do you know of love?" she
said, in smothered voice.
CAL that woman can know" sobbed
Pearl.
Nothing" returned the other. al
most violently. Nothing of the agony,
the bitter reimbursement, the utter hope
lessness that have burned into woman S
heart before now, and may again. But"
she said, with sudden movement and
cold smile, II must leave the sentiment
to you and Luke, who are better Judges
than L. will try what can do with
father tonight
"You are true friend, Parthenope,"
said Talbot, warmly.
"Friend,'' she echoed, in strange
tone, "wait until the event proves my
friendship"
And she hurried away, leaving the
lovers to derive what comfort they might
from her promise of assistance.
In the vague hope that he might find
Sir Thomas more favorably disposed
toward him, Talbot repaired to the bar
onet's room that night at 9 o'clock. AS
he paused before the door to summon
his composure for what was likely to
prove an eventful interview, strange
sound, proceeding from the room, star
tied him. It was that of low deep
groan, followed by heavy fall. As he
turned the door knob there was a NUT
tering of voices and the tread of hasty
footsteps within. On entering the apart
ment terrible scene met his gaze. The