The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1883-10-13

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he said, dropping his voice to q low, i'm
passioned tone, II would not jar upo
your feelings for the world. see yo
are in grief; let me sympatbize with yo
believe me, your grief robs me of al
JOY"
She suffered him to place her han
upon his arm and lead her away, ,suffere
him perhaps, because sympathy is mos
dear to us all; and he had come to her Il
her hour of weakness.
She knew Lord Ellesmere as handsome
gay, and witty, but man against re
ceiviDg the attentions of whom Ralph ha,
often warned her.
Il will show Ralph, she mused, as sh
suffered the young nobleman to lead he
along toward the wood, ''that be is no
altogether so Indispensable to me as h
imaginesv'
And in this wav she made an effort I,
rouse herself from her sadness, urti
presently she had forgotten Ralph alto
gether, and was listening, breathless viii
interest, to accounts of the great worlC
and its line ladies.
What change this must lie from tb,
life of poor doctors drudge in a crowd
ed East-end practice.
"You must be very happy with SC
much gaiety, Lord Ellesmere," she saiC
with sigh.
"Who can be happy without the one
thing alone which constitutes true hap.
pinessp All! Miss Lee Bessie-let me
call you Bessie9 you could only know
how, sick Of all this gaiety.I have yearned
for you! Night after night haye slipped
away from my gay companions, that ]
might see your shadow; Bessie, l love
you, madly, devotedly! Come with me;
be my wife; and you shall outshine them
all-wealth, talent, birth. shall bow be.
fore you, for you will be my queenr'
And she, poor fool. thinking OF her re-
vepge, and intoxicated with her triumph,
accepted him, and suffered herself to be
drawn towards the fame, as many q silly
moth had been before.
1t was night ere she reached home, &C.
companied by her new lover, intoxicated
with praise and triumph.
HE was lover" she kept repeating
to herself, noble and witty and passion
ately devoted.
'Did not love flash out upon her from
his great blue eyes. and did he not show
her thousand little attentions. of which
Ralph had never Thought"
So she twisted the great diamond en-
gagement ring, which Lord Ellismere
had given her, around her finger and
dreamed her dream.
He had asked her to keep the engage
ment secret until he oould obtain his
fathers consent, and she had promls d.
Otherwise what pleasure she would
have had in saying, Ralph Braybrook
chose to leaye me, and accepted Lord
Ellesmere."
Bessie cried her mother; sin the
name of everything you love. child, what
have you suffered to come between you
and RalphP"
1--WE have quarreled, mother, and the
match is broken off," said Bessie, setting
her lips defiantly.
"Oh. my child, my child" cried her
mother; "do not play fast and loose with
an honest affection like his. He is al
most broken-hearted. Remember, men
are not to be treated like toys; they haye
feelings which must be respected"
"And SO have women, mother" said
the girl; TASK me no more. I have done
with Ralph"
But for all that her conscience smote,
and once or twice she had almost resolv-
ed TO write to Ralph, and make up.
In the morning, however, came
splendid bouquet and passionate note
from his lordship; SO she allowed herself
to drift with the current,
A month passed.
Bessie was haggard and pale, and yet
persuaded herself that she was desperate
ly In love with Lord Ellesmere.
Zone afternoon she received a note
from her lover, urging her TO meet him
by the poacher's oak in Ellesmere Park.
1t was their usual trysting-pla
1t was pouring with rain when she
started, and showed every indication o: .
stormy afternoon.
But something unusual about the note
seemed to demand her attendance on the
spot.
When she arrived there she found him
pacing up and down in the most agitated
manner.
"All is discovered, Bessie, my darl-
ing!' he said, rushing to embrace her;
you must aid me or am lost"
"HoN?" she cried. terrified.
You must away to London with me
at once. / have got a special license;
once married l fear nothing; the estate
Is entailed. and l will soon persuade my
father to forget his anger"
"oh, Reginald" she cried, ''alone."
Certainly, darling" be said, NOV
this instant! l have no time to wait, fer
even now my father is posting down from
London"
Il dare not, Reginald" she said, cling
ing close to him, for the storm had now
burSt with such violence that it terrified
her; II am afraid" and then suddenly
she released herself, and drew back, look
ing at him with newborn fear.
afraid of whAt?' he said. II call
God to witness that mean to be true to
you; i: not, may this lightning strike me
dead"
Then there came binding glare Of
light, horrid crashing Of branches.
Lord Ellesmere lay at her feet, aud q
man dashing through the trees caught
the ahrnal fnE MIL Il, HE .-..,a 4 -