The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-09-22
@PHIL.."
ny FANNIE DRIscoLL.

| ldu d buEut uuou VIZ AVA Ahtit PbSuN ANSS
too, with deep sweet light in her viole
eyes.
She was very calm and cold, this love o
mine, Rene snoWdon, "But l loved he
toe more for that, in contrast to my owl
fire and restlessness. l hardly knew how
I had won her. So many bad tried ant
failed. She had always been inditieren
and disdainiul, but she was the ono perfec
woman In the world for me. No one elst
had read the pure, upsuIlied heart; TIT
white, chill nature that could glow to sucl
warm tenderness beneath loves magic.
was wandering about the room while
waited, for apparently she could not find 6
wrap at once. drummed idly on the piano
l took q few turns up and down the room
and then, verifying the old distich abou
Satan and idle hands," l did an unpar
donable tbiDg-I read an open note lyins
on Rene's escritoire. ! did 1t mechanic
ally, on my word, and had read it before ]
real'ze my own impertinence. l had
looked st 1t idly; q isre, heavy sheet Of
ivory paper, written over with a dashiDe
chiography; but was brought to the vivid
realization Of life suddenly enough upon its
perusal. 1t read thus:
"Have lost you, my Rene? Is al! over
between us now? And such little while
since We made our VOWS TO each other!
Such little while since you were the snow
10 my tire-such a little time since We
parted! And now, this usurpar has come
bslween US! How can | forgive you? And
yet must always love you. Twill be with
you on the 10Th. Let me have you TO my
self for little whil,; for little while be
all my own, as in the other days. You
owe me this much. Your despairing
Phil"
Tread It twice. felt blind, dumb, chok-
ing. walked to the door. l heard Rene's
silken dress swishing on the stair. heard
ner call in q tone VI alarm: "FeliS, what
is it?" But | did not turn nor speak, but
rushed out OF the house.
1t must have been an hour or two after
when awoke to lie and the world, and
found myself driving. madly along the
roads outside oil the town, with my brain
on fire.
That night took the night train, and
spent a week rushing irantically from one
Mace to another never stopping even 10
sleep at any hotel. All the time l was say
lng 10 myself. GLOW can woman be so
false?' had been slave. From the
frat moment had met Rene Saowdon, l
had been bound hand and foot. She was
woman OF the world-1 was warned;
beautiful and dazzling, and played with
mems hearts ash child with toys. But l
mad not believed it. had thought her
'pure and womanly." But now awoke
from my deluHiop. Whata fool had BEEN.
had thought-ah! had she not told me,
with that flush in her lily face, with that
light in her sapphire eyes ?-that no other
man had kissed the scarlet, tender mouth,
that no other-Man had held her In his
arms; that only for me had her heart
awakened.
Fool Did they not all say thai? Were
they not all, every daughter OF Eve, faith
lesa, contemplate? Had wandered about
the world all these years, TO be besuiled at
last by Delilah, because her face was like
snow tljwer, and the sunshine lay in her
silken hail? But the proud, tenderness
the reserved sweetness-the gracious cAlln!
She had chosen her weapons well. This
fair hauteur went further with a man than
all the wild abandon OF less practiced,
less artiul woman.
At last came home. Weeks had passed.
was striving 10 get back into the old ways
to feel the old interests. But | WAS sue
ceeding miserabiy. The morning ufter my
return as l was fauntering idly along, an
elegant little turnout pulled up briskIy to
the curb, and light, gay voice, greeted me.
"Felix Hawthorne" it said, 'Are YOU
coming to my partysto-morrow night You
nave been very rude, for you have Lot All
swered my invitation. No one has known
anything about you. Where have you
been? We have all wondered and conjec.
tured in vain. You look little under the
weather. Is there anthing an old friend
can do for your Aud frank hand Voc
extended from the window, and the charm
ing face looked little smiling, u little
grave, into mine.
81 have been very busy" Isaid. "some
unexpeC complications in business have
called me away, and absorbed every mo.
ment OF my time for two or three weeks.
throw myself on your mercy, Mrs. Chan
frau, and II you will have such worthless
lounver, will drop in tomorrow night
"Felix, l don't more than half believe
you. You don't look we'll" was the reply
and as the carriage drove away saw the
pretty, bright face watching me anxiously
;.Dear little woman" said to myself
chow kind you seem. Doubtless, you art
as bad as the rest OF them" added, cyni
cally, "if one but knew i"
mad not looked at myiletiers yet, and &c
had not read her invitation. Yes! had
looked at one. Rene had sent her servant
with little uote, the very night "Phirs'
letter had wrought such evil in me, and my
servant brought It 10 me at once; but l had
returned 1t unopened, and without word
Next night, u little before midnight,
sought Mrs. Chanirau's house. Everything
she did was perfect, In its way and Il
society was ever agreeable, It was in bel
artistic rooms; beneath her smiles 1t put on
its most honeyed look, and rounded of ii
phrases with an elaborateness that ought L
make one believe In them.
As made my way to her she came for
ward and put her hand on my arm.
"You do look so very grumpy, Felix,
she said, "lhat must introduce you q
once to my new protege. II anything cal
brighten you up It is she. Every one Is II
raptures over her. But warn you IN!
rose has thorns. All! here she Is. Mis-
Eyeringham. MIR. Hawthorne; Felix, M.
nav friend, Miss Eyeringham."
| saw piquant lace like poppy; darl
and rich, with flashing dark eyes; dark
smooth skin and crimson lips. She wa
clad in sombre, barrie daperies, anc
looked like some tropical bird, or bud, ii
her 1.-the, glowing beauty. Twas prepares
which she greeted me at first faded away a
she caught my name; and she bowed frig
Iidly, and turned to our hostess, and ava
from me. Roselie looked surprised, bu
ratified on in her lively way. Miss Ever
ingham answered all my remarks with ic
monosyllables; and finally, when . blond
aud insipid youth came to Claim her for
dance, she left me without word or looh
but gave him brilliant smile Of welcome
By.and-by, found myself in 9 quadrlll
opposite Miss EverinGbam. he did nc
MI L.. L