The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1883-04-19
THE TEMPTATION.

BY MARY REED CROWELL.
The meadow below was full of tende I
brightness; the scent of flowers came
down from far ON the breezy slopes.
Just beyond the great chestnut trees in
lhe hollow, the full moon was rising like
sgreat globe of pearl, and from her seat
on the piazza, in perfect little nest of
roses and honeysuckle, Juliet Carr saw
and felt all this summer beauty with
the faint languor Of q tropical dream.
"Julie!'
Laurons st. Laurens crossed the piaz-
70. and came and sat down at his b e.
1rothed's feet.
''You look like picture tonight,
dearest. Do you know it?'
"Yes?" she said, with only royal
smile as she acknowledged the compli-
ment.
And she was like picture-fair and
gracious asa queen, with blue eyes, and
great coils of lustrous, golden hair, with
; color on her cheeks softer and more
sender than the blossoms of the pink
soses beside her.
clark! who is that?" she said, as a
ight footstep sounded in the hall.
Mrs. Darlington, think, your sis
,er's companion. By-the.wa Julie
what a bright, sweet little thing she is!
Such girlisll widow, too, and with such
glorious black eyes and heavy lashes and
eyebrows. Somehow. she makes me
think of one of those little Southern
birds-all grace, sparkle and brilliancy."
~ never could account for the
strange taste you men display" Juliet
returned, almost contemptously
st. I.aurens laughed
"But, by Joye, she is a beauty! And
I tell you what it is, my Fair One with
the Golden Locks If l had not lost my
heart so hopelessly to you before 1 ever
saw Mrs. Darlington, there is no telling
what might have happened"
Despite the positive jest IN his tone,
Juliet drew away the hand he had taken
In unmistakable GOODNESS.
eff you really admire Olga Darlington
so enthusiastically, do not allow any en-
gagement with me to stand in the way"
"Juliep'
Miss Carr laughed strange sort of
first time the bitter draught of jeal-
ousy had been lifted to her lips. How
dare her lover speak in commendat;on
OF any women save herself?
That evening she went up to her own
room earlier than usual; not because she
was particularly tired, but because she
thought she would thereby punish Mr..
st. Lausens-wllo was fond of moonlight
and sentiment, and delicious summer
evenings-for his understandable notice
of her sister dark eyed hired compan-
ion; and, while sitting at her window,
the sound Of voices OH the piazza below
arrested her attention, She liste ned
moment, with her lovely red lips parted
it was Mr.. st. Laurcns and Mrs. Car
rington.
' "Ah, thought sol" she murmured to
herself. 1T would be no bad specu!a.
ton for this poverty stricken widow to
steal Laurens and his wealth in her net
on him now. I.know she is artful and
scheming; but if she dares to come in
collision with me- / would crush her as
would crush an insect to the ground"
Perhaps an hour later, there came &
soft tap on her chamber door, and in
obedience to the summons Mrs. CARING
ton entered.
II beg your pardon for disturbing you.
Miss Carr, but we're you aware that you
had dropped your bracelet on the piazza
floor? Here it is."
II am really sorry to have given yon
the trouble of SO heightened Search"
Juliet said, tauntingly. "Itseems it took
you and Mr.. st. Laurens some time to
discover the loss OF the bracelet"
Olga Carrington's cheek flushed pain
fully;
IF you would allow me to confide in
you, Miss Carr" she faltered. "Mr. St.
Laurens has told me that"
II have no wish whatever to become
the repository of your confidence. Nor
do care what Mr.. St. Laurens told you"
And with chill abruptness she motion
ed Mrs. Darlington from her presence.
II believe should have struck her
in another moment!' Juliet murmured
to herself. Il remember as child my
nurses shrank away from me when my
temper rose, and 1 think there must
have been the same feeling in my heart
when stood there and faced that
treacherous, black-eyed, red-cheeked
woman! Let her be careful how she
comes between me and mineW
Unconscious Mr.. st. Laurens paced up
and down the lawn, TRANQUILITY smoking
his cigar, His thoughts we're thoughts
of his lovely betrothed, while she
JULIE" he said, next day, ''do you
know had quite a chat with Mrs. Car
rington last night?"
II am aware of it" Juliet answered,
indiferently.
"And, by Jove Julie. the little crea-
ture has had most romantic life"
9h d6 don't doubt t s Juliet hnae said
rather strong out here. l think 1 shall
return to the library"
st. Laurens stared at her in utter be-
wilderment.
II suppose that means she does not
want to talk any more about Olga Car
rington. Well, of all incomprehensible
, creatures, commend me to woman as
the most incomprehensible! I hadn't
the least doubt but that she would be
interested, and here she snaps me up
before l get dozen words ofthe story
out"
It was a week afterward. and Juliet
Carr was coming home from long walk.
She had refused Mr.. St. Laurens' es-
cort on his fern-hunting expedition,
for no better reason than be-
down the long hall with Mrs. CARING
ton at bis side that very morning.
It was a long walk and the sun was
hot, and she felt weary, and-not a lit
tie cross, as she descended into the little
wooded hollow. to find that two other
persons were strolllng along beside her,
and by whom she was only divided by
tangled mass of wild grapevines that fes-
TONED almost mile of the road.
The other persons-Laurens st. Lau-
rens and Olga arlington.
The rich color fed away from Juliet's
cheeks as she nansed to listen-for they
nau arrived az the place where the roads
separated.
1--WE must not walk any further to-
gether," st. Laurena said. 'Some one
might see US, and you know we mean
to surprise everybody. No one is to
suspect anything about it yet, you
know"
And then came Olga, low, delicate
laugh:
''f can hardly realize it is true. Mr..
Laurens; it seems like some lovely
dream!"
"But I hope you will find it a blessed
reality" he said, tenderly. sYou do
not regret trusting me, Olga?''