The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1882-05-06
society, and he felt TINT he had been play

prejudices trying to comfort his wound
ed spirit They can show love TO half
a-dozen at once, and never feel il truly
for one. will try and forget her"
Half an hour otter, be met Elena alone
In her fathers study, whittier be had gone
to acquaint the due with the fact that he
would not see him again before starting
early on his mission ON the ensuing morn
ing.
Elena was white and agitated, he had
never seen her thus before and he won-
dered what kind of an exciting interview
she must have had with her cousin. Had
she refused him? The thought mafe his
heart beat faster, and in far tenderer
tone than be had thought TO speak in
q sain he begged bet to be seated.
al cannot stay, Lord Elvertor; fear
we may even now be watched. Nay, do
not look 30 soanRry-f can explain nothing.
but will you listen to me aid act accord
Ing to my wishes, however strange they
may seem TO your
"The Signorn Carlezzi's commands
will certainly be law to me, and obeyed
to the letter nt once" he replied bowling
coldly, and wondering more and more ht
her exciting mannef.
"Then will yut go OF the mission Of
which my father spoke at onctp viii
you leave ds now, this very hour, and go,
not even waiting fct your servant or your
property"
As she asked this question, with clasp
ed hands and sparkling eyes, and cheeks
that flushed and paled alternately, Lord
Elverton thought he had never seen her
look 80 strikingly beautifully he longed
to ask an explanation. but pride and
jealousy stepped in end whispered that
Paolo was the favored lover after all, aud d
thus to please him she was thus anxious
to be rid of one to whom she had shown
too much kindness.
Il go, signora; go imme diately," he
answered with grave politeness, while his
very soul was burning with jealous pain.
"Oh, thanks. thousand thanksl May
Heaven and all the dear saints protect
you, and make your mission successful,
she said, holding out both hands in fare
we'll.
He took them in his, and was on the
very point of clasping her in his arms
and begging her to love him and not send
him away, when sudden vision of her,
leaning on her cousins arm and looking
up at him with loving earnest eyes. made
him pause again: the demon of jealousy
seized him. be dropped her hands, and
left her with cold adieu.
Half an hour after, he was leaving his
hotel, when n servant Of the dues banded
him sealed packet with warning that
he was not to read it until he arrived in
England.
He had already received his instruc-
tions from the due, and looking at the
superscription, he saw that this was from
Elena. and he put it in his pocket with
a darkening brow.
"She is all mystery and intrigue" be
muttered; /" a kiss and caress for the
greasy Paolo, and a lOve-uote for me
when am safely away How can such
treachery exist with SO fair face and
lovely n fcrnP'
That packet remained unopened for
many months. Lord Elverton performed
his mission faithfully and successfully,
brt his interest in the cause was gone,
and the war for Italian freedom WAS
fought ard victory won without his
aid, for be shrank from returning to
Italy. He bad determined to keep the
packet and only open it after year; by
which time Elena would doubtless be
Paolo's wife, and he could read whatever
explanation it contained calmly.
|
Five years afterwards, bronzed and
bearded man sat in his lodgings in Pic
cndilly,at the commencement of the Lon
don season, with an open letter in his
hand.
It was Lord Elverton, much older
looking, and more thoughtful, but with
the beauty of his face and form rather in
creased than marred by time and travel.
He WAS musing over the letter which
had just arrived from his aunt, Lady
Clifford, asking him to go and visit her
at her house, Clifford Priory, for few
days; pleading rs a special inducement.
her great anxiety to see him after his long
absence from England, and her desire to
introduce him to her ward, "a young
lady" the letter said, 'who cannet fail
to please even your fastidious taste, for
she is both good and beautiful. and l
long to see you settled and happy, l
wish you would give up your rowing life.
and attend to your English and Scotch
estates, and make youlsslf happy with
English duties and an English home"
Lord Elverton laid down his aunt's
letter with a sigh.
"Ah, my dear aunt" he said thinking
aloud, ~ wish that could take your ad-
vice, but never for me will there ever he
either peace or rest again, unless fortune
should crown my search with success. /
have thrown away the noblest heart a
man ever had. and can never love an
other, and the cherished hopes of wife
and home must remain only dreams
For he had read Elena's letter too late
restless and miserable, he had wandered
away during that year, and when it was
ended, be sat down to read it in the wilds
of Africa. Alas, for human pride and
jealousy! In his case it met with fear
full punishment. Elena's letter explained
that his life and liberty were threatened,
the very next morning he was to be sr-
rested; her cousin had told her this, and
it was gratitude for his thoughtfulness
and not love for himself that had charac-