The Osceola times., 1884-08-23

would sing to myself the whole of the day;
With comb of pearl would comb my hair;
And still as combed would sing and say.
What Is IL loves me2 who loves not me2'
As she sung, Alfred Luray regarded
her with look so intent, so absorbed
and so admiring, that the girl beside
him sighed unconsciously.
"Come, Al, let us CO." she said coldly.
II dare say we shall meet her at the ho-
tel, or somewhere about Garnwold vii
lage. And suppose shall be compell-
ed to recognize her as an old acquain-
tance," she admitted rel uctsntly, as the
fair vision again vanished.
"Will you, indeed?" he commented in
gratifed surprise.
81 knew Celestia Ausley long ago."
Annie responded with new gravity. 81
never liked her and | am sorry she has
come to Garnwold."
"Why must every woman dislike an
other who happens to be beautiful or in
any mqnner SUPERIOR" the youns gentle
man queried laughingly.
II only dislike shams," the girl an
swered IN her blunt and direct way,
"and giided sham more than all. And
shall be sorry if Celestia delude you, as
she has succeeded in deluding many an
other who perhaps were less -" she
hesitated, delicate pink flush waveTing
over her calm features.
"Less what?" / e inquired, smiling still
MI i'm nd. rptf I'm
her bluutest and most uncompromising
candor could Leverprovoke.
LESS weak, am afraid, Alfred" she
said with astonishing composure.
"You are more candid than fiattering,
Amie," he returned uneasily but with
no vexation. "But after all / love you
the more dearly for your utter frankness
always and in everything. And you
need apprehend nothing that will ever
cause you one slightest regret for me-"
And he meant what he averred. But,
nevertheless, as time went on he became
unmindful of his promise-mindful of
nothing but the destinations of one fair
woman, the beck of whose small white
hand had q charm to lure him whereso-
ever she might will. He did not quite
mean to abjure his allegiance to another !;
he certainly had no wish to grieve, nor
to affront his promised bride but he
was indeed weak-so pitifully weak, and
the temptress 80 very fair.
And beside, Annie seemed to have be-
come 30 placidly Indifferent to it all !;
she never seemed to feel distrustful nor
neglected, but was always her sedate and
amiable self, maintaining only polite
and mildly resolute reserve toward the
captivating woman against whom she
ventured no more warnings.
annie is not capable OF any great pas
sion of any kind, neither of any fine ser
timext nor sweet enthusiasms," he
would think, apologizing to his own
conjunction. 81 like fire and spirit !;
and / do not know that | should be
judged weak and blamable just because
l turn to another for what she can her
self never afford me-"
But perhaps in her quiet way, An,ie
suffered; perhaps in her opinionated
way she believed that her weak and
recreant wanderer would sometime sure
ly return to her affections certainly IN
her independent way she never seemed
TO require the attentions that he had lat-
terly denied her. She went about her
strolls alone-sedate and prim and self
sufiicient-an indefatigable explorer of
all the picturesque wonders of Garnwo.d.
Late one afternoon she paused in the
tangled hollow beside the little lake, and
reposed herself upon the cool dry grass,
listening absently to the drowsy rustic
of the leaves, and the lazy tapping of
the water upon the rocks below.
Presently the sound of familiar voices
came through the wall of frs before her,
and as half unwillingly she peered into
the glade beyond, she Deheld her be-
trothed husband, and the fair woman
who had charmed his heart from her.
They were standing on the utmost
verge of the mossy bank, she contem-
plating the purple waters that glistened
far below but the man seemed uncon-
scious of everything but her presence
he watched only for the soft bushes of
the perfect face, ,)and for the coquettish
smiles of the handsome crimson mouth.
Suddenly he bent toward her and
seized both her small, jeweled wrists.
"You shall speak, will be answered
now," he said, passion in his dreamy
eyes and sternness in his polished voice.
81 was warned against you il was warned
that you are gilded sham-a woman
who deludes the hearts of men for the
sport of Summer day. But l have
chosen to believe you true, have chos-
en- to believe that you can love as |
would be loved and for all my faith IN
you, Celestia, demand that you end
suspense can endure no longer"
She struggled from his ungentle grasp
and made little cry ofcoquetish protest.
But at that moment another individual
"a gentleman of an unpleasantly pie
beian aspect-strode across the glade and
her.
Il have been searching for you every
WHERE" he said irritably, as he drew her
submissive hand within his arm, and
with grudging and boorish sort of
salute toward poor Al. Little Rolly is
sick again and have come
to take you home. am obliged TO you,
sir, for your attention to my wife," he
added, with peculiar chuckle, and an
other grudging acknowledgment to the
astounded Alfred Luray.
The young gentleman could scarcely
as yet realize the significance of il all
but AS the two moved away he lifted hi :
hand to his forehead and turned, as if
to shut from his sight the cruel thing
which had wounded him.
His nov, ment was incautious, and his
needless feet slipped on the mossy verge
ofthe steep tank, and the next instant
he fell forwar1-down, ever down, to-
ward the glistening depths below.
And moment later, Annie, from her
covert in the tangled hollow, beheld him
lying, like one dead, among the rocks,
the lazy water tapping his pallid face,