Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1884-07-04

wider darker, drearier, wa, the di,is-
ion between him and the youth in
which he had refused to wed his
fathers ward.
Ills hostess noting the look Of wea-
riness upon his face, tapped him light.
| ly with her fan.
"Ihere is one here who will not
bore you she said, laughingly. "You
have not met the beautiful artist Of
whom we all talk because we find no
subject 50 agreeable? Then | will
give you new delight" and, LAYING
her Jeweled hand upon his arm. she
led hIm across the wide room to where
a regal woman held her court. Where
had ne seen that face, he wondered.
bending low before the stranger. who
received him as a queen might. It
was dark and calm, but the great eyes,
all gloom and power; there lips, with
their delicate curves; the white brow,
from which flowed back a mass of
dusky, unrippling hair, struck on him
like the memory Of a half-forgotten
dream.
"Haye | met you before?" he asked
her, later in the night And he fan
cied that the dark eyes saddened as
they turned on him.
"Would You have forgotten me?"
She asked with slow smile. And he
told himself, with a new thrill at his
heart, that he never would. Once
looking on that lovely face would leave
it engraved on his heart forever.
For three months from that night
Allan Dreeme suffered the agony of an
uncertain love. His heart was filled
with the glory Of her beauty. filled
with hope and fear. So many beside
himself sought the smiles of this regal,
dark-eyed woman, whose brush had
made her famous. Ard then, one
night, when he found himself alone
with her among the bloom and perfume
of conservatory, again at one ol
Madame Riviere's balls, where, annie
| .'glitter and glare" he had first seel
her, beautiful queen, he laid hi
heart at her feet and trembled, becaus
she was 50 long silent.
Within the music swelled; tn
| laughter Of the guests reached then
soft. sweet. mirthful. He bent HI
proud head in meekness, waiting f'
IsShe lifted her dropping eyes and Ia
fair hand on his arm, IA tremulous j
touching her warm lips.
..Allan,' she said softly, when
went forth from the home your faith
left you l had no hope of this. l love
you then, Allan, and heard you So
words which | have never forgOtte
l heard you te | your father to let yot
heart choose its own mate. Are yC
sure-sure, Allanl that your heart hi
chosen Leolne Elmar 2"
"Leoliner' he cried, shrinking, "gc
are not Leoliner'
81 have not been called so since tn;
summer day. when a beart-sick, hop
less child of seventeen, | knew [ love
you, Allan, and you gave me no returl
But, if you love me-I am doubtin
still, Allan
"Oh, do rot doubt my love-"
whispered, taking her hands, and draw
ing her toward him; II was then
thoughtles' youth, and my father
wish to bind me seemed cruel. al
a man now, and my heart has spoke1
Is not the mans love more worthy i
Jour sight thar that of the boy coul
be, my darling? If you loved me theI
do not tell me that l caused that Low
to diel'
"Does love ever die" she questioned
gently laying her beautiful head on hi
bosom; mo, Allan l Ihayenot forgotten
it was that love which drove me fror
Dreeme Hall; it was that which ken
me strong, when | found the world $
cold and hard to me! 1t was that fo
which, when | had gained friends an
fortune, | refused a coronet! Te
years stretch drearily between to-nigh
and that summer day, Allan, on whicI
| took my young heart from Dreem
Hall and bore it far from you, with tn
hope that ! might teach it to groy
! calm; but ! could not calm it. M
dearest; it would quiver and thrill a
thought Of you, at the sound of you
name. You will have to love me wei
to erase those sad, sad years, Allanp'
His eyes were misty a, he held he
to his heart and laid his loving kisse
on her beautiful face.
MY lovel my lover he said sadly
was it but memory of my coldness
my blindness, that you could take witt
yoC? How can | ever win your com
plete pardon for the past?"
by loving me WELL" was the low
toned answer.
Had you but remainedr" he whis
pered my blindness could not hav,
lasted long. | would have wakeneC
TO your worth; would have sough
your love, long years ago, my peerles
darlingl"
ALLAN" she said gently, passing he
lewelled fingers through his halr, "w,
seldom realize the truth of the poet'
words: