Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-11-12
GALES aud sketthes.
DISCOVERED IN TINE.
lContinuec from yesterday. j
CHAPTER Ii.

CHAPTER III.
| When Mr.. Orde really did return, then,
| Miss Leonie accorded him jealousy cool
reception, vastly amusing 10 those accus-
toned to her natural warm-hearted frank
ness but, fully occupied in attention to
| his fdncee, the gentleman appeared per-
| fectlv callous to this ungracious treatment.
/ So perceiving TO her amaZement that she
was receding into the unusual position OF
a nonentity. the younger Miss Temple
was piqued into becoming her own self.
/ letting fall Der droll mask OF ceremony,
and slipping again into The old bright ways
/ that made her what Agatha called 'the
/ sunshine of The Beeches. Hating her
sisters future husband was Improbable
work now. ia fit of repentant amiabili-
/ ty. she resolved to please him.
! By the time this happy transformation
was effected. Mr.. Orde had been back a
month. and had discovered the value of
j the prize he had come home to fetch.
/ Five years had changed the girl-friend
/ he had left into beautiful woman, whom
ne was bound to love. not by promise only,
but by keen appreciation of her worth,
/ grown now and ripened even as she her.
self. And for weeks his task seemed very
easy, while to Agatha. increasing knowl-
| edge OF her betrothed increased her hap
piness. OF surety, the course of their
| love promised to run smooth. Proud Mrs
Orde's air of dignified graduation over
her sons excellent match grew day by
day; the village grew deeply interested in
the coming wedding and the bride-elect
began to be exceedingly busy over plaus
for her wide circle of humble friends
| well-doing while she should be away.
JestiDgly, Godfrey Orde would tell her
he grudged the time she spent in coufabu-
lations with Aunt Helen over the many
trusts to be left in her or rector's hands,
but the eager confidence with which she
would seek to draw him into her projects,
and her delight in his approval disarmed
him of any passing chagrin and left him
no shadow OF excuse fol- complaint.
They were all of them certainly very
happy-perfectly content. And yet
How a cloud rose on this fair sky, none
knew exactly. Those whom it overshad-
owed most acknowledged it last of all.
For it was so easy, so right of Leonie to
glide into treating ner almost brother with
the free winsomeness that kept her child
ish spite of her 10 years He was of ne
cessity almost as often her companion as
Agathas. She had been fond of him long
ago, and, was it not her duty to be fond
Of him now? TO what precise depths this
duty led her she didn't stop to measure,
until. alas, they were unfathomable.
And Geoifrey Orde, his word and honor
! pledged to Agatha. felt himself safe to
/ bask, pleasantly amused, in the animated
/ presence of her younger sister never find
/ ing out, till Mays warm weeks were en-
/ tered, and his wedding fixed for the first
! day OF June, that he was turning traitor to
| his troth that the charm of Leonie's CAV
nature was stronger thanithe sweet gravi-
! ty of that to which he owed allegiance.
! But not to himself would he allow this
| possible, at first.
II think" urged his mother, anxiously,
one night, when they were leaving the
| Beeches. II do think, Godfrey, as Agatha
sings no duets with you, you would be
wiser to sing fewer with Leonie.'
And whyP' said her son, shortly.
well Agatha may not like it, Other
people at least, they do notice it.
Agatha is entirely above any wretched
jealousy" said Mr. Orde. impatiently.
"Still, should be sorry" his mother
yentured on. that YOU should even seem
" Siieut NNuI WIZ liItJ WI Dt. L bOplt
might say Won were marrying for money.
and Agatha doesn't deserve that. Geoff.
rey."
with, or without money, she deserves
the best any human creature can give
her. returned Godfrey, warmly. Don't
fancy | uuderrate her. mother" And
that Mrs. Orde had to be satisfied, though
the ambiguous speech left her disquieted
Still, he meant TO be-nay. he vowed he
would be-loyal; and strong in self trust,
went next day to The Beeches, and found
himself listening for Leonie's step, watch
ing for Leonie's coming, made infinitely
glad BY the dangerous hours music. which
unsuspecting Agatha pressed on them.
while she gave audience to homely
guests.
That hour. he vowed, though. should
be the last of dalliance with temptation
that was getting too strong. Resolutely
he would avoid Leonie henceforth. reso-
lutely devote himself to Agatha. And
so for days he did, dulling his own spirit
into unutterable aching, bewildering Aga
tina, who thought the two had quirreled
and filling with pain unspeakable the
heart that was just learning its luckless
secret.
"How that child frets over your leav-
lng!" said Aunt Helen, pityingly; and
Leonie's sister. gazing at her, white and
listless, wandering through the garden,
wondered, with sudden fear. was it for
that alone she sorrowed,
A doubt. double barbed. shot through
: her mind. Guiltless herself, of alsity in
a single thought, it seemed unworthy
evil reasonable to two she loved. Blu
truth or treason it must be. Which, fol
the peace of all she must find ou; Il
wanted only two days OF her marriage
and. on the last evening but one. her near
est friends were gathered at The Beecbes
all noting approvingly the close atten
dance of Mr.. Orde at her side.
, Once only he left his post, when Leonie
| who had obstinately refused single song
suddenly yielded and sang, not the ca,
; air that used to suit her best, but the yer,
saddest of her strains, with tremulou.
pathos that ended in sob Then Geof
frey Orde drew slowly towards her. as i
scarce master of his steps. and, as the
, notes ceased, looked down into her fevel
, bright eyes with such glance as love o
Agatha had never awakened.
Standing near. with his young hostess
, was the rector, looking ten wears Older
than when he came to Wyniord. People
said the nlacp couldst Snit him,