The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-06-10
Select Storp.
From Haiper's Weekig.
GORDON LEIGH

GORDON LEIGH
A small room with dark wainscotiag and
hardwood floor, touches Of crimson shining
out upon the walls, and the curious diamoad-
paned windows. In the rose-twined oriel
window grave-faced, middle-aged man,
covertly watching the dOwncast face of a
girl still in her teens.
The man is Gordon Leigh the girl Is
Leslie Morgan, Gordon Leigh's ward.
Tonight is Leslies eighteenth birthday;
and Gordon, who has grown to love his
ward as men who only love the women
they wish to marry, determines to seek an
opportunity TO plead his cause Place and
circumstances befriend him. The summer
moonlight. hay-Iaden, flower er-scented, drifts
in through the open windows, the evening
insects hum their faint, indolent chorus of
encouragement; while in the distant, like
earth-fallen stars, gleamed the lights of the
night boats passing up and down the river;
and old Mrs. Leigh lies fast asleep IN the
library. Still Leigh is silent He feels
the hush and stiffness Of the night. and now
that he is face to face with the question Of
his life. he wonders al his own effrontery;
for all men. even the yainess Of them, feel
Strangely small and worthless when their
hopes lies on a woman's word, and Gordon
Leigh possesses less vanity than usually
falls to man.
Leslie. he says at last, and his voice
sounds strange to his ears
She turns her pure young face toward
him with wide-open questioning eyes.
Il have something to say to YOU
And /, she echoes. softly, "have some
thing to say to you.
There is a lock in her eyes he has never
seen there before glad, steadfast look
that vet hides itself half shyly. II stirs
him to his innermost nature. He fancies
she can hear his heart beat, and wonders
If she has guessed his secret, and if that
smile of ineffable content Is the fOrerunner
of his .sYes.n
..ShalI tell my story first p she asks.
with little tremulons culver Of happiness,
a. he makes no attempt TO speak.
He mods assent, glad Of a moment in
which to realize his new-found JOY before
stretching out bis hands to take it.
sIt is love story" she says, softly, the
eyes. looking dreamily over the moon-foOd-
Sd lawn and terraces, weEing over with the
same subtle look Of contentment.
aYes p II is all he can frame his hps TO
say. but he moves step nearer, and bends
his iron-gray head til she can feel his
breath upon her hair Then she stretches
out slim white hand and he grasps il half
convulsively.
Ny ring she stammers, flushing all
over her fair girl face. Il wanted you TO
see it.
He loosens his hold, and with a sudden
sense Of i'll. looks at the fingers lying cool
and still in his. a diamond flashes its
colors into his eyes, dazzling and binding
him. He puts his hand to his head in
dazed sort Of way, aud grows white to the
lips.
'Mother?'' he questions. with piteous
break up in his voice
sOh no. she answers, simply. WAL
lace Hobart | have promised TO be his
wife.
Gordon Leigh drops the hand as though
it hurt him. and walks to distant window
He is strong man, and man accustomed
to self-control, but it is several moments be-
fore he can force his features to assume
their customary expression. When he re
turns to the girl. he finds her standing where
he left her, smile on her lips, far away
look in her eyes, that warns him he Is
forgotten. He coughs sharply. 1t start
les Leslie into remembrance Of his pres
enee. She turns to him, flushing slightly,
sod says, with pretty air Of penitence, Il
Gear / am very rude, Gordon.
aMy dear, answers this middie-aged
man, with kindly gentleness, we never ex-
pect woman to look beyond her lover 5
arms. But do you know what manner Of
man this is you have chosen for husband2
His voice does not falter now; it is quiet
and firm, and very, very tender.
u only know that be loves me, she re-
plies. with half-exultant ring to her voice.
s.and that I love him.
Gordon Leigh's face grows ashy pale.
He turns toward the window that he may
mot see the pain be fancies his words will
bring into her face He might have spared
himself the trouble She listens with utter
indifference to the story Of Wallace Hobart's
hard. fast life, and when he looks cautious
" around. the sight Of her smiling face
dumfoHnds him,
'sChild!" he cries, passionately, 'can you
marry man ike that Z"
She rouses herself with an effort, looks at
him half dreamily, as though collecting her
thoughts, laughs softly, and says IN low
voice. voice vibrating with love and ten
derness, II become of age to-day, and |
shall give my whole future into his keep
ing whenever he asks it.
Leigh groans aloud. He realizes the
uselessness of further arguments. Leslie
Morgan Is woman whose reason viii new
er rule her heaft-beats.
All mel what curious thing life is, with
its unanswerable ..whys" and curious, bind
folded .wherefores. "
II would haze been content to walk
through life on thorns, Leslie, he says
gently, '.could you have followed treading
on roses; yet | am powerless to save you
from lifelong misery"
sAh, ifyou only knew him, Gordonl then
your words would be kinder and more ap
propriate.
.'God grant you are rightr' he answers
soIemuly, and turns and leaves her without
another word.
A perplexed look creeps into Leslies
eyes. She leans her head YEARLY against
the easement, and wonders why people viii
say such things The summer roses brush
softly against her cheek, and the moonlight
bathes her in shimmering, mystic light
that makes her seem half weird, half real.
Wallace Hobart, coming from the dark
ness Of the trees into the open lawn, smiles
at The picture, and springs forward to her