Fair play., 1881-06-25

tuuci Inc ptie, sweet i'tSc WIS uclt
over the white. jeweied hands. and hot
tears rained through the slender fingers;
it was the familiar burden of the Old
song--"Oh. love. nv love. had you but
! loved me-, Ill WAS the old story of the
love of woman heart given lavishly.
but in vain.
As she sat there y shadow was cast by
the moonlight. the breath of odorous
roses came 10 her. and kindly hand
was laid on her bowed head
/ Lady Viola" sa Ross. 'what are
YOU doing here all alone and IN the
darkness? Let me riny for lights
/ "Oh. no. pray do not.' she cried.
She was terrified lest finding the traces
of tears on her face. he should want to
know why they were there.
Il have been looking for YOU" he
said II noticed half an hour ago that.
although the lilies in Your hair were
living aud fair. those YOU carried in
Your hands We're dead.
Yes. they were dead she thought:
and they were not the only sweet, bright
things that had died since night fell
over land and sea Ross Went on:
Since saw that. have been look
ing for you. Lady Viola. | went 10 The
gardener and begged these few red
! roSes. have given some to Learn
/ see how sweet they are:
She buried her face. still vet with
tears. IN the leaves of the sweet roses.
! Rcs, continued:
Perkins was quite unwilling TO give
them to me. had to say they were for
you"
! "It was very good of him. she said,
without iaising her head.
"Ladv Viola. tell me why You are
here. Are YOU tired? ! cannot under
stand the belle OF the ball flying from
the HOMAGE of her admirers to solitude
and shmi-darkness must ba mis-
taken; but | could imagine there werc
tears in vour voice. Are you in trouble
about anything. Viola?n
! NO she replied" not exactly in
/ trouble: but am sorry to leave larch-
/ ton Mere. You are all so kind to me
here. feel so much At home. and so
happy
1--WE shall all be sorry to lose you.
Viola" he said.
/ Then from the distant dancipg-room
H t.tlilt luC S"ttt oi -'Sfe
/ Rsre." A shudder came over her as
she heard it. What had life been TO
her but dream-sweet and sad as the
music. and just as soon Over'
/ Il will say goodby TO him now" J"
she thought. ..If my heart has to die.
! let :. die tonight should it live
on? will 90 away 10 morrow, and
will no, see him a.ain.'
! She loved him SO well that, but Tor
/ the pride OF her maidenhood, she could
have told him all about it: and why the
tears were on her face.
! IL am sorry 10 know that you are
sad. VIOLA said Ross; "but you will
come back again soon. We must ask
Mrs. Pitt to come in the spring"
Never again thought Lady Viola
suffered" then, aloud, "NO; that is
what makes me sad. do not see how
| can return. shall not be surprised
if we 90 abroad in the spring. and YOU
You will have plans of your own,
Ross"
II do hot know, Viola"
| "Ah, YES, Won will,r-and from the
pain and pathos in her voice he nj; @ht
have guessed wha: was wrong "lOu
will lind this year bring many changes.
Mr.. Ross-nothing will ever be the
same again"
Her heart grew heavy rs she thought
of Lean Dvnevor; while through his
passed thrill of delight. Who, in
deed. could say what this year would
bring-the happy new year that had
not long dawned?
II do net know" she continued.
"when shall see Larchton Mere again.
and | am sad ct leaving it."
so am sorry that you are going" "
he replied; and again the beautiful
music of Mon Rece" came to them.
"You will take with you al! our
thoughts and Affection" he added.
Even Lady Cumnor loves you, Viola" "
/ Yes, 60 she said. sadly; "and |
leave happy Lean behind"
| Still the meaning of her words did
not occur to Ross; that she should call
Lean happy because he loved her
never struck him.
"How | shall remember this night"
said Lady Viola The white moon
light on the mere, the silvery light and
the shadows in this room, the odOr OF
roses, and the music of ''.Hon ReCe.' y
No matter where 60. shall take the
memory of It with me.
/ "'I shall never again be friends with roses:
l shall loa he sweet tunes when note
| Relents ami rccoils and climbs and closes.
As a wave OF the sea turned back with
l shall bate sweet music my whole life
! long.
She sad the words rather to herself
than to him. He heard them, and be-
lieyed that her sadness was all owing
to her dislike To leave the mere. How
should he comfort her? What could
he say? If he had known the passion
ate love repressed. the deep despair
beaten back, his heart would have been
stirred.
She must say something of Lean:
she must mention her name: she must
know if her ideas were right or wrong;
she must know whether she was giving
! up too soon.
..Will Lean be here ALWAYS - she
asked. gently.
81 suppose So" he replied. "She
will if it depends on me. But l have
not much authority now: have l,
Viola ?''
You seem very much attached to
her." she said: and then she shuddered.
She had done the deed now. She had
thrown down the gauntlet. and her life
hung on his next words. Her face had
grown paler, and the red roses trembled
in her hands.
He was in no hurry to speak; but it
was not from want of words. At last
/ he said:
..viola. no man can set to music the
whisper of the wind in the trees, the
murmur of the waves, the breath of the
summer wind over the light grass: Yet
that would be easier than for me to tell
YOU what think OF Lean"
Then in silence she laid down the