The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1884-06-14
A HEART OF ICE.

A HEART OF ICE.
II tell you frankly, Lswis, that she is
very fascinating at times. though the
most heartless, wicked hlrt that I eyer
met. With the most faultless face and
figure, the most brilliant talents, wealth
and position. Geraldine Churchill wins
heart to crush it with the most cutting
sarcasm and coolest cruelty. She pre-
tends to look upon all wooers as mer-
cenary seekers after the beiress, but this
is her excuse for the cause OF her heartless
coquetry,"
You are harsh, Lizzie" said DR..
Lewis Rogan, smiling on bis little sister
mo, am only true. You have never
seen her, aud you have been away SO
long. have seen her so cold and cruel
that wanted to warn you"
''And we meet her tonight"
"Yes. She is some relation of Mrs.
Lees, and is always at her parties. Now,
tell me all about your journeyr"
Geraldine Churchill was standing un.
der the blaze of large chandelier when
Lewis Rogan and his sister entered Mrs.
Lees parlors. Her flush of proud beauty
and her regal figure was carried with
qneenly grace. On the bands of jstty
hair that swept in broad braids low on
her neck sparkled diamond stars, and
the folds of black velvet fell round the
| full figure in rich masses. In spite OF
the warning Lewis could not repress a
q start of admiration.
Lewis found himself drawn into des-
criptions OF travel aud easy conversation
by that manner that had the highest
charm, that of putting strangers perfect
ly at ease. He left her at last, dazzled
and amazed, yet owning somewhat the
truth of Lizzies assertions. There he'd
been e ,shes of wit that cut deep aud ke n
into friends foibles. pungent sarcasms,
and sharp satrical phrases that told too
clearly of the Indifference for wouL ded
feelings.
Many times in the coming season they
met, aud Lewis threw caution and pru-
dence to the winds, yet he kept his love
hidden.
Geraldine Churchill suddenly vanish
ed. Mrs. Lee said she hal gone into
the country to reside. Lewis Rogan
shut up his longing heart and turned a
brave face to the world. he was no
puny. whining lover.
Far away from the city, where she had
queened it SO successfully for one short
winter. Geraldine Churchill lived in II
small cottage home in small village.
With the crimson gone from her cheeks,
the light gone from her eyes, in plain
dark dress, the late belle moved among
the poorest If her reighbors, bearing no
trace of the belle, save in her winning
smile and naughty tones. In the cot
tige. where the sick moaning sufferer
craved woman's care, ber hand was ever
ready to minister, her voice to sooth, !
At first whispered, then in the loud cry
of terror rose the sound of despair, an
infectious fever of the most trying de-
scription was raging in the little village.
Seeking it up and down, in the lowest
cottage or the respectable farmhouse,
Geraldine Churchill nuIsed, oomforted
and tended the sufferers. Volunteer
doctors had come from cities within
reach of the cry of woe. By one bed.
side. where the pale flush of death had
followed the fever-Aush, Lewis Rogan
again met Geraldine Churchill. She
had been watching many weary nights,
and as she raised her weary head from
/ bending over the corpse of her patient
her eyes met Lewis Rogan's bent in ad.
miriug tenderness upon her. She was
tired, weak and i'll, aud with cry upon
her lips, she stretched forth her arms
and fell fainting at his feet. 1t was the
beginning of fever fastened upon &
frame exhausted by long nursing. Ly'
, ing helpless and unconscious for days,
there were not wanting nurses for the
r noble woman who suffered for them
; Not a well hand in the village but whaI
E was stretched forth for her; not m eye
/. in the village but Whist shed tears for hel
danger. Formost of all stood Lewi'
! Rogapl Willing nurses aided him, and
his devotion was unwenried. Sick
feeble and dependent. she was thous
and fold more dear to him than wher
she swayed all hearts in her regal beauty
q He won her from deaths grasp. prayful
a ly and skillfully, and meekly she owned
: that she owed the boon Of her life to hi
care.
q 1t was when the wiuter frosts hat
D swept away the fever that he told her hi
love aud patience.
g "You love me-" she said tendeTly
g Listen, while tell you my story. Fiv
years ago. here in this lit.le village,
listened to such tale, from lips that hat
9 long before charmed my heart away.
was rich and courted then; but on
month later my father died, and wa
i left poor and nameless, proved an adopt
ed child and forgotten in the will. Othe
o heirs came to claim all. I started out il
II the world TO teach. He told you Of de
serted me, took all The wealth Of my frs