The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-08-27

Eleanor did not try to hide her likin
I for the blithe young fellow. She treate
: him like brother, as Kate had con
planned, but Keith's hopeful dispos
] tion led him to interpret her evider
J triendliness as encouragement and b
1 waited in blissful security for the tim
! when he should speak and claim hi
own. Opportunities for meeting wer
numerous. They drove side by sid
over the rough mountain roads in til
primitive buckboard; they playe
matches at tennis, wherein Keith ger
: erously allowed Eleanor to win; the
made the discovery that they pulled tc
gether perfectly in a boat, and tina
Eleanor's banjo made a delightful &C
compartment to Keith's clear teno
when they were out on the water il
the long summer evenings. The mis-
chief did not take long to work, TO
Cupid's wings are not clipped at Ba
Harbor, and one evening on the rock
by the shore Keith poured out his ar
dent soul to the girl he loved.
Eleanor sat very still and cold Sht
liked the eager-hearted boy, anC
dreaded to give him pain, but she could
not love him, she thought. as the
haunting memory of another face rose
up before her.
'1t cannot be. Mr. Campbell" she
said slowly, twisting her handkerchief
nervously around her fingers. ''Do
not ask me for what cannot give you.
Keith's bright face fell, and a shadow
of pain came into his blue eyes.
You cannot be in earnest" he
urged, though his voice had lost its
hopeful ring. ''Surely in time you will
learn to love me, and l can watt
will wait
Indeed, it is of no use," sighed
Eleanor, remorsefully, feeling strange
thrill of compassion for him. Poor
boy, why must she give him nothing
but sorrow when he offered her his love
and his life?
''Have you been playing with meP"
he asked slowly and with set lips.
"Are you-engaged, Eleanor?"
She bent her head to hide her flushed
face as she answered:
mo, Mr.. Campbell, l am not en-
gagged. You have mistaken mel do
not love you-that is all" She spoke
with queer little catch in her breath.
"All!'' echoed Keith, and his face
was almost stern in its gravity as he
took her back to the cottage, and with
formal Good evening" he left her.
The next morning q letter lay on
Eleanor's plate at the breakfast-table.
''Have you heard the news?" it ran.
'"Tom Percy's engagement to his rich
cousin is declared at last, and people
say they have been engaged year at
least He is poor as poverty you know,
and everybody says he is after her
money, while she, poor thing, is awful
ly in love with his beaux yeux.
Eleanor's very heart was sick as she
read the words: II don't believe it, "
she said to herself, yet knew she did
believe it. But voice rang in her
ears: "Will you not trust me, Eleanor?"
DEAR Mr.. PERCY: Is it true, as hear,
that your engagement TO your cousin Is an
nounced? If it is, please let me be among
w - " ELINoR GORDON.
The note was sent, and for the next
few days Eleanor showed herself in
new light The old, sweet calm was
gone, and willful caprice reigned in its
stead. Keith did not appear, and she
firted and tested with other men in
way most unlike herself and which
reused grave suspicious in Kate's curly
head. 'Eleanor has refused him, and
she is sorry for it" the astute young
lady reasoned, but she had the wisdom
to avoid interference Eleanor wore no
pansies now, but deep red Jacques
burned with an angry glow over her
haavstfc r1laan fn
wrath in her breast.
At length the answer came, and she
hurried with it to her room. ''Dear
Miss Gordon" it began. 81 dare not
tell you what is in my heart tonight.
Fate is too strong for me, and | am
miserable. The story you have heard
is true, but beg you will forgive me
and not take away the treasure Of your
friendship. never needed it so much
as now, and cannot bear to give it
up"
Eleanor read the pitiful, weak words
with blazing eyes, and sprang to her
feet.
ITO think that any man should dare
to treat me like thatr' she cried, and,
yielding to q sudden impulse of indig-
nation and scorn. she wrote rapidly:
DEAR Mr.. TERcY: congratulate you on
the skill with which you conduct two hlrta-
tiOns at once and the assurance with which
YOU offer me the position of second lady In
the little comedy. 1t is pity such good
acting should be spoiled by an anti-ciimax,
for aSsuredly you cut but sorry figure In
the denouement of your plot.
It was evening, and the cool sea
breezes famed her hot forehead, lifting
the curly rings of dark hair from her
temples. Out on the lawn she heard
voices Of men and maidens laughing
as If the world were all sunshine. Il
shall never laugh like that again, she
thought, as she leaned her aching head
against her chair. Keith would not
have acted SO, - she said to herself, as
her anger began to give way to sorrow,
and hot tears rose to her eyes. She
did not stop to ask herself if the thought
Of Keith or Of Percy brought them
there. s.Elinor!' called voice from
the lawn. She dashed away the tears
and went to the window. ''What Is it9'
she asked.
..Alr. Campbell is going to take us
ont in 4 yacht to see the fires on Green
Mountain, answered Kate. Hurry
up and put on your things or we shall
be late.
She hesitated moment then threw
D fleecy white wrap over her head and
shoulders, and came downstairs in an
ewer to the summons. She had never
looked more lovely. NHer eyes cleaned
like stars beneath cloud OF dark hair,
while anger and indignation gave q
crimson glow to the brown cheeks and
3 defiant pose to the beautiful head
Keith,s heart beat high as she came
forward with her proud. sweet face,
bus sank again at the careless Good
evening" which was all the greeting
she Eonchsafed to him.
An hour later the yacht was drifting
idly with the tide. the wind having died
ont Other yachts IN the harb0r were
Illuminated, for It was gala night.
Rockets shot into the air, falling Ia q
rain Of brilliant colors, red and blue
lights burned on sea and shore, and
strains of music. softened BY distance,
came over the water. On the right
the red glow from the burning noun
tain ahone ia the sky. and was reflected
IN the sea. while slowly on the horizon
rose the full harvest moon. the same
moon that only . month AGO had shone
on Percy face and heard his pleading
voice. What did she see noWf By the
1iae cf the yAcht. ii lhe shadow oi the
ssil stood Eleanor. with d0Wncasf face
and nerFously working hands. while
beside her. bis speaking face instinct
with love eleQucuee. stood Keith
r..