The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-03-18

teeth Idu f6otcu OHC manu- was
involuntarily clenched Her mouth moved,
but no sound issued from it.
| stood transfxed. a cold shiver running
through me- 1t was this fury whom Miss
Flo. gentle and unconscious. regarded as
her dearest friend.
OF what stuff might be made her dearest
foe? | remembered then the look | had
seen these same eyes fix upon the jewels.
Was she envious of my young ladys for
tune? What danger might not threaten
her through this beautiful pantheresss
And vet, how dared |, humble servant,
utter word of warning?
Even with these thoughts passing in
quick succession through my mind, there
was so sudden and instantaneous a change
swept over Miss Revere's expression that |
could scarce recall the other, except as the
result Of some hideous eonjuring of my own
fancy.
Miss Flo was coming toward her, leaning
on Mr. Earle's arm.
| returned to my duties with heavy
heart. | felt shadow of i'll was pending
/ over us, vet | almost forgot 1t next day.
when my Young lady's formal engagement
to Mr.. Earle was announced. so loved
and protected. what possible harm could
come to her even through a woman 5 NAL
ice?
All. my unspoken question remained not
long unanswered. Ii had been all too nat.
ural for those two Young hearts to fow to-
ward each other, obeying the life impulse
of both They had loved each other a.
children; they knew each other as though
the bond of brotherhood and SisterhOod
united them their memories circled around
the same spot. were haunted by the same
objects.
1t was the natural sequence. which ali
had anticipated. Therefore. save Mr.
Earle was with us more constantly than of
old. and that there was a new flush ON Miss
7 Flo's cheek, softer, a tenderer light in her
blue eyes, it was hard to realize any change
But one was pendiEg lest difficult of Teali
Eation. The lovers had a constant com
panis,n in the person of my young ladys
friend. At first Mr. Earle seemed to dis
ike her, but Miss FlO's sweet influence and
his own courtesy led him irst TO conceal
this. and later to overcome il
Miss Flos sweet influence and has own
courtesy. | have said but there was a
more potent reason still in Miss Revcres
marvellous fascination There was not one
T in the whole household it escaped. save my
sell, and even had to pub myself up many
times with a sharp turn, les, !. too, should
be blinded by is glamour But it was
not my old eyes with which she had to
deal
/ Miss Flo, all trusting aud unSuspicious,
threw the two she loved constantly to-
! gether.
,You musa ike each otherfor nj sake, !
she would say.
l. danger ever ~ threatening a. when
il falls on those who dream not it Is near
+ The sorcer,,s had the young master tightly
in her cod ere be dreamed that even silk
en- thread had enfettcred him. He strug
gled then TO be free. The full hoTr,r II ],
all overwhelmed him he grew pale and
I haggarsl-eyed.
But tighter and tighter she dFew the
bonds, and. Ike a bird fascinated by the
serpent, step by step be approached the
magic influence Of her sway
Sometimes she would fash sudden be
wildering smile into his eyes; sometimes
she would assume pensive eoyness some
times strange thrill Of passionate grief
would seem 10 sway her
One Of her most wonderful attraction,
was her voiee. Even in speaking. one
seemed to listen 10 how music, bat in sing
ins- il reached the gamui of human emo
tion.
One evening" was in the twilight
Miss Flo and Mr. Earle were sitting to
gether. on the broad piazza outside the long
French windows lcading into the drawing
room, when just within, from the music
room beyond, arose the words q an i'm.
passioned song.
From the dining room across the hall,
could hear the measure. in It's wonderful
melody and knew that she who sang il
was singing 10 but one, who could not be
dead To the appeal the words conveyed.
Higher and higher rose the exquisite
voice, trembling with It's weight Of passion;
and be for whose ear alone it was intended,
sat without, a girls fair hand elasPed--a
girls fair head resting on his shoulder
girls light heart filed with his image
Did Miss Aline know that he would
come in obedience 10 her call Was il a
mere accident which summoned Miss Flo
from his side?
However that might be, when lefl alone,
with slow, reluctant movement he rose, and,
passing through the open window, walked
with uncertain steps to the room beyond.
The singer sang on.
Did she see that figure standing still and
silent just beyond the threshold? Perhaps
the evening shadows hid him, as her voice
suddenly died away in q choking sob, and
her head bent forward on the keys.
Instantly he was by her side Instantly
he had raised her head to his breast, with
his strong faithless arms clasped about her
"Aline, be said. my love, my love =
And then uplifting the crimson lips to
his. he bent forward and kissed them
And busy with my silver, knowing naught
of this but wondering how | might unfold
to my young mistress my suspicious when
| heard close beside me low startled cry
| glanced up Miss Flo was standing on
the threshold of the musie-room. She had
, seen ALL She would have fallen, but that,
springing forward caught her in my old
arms, as Mr. Earle came hastily toward US.
| forgot his rank and my position, as |
waved him off; but even in my bitter in
dignation against him, | felt for what he
suffered when saw the white look of mis-
cry ON his young, handsome face.
, Up the broad stairs | carried my young
lady to her room, and laid her on her
couch Then her mother came, and left
: her but as passed through the room be-
| yond, saw lying in the empty CRATE some
, torn scraps of paper. Mechanically, with
, a servants orderly instinct, | stopped and
picked them up, when my eye was caught
by the meaning of single sentence, ''the
! heir of the adjoining estate
OF course gentleman" would have
gone no further, but was but mere ser
: want. with tie interests of the family whom
' had served more than two-seore years
over and beyond all else.
: carefully carried the little handful Of
papers up to my room, and there bit by bit,
I e l.