Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1883-08-24
ETHELLNDE'S LOVE.

Ethelinde lourne came out from
amid the binding beauties of the
crowded ball-room-out into the
shadowy glory of the early autumn
night-to hide herself among the
tall old trees that rose like grim
phantoms before her, and dream of
her ife's great happiness and her
hearts great and glorious love.
She was wondrously fair in her
own gentle way, this Ethelinde
Lourne; wondrously fair with her
calm. sweet face, her large, deep eyes
her little graceful form, and her
golden hair. Aud tonight the
crowning glory of her life had come
to her in the guise of Carolyn La
Roy's love. lie had told her his
hearts story-how lie had loved her
SO long, and asked her to be his wife.
And on the morrow she was 10 give
him her answer. So it was she had
left the perfumed parlors ald come
out into the autumn moonlight to
think over once again the in.passioned
words he had spoken, a;id listen to
the answer that would echo in her
throbbing heart AS if she had not
known that answer for many
days: as if she had not known
bow she had strive' to suppress
the love for fear lie n light read
her secret before she knew his. He
was SO knightly, SO slpremely noble,
that she loved him is she loved her
life. All, what maj. Is werthv of so
great a love?
She stood for one brief moment in
the full glory of tho autumn night,
and pressed her hands. glittering
with flashing jewels, to the golden
head, and asked of herself if life
would always be to her as beautiful
as it was now. Like all answer to
her question, football upon the car
riage path close by broke the still
ness. She turned around quickly,
and saw woman standing mutely
before her-a woman with face as
white as the driven snow standing
there in the moonlight She looked
into the girls face in a wild. half
frightened way. She tried to speak,
but not sound passed her quivering
lips. At last she thrust out Ter
white, thin hand and caught the girls
fair arm, crying
Il want Ethelinde Lourne Will
you take me to her? For the love of
Heaven, take me to herw
The fingers closed convulsively
about the perfect arms, and left their
impress in the quivering flesh. Ethe
linde, with one wrench finging aside
the woman's hands, freed her arms
and said. calmly
Il am Ethelinde Lourne. Did you
wish to see me?"
wish to see you! Why, Ethelinde
Lourne. those words are mockery!
Did 1 wish to see you? Did / wish
to live! Do you know, had not seen
you tonight I would have flung my
self into yonder pool? My heart is
| bursting beneath its load of misery.
l feel at times almost bercft of rea
son; my sorrow is so great, 50 mad
dening. Ethelinde Lourne, | have
come to you as last resort. Come
to. you, the woman who holds my
reason, my very life, suspended in
her hand. Will you have mercy
upon me, oh. Ethelinde Lourne-
mercy upon me and mine?"
Ethelinde looked into the woman's
face. 1t was flushed and purple;
Der eyes were glowing, but one
thing was possible-the woman was
mad. And yet Ethelinde stood close
beside her-so close that the heated
breath swept across her face. She
tried to move. but the effort was
without avail: an unseen power had
brought her to this spot. and an un-
seen power held her prisoner there.
You think-you fear l am insane,'
the woman went on, abruptly. But
l am not. l am only Door wretched,
forsaken woman, who has lost all that
honor which women so highly prize.
1 have lost home. friends. happiness,
and honor. all for Carolyn La Roy
and his guilty love. He stole my
heart just as be has stolen yours.
Ethelinde Lourne, and then he took
my honor and left me. a branded.
heart broken woman. without friend
upon this great earth Oh. Ethslinds