Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-09-20
MYSTERIOUS LOVE EPISODE.

| speak of such thing ! must first dis
cover if sweet Madge Craigie loves me-
Sweet Madge Craigie, indeed Fame.
calling her sweet Commend me to a MAJ
for being taken in by pair of brigh
eyes and a silly giggle! No man ever knew
vet who was his truest friend-Miss Craigi,
isn't yours"
Ny dear cousin, you are prejudiced
Madge has lived q great deal abroad, anC
acquired manners which l will aeknowl
edge do not exactly resemble those you are
accustomed to see every Gay; but she !:
more the less true and loyal and womanly
on that account, while she is certainly ten
times more fascinating than most of the
people one meets.
Humph p growled cousin Barbara
Well, those who live the longest Will see
the most
Then there was silence. Trevor Lane,
who was an artist, went on with his paint
inc. and the niddle-aged spinster he called
cousin Barbara sewed her white seam with
much diligence as she sat in the sunlight
on an old settee by the window.
Cross-grained though Barbara was, there
was one being she loved with deep, fer
vent devotion, and that being was Trevor
Lane. And so she ought, for he had been
the kindest of friends to her. Left at the
age of 80, without siXpence. Trevor Lane,
who was only her second cousin, had in
yited her to come and live with him and
manage his house for him. This for the
last 1ivc years she had done right consci-
cnJiously, both as regards housekeeping
and the giving such good advice DO she con-
sidered a young man required.
Trevor Lane accepted both services with
apparent gratitude bearing the infection OF
constant advice with SO much resignation
even Cheertulness, that he proved him elf
to be q thoroughly good-tempered fellow.
The fact was he WAS truly sOrry for his
cousin Barbara, who had, he considered,
been soured by bad treatment in the past
aud though it was no fault of his yet he
WAS resolved, if possible, TO make her life
fair and happy in the future. Hence every
cross word he answered with 4 careSs,
every recommendation that he should alIer
his ways with promise that he would be
Uircumspect
And 50 five wears had dawdled on and
the summer at ileathhcld, about 10 miles
from London, where Trevor Lanes studio
and pretty home were situated, came and
went with but few incidents 10 disturb the
current of the cousins TayS-tlll Madge
Lrllgle came.
This was the evil day for which cousin
Barbara had never ceased to lo0k-the day
on which Trevor Lane would elect to
devote to another some portion of the love
she wished to appropriate wholly to her
self
Trevor was not yet 30; how could she
expect it to be olherwise?' she would ask
herself repeatedly Then she would shake
her head and mutter: If could only like
her; but this Madge, this Eighty, silly
Nadge-to marry my Trevor All, me y
Cousin Barbara failed utterly to recognize
that whoever the girl was on whom Trevor
bestowed his affection, she would consider
objectionable and displeasing
For long while there Was no sound
heard in the studio save the flies buzzing
on the window panes and the old clock
ticking on the mantelshef Trevor him
self at last broke the silence.
Ma1ge is coming here this evening,
cousin BdTbara-you will be civil 10 her for
my sake Will you not ?'
Miss Barbara looked up suddenly and
saw the light of love in TIeyOrs flashing
eyes, the glow OF a deep passion on his
handsome face, and the sight Of it seemed
L. chill her heart TO ice.
She answered cOldLy: Miss Craigie
wants no warm words from me- since you
can utter them so gliDly it is enough; but
for the last time l sIy-beware."
Trevor Lane went on working deliberate
lY at his picture and Miss Barbara hud-
ding up the white work on which she was
engaged into bundle, escaped with it into
her own apartment.
When this scene took place the afternoon
was already pretty far advanced, and the
month being May, it was not very late
when the sun finally departed behind the
western hills. Trevor could no longer see
10 paint, but he fingered on in the studio,
gazing dreamily at his picture till it was
nearly dark.
1t last he shook himself back into
reality, and raising some portieres which
divided the studio from the Gwelhng-room
in which he and Barbara usually sat, he
went in, struck match and lighted
lamp which stood on his own particular
writing table.
Il wonder If she viii come-I almost
hope she will not. Till this prejudice of
Cousin Bab's Is overruled | must try and
keep her from the house. / would not for
worlds that she knew that Bah had taken
fancies into her head about her
And hali-nurmuring his thoughts aloud,
lac proceeded TO answer two or three bust
ness letters which had arrived during the
day One Of them necesSitated reference to
some old papers, and, taking a key from
his pocket, he unlocked the side drawer of
his table and began to look for the docu
ments he required.
SO absorbed was he in his search or the
the subject that caused it, that for the time
Madse Craigie and the trouble with Cousin
barbara was forgotten.
1t was not till light hand was laid on
his shoulder and ripping laugh fell on
bis ear that he looked up from the open
drawer into the sweet face Of the lady who
had bewitched him.
Is this what you call meeting me by
the garden gate and bringing me in to tea
with Cousin Bah? Look you, sir, | have a
mind TO be very angry
Not with me tonight, sweet lady. !
have had much to trouble and veX me-a
letter here which gives me endless worry.
Beside, Cousin Bah has gone to bed-shc Is
not we'll
Gone to bed Oh, then, ! ought not 10
have come, ! suppose
Since YOU are here, however, you will
not go. Let us chat together Tor little;
later on ] VIII see You home
And he rolled an easy chair 10 where
she stood and invited her 60 sink down
into its sottuCss, for Trevor Lane was
sybarite in his house. Madge Craigie
obeeel him, and, tossing her straw hat
from her head to the ground, lay back
among soft cashions-hcr golden, wavy
hair and white skin forming striking con-
trfej u their crimson hue.
Fa- "a moment or TWO he sat and gazed
at her in mute admiration, till her merry
laugh recalled him to himself
Oue would think that ! am a picture,
she said, instead of
So You are a picture lovely picture
tie embodiment oi my perfect ideal. say
Madse. beautiful. Madge viii you be my
own, my wife my very true devoted, low
ing WIfe2'
She looked into lis eyes. still laughing
Dear me, who; am amour, of truth and
devotion and tenderness you seem to re
quire And pray may ! ask how much
you intend to give IN return?'
Sly thoughts by day, my dreams by
have shall be yours if
only YOU will consent. Ny dearest Madge,
do not keep me in suspense, but tell me
Stop your rhapsodies, foolish man
Believe me, l am not worth them. III
acknowledge, however. that am rather