The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1881-02-12
UNDER THE SPELL.
BY JENNY WREN.


ats too bad to let the child throw away
her young life and happiness. Some one
ought to warn her of the rocks in her
course"
So spoke the world, watching the filtration
between Eben Furval and Glare yelling.
OF course it was filtration, this same world
decreed; not, perhaps, on her side-the
warning would not have been needed then
but on his.
She was but IS, with something of the
clear young soul shining through the dark
blue eye as they uplifted themselves to her
bero's face.
Yes, be was her hero. The world, for
once, had spoken truly. She had not begun
to reason. She only knew that her heart
beat more quickly at tho sound Of his foot
ste ep-that, had one asked her ideal of all
manly beauty, unconsciously Eben's dark,
handsome face would have instantly pic
tured itself before her, though she might
haye vouchsafed no spoken answer-that to
her ear was not sweeter music than the low,
melodIous utterance of his voice.
OF course he knew his power. The world
remembered numb,rless instances when he
had used it but too mercilessly; therefore,
they felt sorrow for the young, untried girl
who also had fallen "Under the Spell"
Yet, as she stood tonight by Ben Furval's
side, the tall, slender figure, draped in
soft, white folds; brilliant color on her
cheek, lending new luster to her eyes; fair
hair, curling itself in myriad rings upon the
low, white brow; she seemed picture of
girlish happiness. Could it be that he who
had made should mar it? If SO, how perfect
his acting!
"Clare," he whispered ed--never, never had
her name sounded SO sweet beiore-"are
you tired? Shall we not finish this waltz p
For answer she let him slip his arm about
her waist.
Tired with him2 Had the music lasted
she might have gone on ioreverl
She sighed when it ended, with a crash,
and he drew her into the dimly lighted con-
servatory.
What meant the look with which he
pierced down through the azure eyes into the
hidden depths of her soul
He spoke no word, but there, amid the
flowers and fragrance, with hslG-sleepy
canary warbling his good night song above
their heads, he opened wide his arms.
A moment she resisted their mute en-
treaty; he drew step nearer then; with a
hall-sob of the most exquisite happiness she
had ever known, she felt them fold them.
selves about her, and laid her head, like @
tired child, upon his breast. He held hel
close and long.
"Clare, you love me /" he half asserted
half questioned. "Oh, child, what sweet,
fair page has been the life upon which
may dare inscrbe my namel"
At his words of self-implied reproach, she
raised her head. In his face was light sht
had never seen before. With glad thrill
she knew that her hand had illumined tn,
torch.
|
softly, until he hushed the words with
kiss.
"Do not let us tell the world our secret,
he pleaded. at is so sweet to have no on
share it but ourselves"
And to this wish Of his she gladly CAV,
consent.
On swiftly Joyous wings the days followed
merging themselves into haleyon weeks; ye
some lives she had heard, were filled will
misery, Could she ever lathom the mean
ing Of the word Ah, she was young to ash
the question 1t was to be answered all toc
soon.
Poor child she had no mother-perhsp %
a mothers hand would have been more gen
tie with the knifei but one day her aunt
with whom she lived, came into her room Il
rudely break in upon her day-dreams.
"Clare," she said, al want TO talk will
you. "This Mr.. Furval who is here so otter
must come no more. The day might dawr
when you would become interested in him
and would be sorry TO have my singing
birds song cease. They tell me he is iasci
unting. With his honeyed words anG
phrases he sets traps for hearts, as the fowler
for his game. He makes boasts, too
of his conquests, hear. The words Il love
you fall all too readily from his lips. The
question, BE my wife p never /"
Pale as ashes, Glare had been about TO ut
ter an indignant denial of all her aunt had
said. When she had added these last words
"The question, BE my wife p neverl /" they
seemed to lend ring Of truth to all thai
bad gone before yet her loyalty stood hei
in good stead, though her pride made her
hide the freshly gaping wound.
"You are unjust, aunt" she said, speak
ing with effort. "WhY should you believe
what gossip says7"
because it has extended its voice to you
because it says that YOU, too, are under
the spell ofthis mans wonderful fascination
Many is the heart he has broken, Clare-ho
shall not br, ak yours
'Gf what you say be true" she replied
deGantly, ait is already brokeni but do
not-I tDiH not believe il He loves me,
and IL love him /"
ale has asked you to become his wife ?"
The question cut like knife to the girls
quivering heart.
"Noj not in words. lid not even miss
tb@u. % sure was u bis YurPOss. Why