The Sentinel. [volume] (Trenton, N.J.) 1880-1882, 1881-02-12

perfumes-the scent of rich, fresh flowers
filled the summerish atmosphere of the
line old drawing groom.
"fThou givest me flowers, thou givest songs;
Bring back the love that I have lost.'"
she mentally quoted, signing.
just then her cousin came back to the
window where she was sitting, UNI
observed by the gathering groups about
her.
The young lady looked particularly
happy. Smiles dimpled her soft cheeks,
and her pretty face was warm and pink
with bushes; shy gladness sparkled
in her dark eyes.
"Ah, my DEAR" she whispered to
Lalia; something very singular and
pleasant has happened. Some one
whom l love very much, and have
loved for a long time in dreadfully
hopeless way, you know, has actually
drawn my name. And, oh! Lalia, was
it not delightfully."- fortunate that
thought about this nice little old st.
Valentine diversion? Because, you sees
that lucky card has made me, not his
chimerical sweetheart, but his promised
wife in reality. He has been as fond of
me all the time as / was of him, but
the foolish boy was afraid to tell me
80. That wonderful card gave him
courage, l suppose" she proceeded,
with tuneful little laugh. "And
wish you to know him, Lalia. He is
really the handsomest gentleman whom
l ever met, and quite the most su.
perior."
"Quite your idea of manly perfection,
| no doubt" smiled Miss Marquand, in
diligently.
Now you are sarcastic, DEAR" half
pouted the wicsome little lady, in palest
| maize satin with red roses in her dark
| hair. "But, Lalia, I must introduce
you to Mr. Varian."
They were going toward the music
room as the gentleman approached
them, and Eulalia Marquand stood face
to face with him of whom she had been
| thinking so regretfully but Just now.
1t was not an agreeable meeting to
either, nor did either heed the graceful
little speech with which Miss Nichols
introduced them.
The beautiful, proud face ofthe girl was
| white as the silken dress she wore, and
pain and confusion were in her startled
eyes. For a moment Wright Varian
| regarded her with q strange, fixed,
| searching look she could not understand,
| and then he suddenly smiled a cool,
| composed and pleasant smile, extending
toward her hand that mad once clasped
her own, palm to palm, in the close,
warm clasp of love.
81 am pleased to meet you again, Miss
Marquand," he said in tones, friendly
| and nothing, more. And then he turned
toward her cousin with manner of
decided gallantry. g. Ma belle petite, is
| not this our redowaP
| Hank! how the VOL beats, and the deep
bassoon
| Is throbbing out its undertone;'
and the dancers are waiting for us as
the music is calling. You will not
come with us to the ballroom. Miss
| Marquand ? You do not care tor dane
ing, perhaps ?"
| "Oh, yes, do" she returned, speak
ing with quite cheerful indifference,
"but not Just now. 7 am resting for
the next waltz"
Once again alone she went back to
the deeply-embrasured window, and,
hidden by the heavy curtain, stood
there long time motionless. gazing
| with unseeing eyes at the white, cold
earth; at the gaunt, spectral trees with
skeleton branches quivering against the
metallic blackish- of a sky glowing
with scin tillant golden stars.
The splendor of a great opaline moon
fell fully over her-over the graceful
imperial form; over the exquisite cos
tune of dead-white silk; over the color
less, adorable and most fair face, with
eyes as blue and brilliant as the sapphires
that sparkled about the superb arms
and throat; over the handsome head
and the masses of BLACKLIST hair adorned
simply with one single white camellia.
All the semblance of cheerful indiffer.
ence was gone now. Her delicate
hands were clasped together as if in
mortal pain and despair, and so tightly
that the pretty pink nails left livid
marks upon each dimpled. blue veined
hand. She was thinking regretfully Of
past that had been all sweetness an6
joy until her own folly had brought
bitterness and desolation.
81 have no right to feel aggrieved,
she thought, sadly. "The error was
mine. He was good and loyal, an6
always patient with my whims until
tried him so sorely. But yet if he haG
; really loved me with thai rare ane
sublime passion that l covet, that few
ever feel and none but once in lifetime
could he in one brief year forget me s,