The Warner weekly sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1885, 1884-08-08

4 tl14S 2A44t LlAtNh" AJlS U III CAl1bACo
But though tears drenched her
cheeks, II cannot tell you what you ask,
was all the answer Violet gave to her
husbands moving appeal. -
More words passed, angry and bitter
upon one side, passively heard upon the
other; and then the husband and wife
parted, and Violet was left alone in her
| girlhood's home, a child in years, with
more than a woman's heritage of suffer
ing.
The next morning, without waiting
to bid farewell to the hostess whose
happiness her secret spite had
blasted, Maria Danton left the Hall.
Six years have now run their course
since the above. 1t is morning, and
upon the sands of q quiet watering
place two gentlemen are strolling to-
gether-one handsome, with a frank,
| good-humored face, the other tall, dark
and very grave.
"Tm so glad I fell in with you, old
fellow" the younger ii is saying.
where have You kept yourself since
we met IN Paris"
Abroad" is the answer. II only
returned last week, impelled by a long
ing to set foot once more upon my ma
tive soil; but l find now that l am here
that l have no desire to remain. The
associations revive the old pain too
| keenly. / shall take the next steamer
out again if nothing happens to change
my determination"
Mark Blair looked up into the dark
face beside him curiously; but ne had
not known his companion long enough
to possess the clew to its gloom.
With ready tact he turned the con-
yersation.
well, while you are here you might
as we'll have a little social enjoyment.
What say you to making a call with me
tonight? / have an aunt who has a
villa here who is She soul of hospitality,
and would be charmed, Iknow to make
your acquaintance. Will you come?
By.the-by she has a friend visiting her
who is as beautiful as a Peri, and is q
magnificent musician"
"The latter is an inducement, Marks
companion answered. / am passionate
ly fond of music. But / fear my society
manners are sadly out o. repair. How
ever if you wish it, / will accompany
you willingly"
And so at 8 o'clock, just as the young
moon filings her pale radiance over the
waters, the gentlemen walk slowly
along the path to the villa, whose
grounds slope in a succession of ter
races down to the sands.
As they near the house they retard
their steps, for through the open win
dow sweet sounds steal out Upon the
night air.
Pausing beneath the balcony they
listen
The song is a sad enc, and is sung in
a voice whose melting pathos pene-
trates n mans heart with a potency
so strong as to cause his face to pale
and his limbs to tremble beneath him.
He laid his hand upon Marks arm
with an urgent pressure.
do not go yet" he said. "Wait and
see if she sings again."
"All right" Mark whispered back.
"But if you are charmed with her voice,
just wait until You see her face"
But the song ended; there came not
another. Instead, a tread of feet and
rustic of silken drapery above their
heads apprised them that the Sc
cret ~songstress, accompanied by anoth-
er has emerged from the room into the
balcony.
Another moment, before the two men
had time to make their presence known,
| they became the unintentional listeners
| TO an ardent love declaration.
81 have looked In vain this whole
week for an opportunity to speak with
you alone. Oh, Violet, thank you.
thank you, for granting it to me at last.
| Surely, you know what / am going to
| tell you-how madly, desperately / love
you. Violet. your manner to me has
never given me any encouragement,
but I can not believe that / am wholly
Indifferent to you. Such devotion as
mine must win some return"
Al soft voice interrupts him.
aDo not thank me, Cousin Ralph"
| it says; IT indeed understood your de-
sire for an interview, but / have only
| granted it to you to show you the
| h-opelessness Of your attachment"
aWhy shopelessness?' There is Mt
ter despair In that word. You are your
own mistress, young and beautiful,
| capable of loving and of inspiring love.
Why say shopelessness?
because, comes the sad reply, sit is
the right word for me to use. Cousin
Ralph, I have loved, but he who alone
possessed my heart is cold in his grave,
! and all my hone ia buried with him.