The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1884-06-26


laved the rocks below Dreeme hall,
rolled between him and his home; but
wider, darker, drearier, was the divis-
ion between him and the youth in
which he had refused to wed his
fathers ward.
His hostess, noting the look of wea-
riness upon his face, tapped him light
ly with her fan.
"There 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 so agreeable? Then l will
give you a new delight" and, laying
her jeweled hand upon his arm, she
led him across the wide room to where
regal woman held her court. Where
had he seen that face, he wondered,
bending low before the stranger, who
received him as queen might. 1t
was dark and calm, but the great eyes,
all gloom and power; the red lips. with
their delicate curves; the white brow,
from which flowed back mass OF
dusky, unrippling hair, struck on him
like the memory of a half-forgotten
dream.
"Have 1 met you before?" he asked
her. later in the night And he fan
cied that the dark eyes sadGened as
they turned on him.
"Would you have forgotten me?"
she asked with a 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, filed
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 a conservatory, again at one OF
Madame Riviere's balls, where, amid
.'glitter and glare" he had first seen
her, beautiful queen, he laid his
heart at her feet and trembled, because
she was so long silent.
Within the music swelled the
laughter of the guests reached them,
soft, sweet, mirthfnl. He bent his
proud head in meekness, waiting for
her answer
She lifted her dropping eyes and laid
fair hand on his arm, a tremulous joy
touching her warm lips.
ALLAN she said SOFTLY "when l
went forth from the home your father
left you had no hope of this. l loved
you then, Allan, and l heard you say
words which l have never forgotten.
l heard you tel your father to let your
heart choose its own mate. Are you
sure-sure, Allan! that your heart has
chosen Leoline Elmar?"
"Leoliner' he cried, shrinking, 'you
are not Leoline"
81 have not been called so since that
summer day, when a beart-sick, hope
less child of seventeen, knew 1 loved
you, Allan, and you gave me no return!
But, if you love mel am doubling
Still, Allan"
"Oh, do rot doubt my love!" he
whispered, taking her hands, and draw
ing her toward him; Il was then
thoughtless youth, and my fathers
wish to bind me seemed cruel. l am
man now, and my heart has spoken!
Is not the mans love more worthy in
your sight thar that of the boy could
be, my darling? Ifyou loved me then,
do not tell me that caused that love
to die!"
"Does love ever dep she questioned.
gently laying her beautiful head on his
bosom; mo, Allan have not forgotten;
il was that love which drove me from
Dreeme Hal; it was that which kept
me strong, when l found the world so
cold and hard to me! 1t was that for
which, when l had gained friends and
fortune, l refused a coronet! Ten
years stretch drearily between tonight
and that summer day, Allan, on which
took my young heart from Dreeme
Hall and bore it far from you, with the
| hope that ] might teach it to grow
calm; but ! could not calm it. my
dearest; it would quiver and thrill at
thought of you, at the sound of your
name. You will have to love me well
to erase those sad, sad years, Allanr'
His eyes were misty as he held her
! to his heart and laid his loving kisses
| on her beautiful face.
'My love! my lover he said sadly;
was it but a memory of my GOODNESS.
my blindness, that you could take with
yor9 How. can l ever win your COM
plete pardon for the past?"
"By loving me we'll" was the low
toned answer
"Had you but remainedr" he whis-
pered, my blindness could not have
lasted long would have wakened
TO your worth; would have sought
your love. long years ago, my peerless
darlingl'
ALLAN" she said gently, passing her
Jewelled fingers through his ha:r, eve