Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1882-11-28

found vent III 3tful gayety and whim.
sicai caprices, SO that Leon, mad wor-
shipper as be was, found it hard to bear
away patiently her changing humor.
/ Scarcely had they finished the waltz
bat called them in than Stella insisted
that'the heat aud perfume and glare of
lights made her faint, and so they stroll
ed out into the grounds and down to the
edge of the lake, whose surface was GOV.
cred with tiny boats, each with its col
oreai lamp idly floating hither and yon,
like SO man d re flies. = -.,5-.-.., -.
let ns, too, go out on the water" said
Stella; I can breathe more freely under
0nly the stars these heavy lboughs and
flower laden groves stifle me" In
II fear you. are, ill, darling" inter
posed. Leoh anxiously; siyou are not
your real self to night. Let me take
you to your mother; it is late and YOU
have not rested moment; you ought
to lie down and rest -
Nonsense, Leon, am we'll enough"
she answered pettishly. "You and
mamma are forever making mountains
out of mole hills" she added more gent
ly. But perhaps you are tired? Char
ley Mason is splendid oar and dearly
loves the-work. will ask him to row
me little while" .11i-1 q
II will row you myself, Stella! Why
do you mention Charley Mason. as
though would trust you to his madcap
pranks ?" ,ea15
I Leon loOsed shallop from its moor
ings and soon they were mingling with
The numbers drifting up and down.
Stella leaL ed back among the cushions,
closing her eyes wearily land Leon row
ed in silence, content but to gaze. until
at length she started up with a move
inent of patience. g4slaa 1nf4s
Lien, cannot bear it; the weight of
this lily on my brow seems dragging me |
down into I know not what depth OF |
rushing waters, and all night long that |
hoding call, 'Nenuphar!" .Nenuphar!' |
Have YOU not heard it: Do you not |
hear it now p .or
'Stelia you are i'll. These are the fan |
cies of fever" Leon turned the boat to |
wards the shore. II must insist upon |
taking you tei your mother" 5s u
II vii! not go back, Leon. "a tell you
| will not! | cannot wait until to- NOR
row. [ must go at once This ia no
flower. Leon! On. / Knows-it is some
thing. some teing that Was alive and is
dead and will not give me rest or o. ace
uurlI give her back TO her own place !'
But. darling, he argued soothingly q
dread fear at his heart, ''the los er lake
is not Illuminated, and the shadows are
dense !"
Do you, then - she returned passion
ately, 'shrink from shadows when q
very demon pursues me? On, Leon,
after all you do not love me. / would
dare much more for you"
Hs.rf f.aro xx,li oL<.l
covered it with her hands, the tears
were streaming through her fingers,
falling down her bright robe and over
the water lily thar. shining like star,
now lay on her lap
I'VE will go. sweetheart, Leon whis.
pered, tenderIy. "You know the lower
lake Ia not the safest place. even in day
light, but it is not for myself that fear
However, we will go together; always
and forever together. Stella, is it not
so?u
Forever. Leon, forever, if it may be
so." she replied. l--fl = -
They swept on by the many sailing
on the lake, her veil of silver mist shim-
mering in the cOlored lights.
How lovely Stella is to -night!" fell
from more. than one lip ''How lovely ~
was echoed by all Wac heard it, and 80 /
they di-appea, Ell in-O the gloom of the
inlet with its dark arches of interlacing
cypress bOughs, out into the lagoon and
down the 'narrJw shining track some
stray moon nbeams had maie
The Lily Cove was gained, and Stella,
holding the fading flower in her hand,
pointed to dark spot in the water =
Leon, row just there, and rest on your
oars hut for moment"
A flash of green and gold through the
quivering light; a passionate cry thrill
ing through the air, "Nenuphar Men
uphar " and the tiny shall"p shot down
into darkness, and only the night heron
echoed the cry of wild despair as the
rushing waters closed over all With
The early morning Leon and Stella were
missed from the revelers, and search
was made as it was remembered that
they were last seen in the cypress shad-
owed inlet Their boat was found float
ing among the lilies, and cold and white,
far down below lay Stella in her Undine
robe. holding Leon in death clasp, and
both bound down by green meshes of
rush and osier, woven by no mortal fin
gers The next years lilies blossomed
in pink and crimson hue, and they who
knew the sorrowful tragedy of that
night said it was fit that the spot where
1--we died should have its enduring
in the flowers o. Loves own
hue. .5 'si