Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1881-08-18

scintillating with suppressed feeling,
were fixed upon the two who moved in
such perfect harmony with the music.
A drop of blood was on her scarlet lip.
where her little white teeth had rested
One small hand was involuntarily
clenched Her mouth moved, but no
sound issued from it.
stood transfixed, a cold SILVER run
ming through me. 1t was this fury whom
Miss Flo, gentle and unconscious, re-
garded as her dearest friend.
OF what stuff might be made her
dearest foe? I remembered then the
look l had seen these same eyes fix up
on the Jewels. Was she envious of my
young lady's fortune? What danger
might not threaten her through this
beautiful pantneress? And yet, how
dared | an humble servant, utter a word
of warning?
Even with these thoughts passing in
quick succession through my mind,
there was so sudden and instantaneous
a change swept over Miss Revere's ex-
preston that | could scarce recall the
other, except as the result Of some
hideous conjuring of my own fancy.
Miss Flo was coming toward her,
leaning on Mr.. Earle's arm.
returned to my duties with a heavy
heart. l felt shadow of i'll was pend
ing over us, yet almost forgot it next
day, when my young lady's formal en-
gagement to Mr.. Earle was announced.
So loved and protected, what possible
harm could come to her, even through
Woman's malice?
All, my unspoken question remained
not long unanswered 1t had been all
! too natural for these too young hearts
to flow toward each other, oheying the
life impulse of both. They had loved
each other as children; they knew each
other as though the bond Of brotherhood
and sisterhood united them; their
memories circled around the same
spot, were haunted by the same OBJ
jects.
1t was the natual sequence, which all
had anticipated. Therefore, save Mr..
Earle was with us more constantly than
of old, and that there was a new flush
on Miss FlO's cheek, a softer. a tender
er light in her blue eyes, twas hard to
realize any change. But one was pend
less difficult of realization. The lovers
had 3, constant companion in the per-
son of my young lady's friend. At
first Mr.. Earle seemed to dislike her;
but Miss Flo's sweet influence and his
own courtesy led him first to conceal
this, and later to overcome it.
Miss Flo's sweet influence and his
own courtesy, I have said; but there
was a more potent reason still IN Miss
Revere's marvellous fascination. There
was not one in the whole household it
escaped, save myself, and even [ had to
pull myself up many times with a
sharp turn lest [, too, should be blinded
| by its glamour. But it was not my old
eyes with which she had to deal.
Miss Flo, all trusting and unsuspici-
Gus, threw the two she loved constantly
together.
"You must like each other for my
sake, . she would say.
Is danger ever so threatening as when
it falls on those who dream not II is near
The sorceress had the young master
tightly in her coil ere he dreamed that
even silken thread had enfettered
him. He struggled then to be free. The
| full horror of it all overwhelmed him
he grew pale and haggard-eyed.
| 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
bewildering smile into his eyes; some
times she would assume a pensive
| cOyness; sometimes a strange thrill OF
passionate grief would seem to sway
her
One of her most wonderful attrac-
tions was her voice. Even in speaking
one seemed to listen to low music, but
in singing it ranged the gamut of hu,
man emotion.
One evening-it was in the twilight
Miss Flo and Mr.. Earle were sitting
together, on the broad piazza outside
the long French windows leading into
the drawing-room, when just within
from the MUSHROOM beyond, arose
the words of an imprisoned song.
From the dining-rcom across the
hail. | could hear the measure, in It's
wonderful melody, and knew that she
who sang it was singing to but one
who could not be deaf to the appea
the words conveyed.
Higher and higher rose the exquisite
voice, trembling with its weight o.
passion; and he for whose ear alone il
was intended, sat without, girls fail
hand clasped in his-a girls fair head
resting on his shoulder-a girls light
heart filled with his image.
Did Miss Aline know that he wOulC
come in obedience to her call? Was i
a mere accident which summoned Mis-:
Flo from his side?
However that might be, when lef
alone, with slow, reluctant movement
he rose, and, passing through the oper
window, walked with uncertain steps
to the room beyond The singer sans
OH.
Did she see that figure standing still
and silent just beyond the threshold
Perhaps the evening shadows hid him
as her voice suddenly died away in {
choking sob, and her head bent for
ward on the keys.
Instantly he was by her side. In
stantly he had raised her head to his
breast, with his strong faithless arm:
clasped about her.
"AGne," he said, my love, my love?'
And then uplifting the crimson lip.
to his 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