Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-09-09
HER EVIL GENIUS.

He was not so much to blame after all,
for he loved her even against his will. He
had striven, but in vain, to Danish the sweet
young face, all framed in sunny hair, from
his memory. 1t had haunted him with its
fair beauty, from the day he first saw it till
this day, when, with white woeful face, ano
tear-filled eyes, she cried out that he had
broken her heart.
cit was cruel p she cried, sit was npjust,
unmanly, and unfair, You spoke words Of
love to me, and believed you-earth was
heaven for the bright summer past, and all
the time another woman held your promise,
another woman wore your ring, and had
listened, before l saw your face, to youl
vows of love-"
81 never loved her, We're St. George
said; "you, and you alone, are the one love
of my life. You must believe this, Avis
you must not think me a scoundrel."
Avis Leigh smiled half-pitifully, half
scornfully.
''How that would lessen your right to the
title / cannot see," she said quietly; sit
would be no worse, nor even as bad, to woo
me, while you loved and were engaged tc
another, than to win her with words of love,
make her your promised wife, and then be
false to your vows. 1t makes little differ.
ence which you love-nothing can excuse
your action"
Vere's face flushed hotly, for he knew
that Avis spoke the truth; but love for her
had been conqueror over every other feeling
even honor itself had been hushed silent
for while; but there was, if no excuse, at
least some extenuation of his conduct.
Before he had ever even seen this fair
faced Avis Leigh, Sibyl Meredith had come
to his mothers home to make it hers-Sibyl
Meredith, the orphan daughter of his moth
er's dearest friend-a friend to whom she
owed the very gift of life itself, who had
saved her from death at the risk of her own
life when they were both girls.
Sibyl was about nineteen years old then,
a brilliant dark-eyed girl, with a rarely
beautiful face, crown of ebon hair, and
royalty graceful in every movement.
Sibyl Meredith, though beautiful as wo-
man seldom is, scanned to care for nothing
or no one save We're and his mother They
seemed to be her world, and Mrs. St. George
loved her for it, and We're, man-like, felt
dattered.
How it happened We're could not very we'll
tell, only it was his mothers wish, and then
the girl was so beautiful herself, and yet
and yet
Well, he had not the slightest intention
of asking her to be his wife that summer af-
ternoon, but somehow they had strayed
down past cliffs and crags, away to the
woodland beyond, and then the thunder
and lightning had broken SO suddenly over
them, and Sibyl was frightened and clung
to him, and he in the passion of the mo-
ment bent his head and kissed the trembling
lips, and called her darling.
After that-well, he had made fool of
himself; he would not be knave, so he ask
ed Sibyl to be his wife, and she had answer
ed him yes.
did not love the little dark-eyed beauty, and
easiness that there was something under all
The soft childishness of Sibyl's manner
that he could not understand.
But she had promised to be his wife, and
his ring glittered on her finger; and then,
be had met Avis Leigh, and learned what
love meant-passionate abiding love that
thrilled his heart with its very presence.
In vain he struggled against the spell of
her fair face and the CLINT of her yellow
hair, but love conquered every other
thought, and he put the memory of his faith
to Sibyl aside, showing Avis his love in ev-
cry word and look, knowing all along, how
ever, that he was acting the part of a vii
lain, but pleading his love to himself as his
excuse.
One evening he pleaded with Avis to be-
come his wife-to give herselfto his keeping
for once and for ever.
81 cannot wait, my darling" he said,
"Ob, Avis, will you not listen to mes"
She raised her clear pure eyes to his face,
half startled by the vehemence of his man.
ner.
ssThere is some reason, We're, why you
urge me to a secret hasty marriage" she
said. s'There is something you have hidden
from me. What is it, Vere?''
What could he do then but tell her the
truth, for she would find it out later-tell
her the truth, and ask her to pardon him
and listen to him for their loves sake?
But Avis only turned away in passionate
despair, and then he caught her hand.
''You must listen to me, Avis! My darling,
my darling, have mercy on me!' he cried.
''Do not wreck my life!'
She smiled bitterly.
"You had mercy on mep' she cried; then,
suddenly: "Do you think would rob wife
of her husband, the bride of her BRIDE
groom? Oh, shame, that any one could hum
Bile me with the thought