Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1881-11-12
HIS BROTHER y WIFE.

A girl who looked scarcely eighteen
Summers old, slender and wonderfully
fuir, lay back against the cushioned
softness of big Turkish chair. 4
companion, a dark-halred, dark-faced
man, sat at her side His hand was
near hers-so near he had but to lift it
aud lay it upon the little pink-tipped
fingers that clasped the arm of the
crimson chair And his eyes, his du,-
ky, unfathomable eyes, were fixed upon
her face III a glance half scrutiny, half
admiration.
"Violet -
\ The girl raised her dropping eyes with
slow uplifting OF their white, long
fringed lids, but she did not look into
his face nor change one lipc Of her
graceful, languil attitude.
'Niolet, her companion commenced
again, a slight swift gleam of annoyance
crossing his face, ''are YOU angry be-
cause | havo mentioned my brothers
name Really, do YOU care anything for
my lrother moro
Really, Mr.. DARYL, YOU are unwar
rantably curious - the girl flashed out
gathering herself up in a naughty way
! that became her we'll But, lest YOU
should wilfully misunderstand ple =
hear me say it again-in plain words,
Hubert is only my friend.
Now the man 5 idle hand closed over
the light fingers in firm clasp, and
his handsome face, flushed and plead
ing, bent close above the girls.
Violet, you are angry with me-svon
call me Mr.. Daryl, and | have known
you as long as Hubert, and YOU say |
am unwarrantably curious because am
deeply interested III Your welfare, and
you evade my questions. You and
Hubert may be only friends, and yet
you may love him. Stay, you shall
not leave me ! / will leave YOU If need
be. No doubt | have fingered too long
already ; but you shall hear me filst-
know why / am curious-because |
love Won. There Violet if you love
Hubert, there is no hope for me, but |
can. perhaps, accomplish Your hapni-
ness"
The girl shook off his hand and stood
w, angrilv, a naughty little maiden
with flaming checks and flashing eyes,
and cloud of short tawny hair tossed
impetuouslv ava. from her white brow.
Yes, YOU have fingered too long,
already, Mr.. DARYL; there ) no hope
for you here.
Very we'll ! accept my dismissal
for the present, replied her compan.
ion. with admirable calm: "hut the
dav will come when You Will ne less
swift to send me away Good evening
Miss Rivers.
What did he mean s>;Tne girl sal Ions
ana late by, the graE fire. trying te
think it all over-his words about Hub
ert. his own confession Of love, his 81
fer 70 accomplish her happiness,
"As if would take hubert, love
gif, at his hands - she broke forth, IN
dignantlv. "Hnhert does love ne.
am sure of it. How can help bellrs
sure. when we have always been sucl
intimate friends AMI hl- manner ha
grown to be more and more that 9!
i lover? OH, why has Ernest come hons
] 70 make ne miserable
Poor child Leading ler sweet, 4ui,
home life in the old vlearage, what ii
she know of the hundred evil passion
that rule the way. OF men:
Tie Dnryls, country mansion Va
;us, across tie broad, shaded cosntr
road from the vleaiase, where Nlol'
t lived her quiet lie with an eiierl
!. uncle and aunt. The girl had know
the DARYL boys from childhood. az
q had admired the handsome elder OF
Z Z in an awesome way, and loved q
< Younger friend and playmate w7'h
) her childish. passionate affection !
-se the wears wen, lv. Ernest, the hei
i travelled abroad. and oulv with the
. curing summer did she see much
= his Younger brother. But THIS ve'