The Osceola times., 1882-10-21
LIE All Z.

an ant hill at her feet.
leafy old tree arched over her the
sunshine fell warmly into the glade; the
air was full of the scent of the pines.
Leah waited quietly; full of the pleasure
that surrounded her.
Suddenly the bushes cracked, and a
man sprang lightly down the bank to her
side-a slender, dark man, of less than
thirty, perhaps, with a smile so disagree
able that il was almost a contortion;
Leah was not startled, but she looked
surprised.
as it you, Brette?" she asked, putting
on her hat which she had been swinging
in her hand, and so shading her face.
Eyes, it is l." he answered, coming up
nearer to her; "who did you think that it
was?"
II did not have time to think" she an
swered evasvely.
He could not see her face. The un-
pleasant smile died.
"Don't be disappointed, Leah. Perhaps
he will come yet" he said in a mocking
tone.
She did not answer. Suddenly he
threw his arms around her and attempt
ed to kiss her, but she put her hand
across his bearded mouth and struggled
till she had released herself.
"You hate me, do you?" he asked look
ing at her with savage, cold and cruel
light in his eyes "Who has taught you
that"
~ do not hate you. But do not love
you. and-I cannot let you kiss me I
painted the young girl, replacing her hat,
her beautiful hair unloosed by the strug-
gle. Il will not stay with you TO be treat
ed So"
And she turned away, yet looked anx
iously down the glade. There was some
one else she expected.
81 am never to kiss your" he sneered
standing with folded arms and regarding
her. "You are tired of me are you? And
| am thrown by like an old glove. For
whom, pray?"
She stepped back a few PAGES, and
looked at him at last, fully.
81 have been kind to you-for Annie's
sake" she said; and added, as ifthe words
were forced from her: "You were not
kind to her"
"Who taught you that?' he asked.
Il can remember-I understand now,
though she never complained" she an
swered sadly, and looking again down
the glade.
But no one was coming.
"Do you think | do not know who is
talking me down-who has come be-
tween us-who has supplanted me?" he
cried. "You have avoided me for a week
ever since Preston Atherton has been
here"
Her lip curled as she turned away.
"Come between us" she repeated,
scornfully.
He sprang to her side, walking beside
her.
"A mans private affairs are his own
But he was always a spy in the house, |
would have turned him out of doors, but
that he was my wife's brother. And now
| he comes here, falls in love with uand
tells you that ill-treated Annie, to make
| common cause with you-to set you up
against me BY heavens, he will repent
| of this business
"Prcston Atherton has told me moth
| ing but the simple truth" said Leah, glad
| that they were nearly out of the Mood,
| where she felt much safer. He has got
nothing against you, think. And if |
| choose to walk in the wood with him,
when we are both at leisure, it is nothing
| to YOU"
IIe ground his teeth.
| "Do YOU mean to tell me that you did
not know that | loved you-that you do
/ not mean to marry me?"
/ MARY you? Neverw said Leah, pale,
wrathful and beautiful.
The look with which he regarded her
was not good to behold.
"IIe will repent this" he muttered.
$50 will you"
They came silently down the shady
road TO the old mansion of Larchlawn,
| where they were both guests. The grand
| old place had been in the Lyndon family
| for hundred years, and in the summer
| grandsire Lyndon liked to gather his
| grandchildren about him, so that at that
season of the year it was always gay.
There was merry party playing ten
! pic on tho lawn bpyOnd the larches and
/ in the avenue bright group or two Just
/ inside the gate was rustic bench, from
which young man sprane up and lifted
| his hat
He was singularly like Brette Delford,
though it was only a chance resemblance,
there being no relationship in the case
the same height, complexion, feature and
general air, though Preston AthertOn
| was unmistakably the better man of the
two.
A gentle yet assured spirit looked out
of the large black eyes, and the smile of
the well-cut lips was glad, bright, and har-
monious.
Leah crossed instantly to his side, and
he looked at her questioningly.
did you come through the wood, after
all?" he asked. ii should have come to
meet you, but was told that you were
coming home in boat. The others are
fishing by the ford"
And he looked questioningly at Brette
Delford, who turned silently away, with
a rude sneer.
Leah sat down on the rustic bench, and
looked after the latter as he passed up
the avenue.
"He told vou?' she asked.