Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-08-25

whose ear alone 1t was intended. sat without, a
girls hand clasped in his--a girls fair head
resting on his shoulder-ag girls light heart filed
with his image
Did Miss Aline know that he would come in
obedience to her call. Was it q mere accident
| which summoned Miss Flo from his side?
However that might be. when left alone. with
slow, reluctant movement he rose. and. passing
| through the open window. walked with uncer-
tain steps into the room beyond. The singer
| sang on.
| Did she see that figure standing still and Sd
| lent just beyond the threshold? Perhaps the
| evening shadows hid him, as her voice suddenly
| died away In o choking sob, and her head bent
forward on the keys.
| Instantly he was by her side Instantly he
had raised her head to his breast, with his
strong, faithless arms clasped about her.
| "Alinei" he said. my love. my love-"
And then uplifting the crimson lips to his he
bent and kissed them.
| l 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 q low startled CRY. glanced
up Miss Flo was standing on the threshold OF
| the MUSHROOM. She had seen all. She would
nave fallen but that, springing forward. caught
ner In my old arms, as Mr.. Earle came hastily
| toward us.
| forgot his rank and nv position as waved
him of; 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 as passed
| through the room beyond / saw lying in the
empty crate some torn scraps Of paper, Me-
| chanically, with a servants orderly instinct.
| stopped and gathered them up, when my eve
! was caught by the meaning of a single SEN
tence. 1.-THE heir Of the adjoining estate"
OF course. gentleman" would have gone no
| further, but was but mere servant with the
interests of the family whom had served more
| than two-score wears over and beyond all else
| carefully carried the little HANDFUL of papers
| to my room. and there bit by bit with hard
work and infinite spelling, made them almost
perfect whole.
Delay your coming little longer. dear
father, wrote the traitress "The fish is nearly
/ In my net. | could laugh at his weakness were
there not such a stake. He is the heir to the
| adjoining estate acres on acres OF which can
see from my window as write. | shall be a
grand English lady yet; and then, who will dare
| taunt me with being the daughter of circus
rider! We will wipe ont that STAIN then on
my mothers SIDE and you shall have your re-
ward for all the sacrifices you have made for
| me-"
Had discovered a vein of gold could not
| have glOated more over those few words.
All, now indeed could ayenge my young lady
and punish her recreant lover But the time
was not yet ripe. ] would wait until he had
given her his old and honored name, and then |
would unmask her ere she had reaped the glory
and too Late for him to retrieve the shame
With this determination went back TO nv
duties, but. passing through the hall. Mr..
Earle s voice, low and yet excited, caught my
ear.
.'Ihave been mad," he said saline. forgive
me for the wrong [ have done you, but YOU
must hear the truth. 1 now know that my feel
| ing towards you has been the intOXieation Of
| your fascination. Never can wipe from my
memory my darlings white. unconscious face.
| felt that had stabbed her to the heart. and
| knew then that nv soul had never wayered i'm
| its allegiance though your beauty and marvel
Gus power had turned my brain. Aline. say
| that you do not love me! Do not make me feel
that have married your life tool
stted voice replied, choked with feeling:
| 81 can not. Arthur can not, Oh do not
turn from me! 1 am doubly helpless now Flo
never again will care for you. Let me teach
you the lesson of love for me. if indeed al
ready you have not learned it,"
| IL was not my place. knew that; but for
got my anger against him in listening to the
few manly words which assured me his heart
was still Miss Flos, and | strobe into the room
and put the paper i'm his hands.
Readthis Mr.. Arthur" Isaid boldly, 'before
you answer her.
closed the hall door next morning bright and
early, as the carriage drove Miss Ane Revere
| on the first stage on her Journey Lon
downward. We never saw or heard from her
again.
For long weeks Miss Flo refused even to see
Mr.. Arthur Earle-fOr months TO look upon him
| as friend. Poor fellowl We were all sorry for
him during this time. for he had spoken truly
his love had never wavered
But at last there came day when Miss Flo
learned to believe this. and then-ah. then the
light stole back into her eyes, and the color to
her cheeks.
She's been happy wife this many year now,
and old Peter is growing almost useless, save to
| ride her children. as he once rode her. through
the old halls upon his old shoulders. to the
echo Of their childish laughter, which keeps his
| old heart young.