The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1882-11-02

a woman in the case. Before his minds
eye there danced lovely vision that
lured the infatuated young man from
the right path, pair Of blue eyes, a
sweet smile, a graceful girlish form, to
gaze on which the foolish fellow
would have travelled miles
And she was to be at the ball, sur
rounded by admiring swains, of one or
two of whom he was madly Jealous
and who knew what might happen
while he was absent?
He might of course have spoken a
certain momentous little word before,
and he had thought, now and then,
that it would not have fallen on re-
luctant ears. But he had gone on
basking in the sunshine of her smiles,
too happy in the present to think of
the future, and he had just heard
casually that tomorrow morning early
she was to leave town for her home in
the country.
To-day, too, chance had brought a
sudden revelation to his heart. Till
then he had not been fully aware of
the strength of his own feelings for
that blue-eyed charmer. On turning
down street corner. he had come
suddenly face to face to her, and in
close attendance upon her was Maddox,
of the til Lancers, a brilliant AdoniS
whom ladies were terribly partial to- In
his face Harry Kendall read something
that made him tremble for his own
hopes, and showed him, too, in start
ling moment of time, how his whole
life's happiness was bound up in them.
That rapid glance of recognition awoke
a storm of anxious fears in his breast
and left the green-eyed monster raging
there.
The bank. a great solid building of
dark gray stone, stood in an inclosure
At the rear was court encircled by a
fence, in which was small wicket
gate opening into a lane shOr.
distance below the main entrance, and
used chiefly for communication with
the back premises. At night it was
always kept locked. The front of the
building, on the other hand, faced one
of the principal thoroughfares, and
was approached through a massive
outer gate, which, like the smaller one
was carefully closed after nightfall.
Captain Kendall did not change his
mind. AS the evening wore on he
slipped out, merely informing the sen.
tinel that he should soon return. The
old soldier, who had known and loved
his young officer for some years, shook
his head Ominously as he saw him de.
part, but inwardly resolved to keep his
counsel if possible.
The truant meanwhile sped on his
willful way, and banishins all onAiu,,a
reflections appeared in the ballroom
in time to secure the hand of his fair
charmer for several dances. Fortune
seemed disposed to smile propitiously
on him, and the coast was clear. The
colonel was not to be seen, and no one
else cared to inquire too curiously
what officer ought to be on guard at
the bank on that particular night. AS
he led out the lady the scapegrace
lover had the satisfaction of seeing his
rival turn away with lowering brow
lie was determined to lose no time
now. In the maze of the waltz, while
the soft undulating strains of Strauss
stepped the senses of the dancers in
sweet dreams of delight, under the
roseate light of the many wax candles
in that perfumed, crowded ballroom
a question was asked, and an answer
tremulously whispered, which trans
ported two young people into tempo
rary paradise of their own creating
where there were only two, and nc
room for any other besides. No Won
der that at such moment all minor
sublunary considerations were for
gotten.
But, when brief ecstatic hour had
passed, and they emerged once more
from the rosy pavilion whittier they
/ had retreated among the flowers, there
lOomed, dark and erect in the distant
doorway of the adjoining ballroom, {
tall, martial figure, whose gray head
lowered above the company; a vision
which struck sudden chill to the
ardent lovers heart.
"By Jovew he exclaimed, with {
start "There's the colonel"
The sharp ejaculation, breaking il
strangely upon the dulcet tones ot
love, astonished the pretty creature
who hung on his arm.
"What of the colOnel?" she asked
softly. "Why should he not be here
poor man 2"
Because I am here who ought Il
be on guard in street, and because
shall be cashiered to certainty if HI
sees me-" was the abrupt reply.
"Oh, do go away this minute. Do
dear Harry!'' she pleaded, in terrified,
beseeching accents.
He looked at her, then around him
irresolute for moment. The colone
had turned his back and was moving
into another room. No, he could no
go just yet, the temptation to remaiI
was too strong.
leave you now, when we ar
happy and are to be parted so soon
! No, cannot, darling" he whispered
} fOndly. "But, never fear, we vii
keep out of his way"
She did not urge him any more. Sh
: did not fully understand the magnitud
; of the offense nor the risk it involved
; and was too glad to keep him littl
: longer by all available means.
| There were a number of reception
/ rooms in the locale where the ball wa
| held, all of which were thrown ope
2 for the occasion. Keeping caution
eye around them the young peOpl
] contrived to pass from one apartmen