The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1884-01-12
Stlett Storp.
FORTUNES WHEEL.

EUKlUNh D w Vuhhn'
7 aoDt know. returned the girl dream
.nswering some question (; but her mind
arideutly wandered from it and is lost
/. .,,J hbyrinths of its own creation. She
;,,inr HI amid the scented clover-a great
srs # nine trees making fragrant back
nndLapd has taken her knees into her
.br,ce Her large earnest eyes are full
an intensity almost terrible in one so
,n,s and fragile, and are fixed upon the
III IN the view through which the ocean
~ h. seen. as it lies moaning far down
hber lap heap of dying roses are
.riltiug the sweetest perfume. Half-for-
s,tru they are lying there, though plucked
,Eor agone to adorn the quaint old
T.devood jars in the drawing-room.
That / love you 2 says the young man
,Bo i stretched at her feet upon the grass,
aipg into her preoccupied face with
.rioTs ntentness. Evidently his prolonged
.,e dislreSses her; she fushes delicately,
nd turns her head away.
.Jet us talk of something else" she says,
rah poor attempt at lightness.
Afterwards if you will. But first |
up, yet to the root of your mysterious
ppeeb returns he, shifting his position so
70 bring his eyes again to bear upon her
nert,A face. .You have almost told me
i,t You don't believe in my love for you.
Not quite that
Yes, quite that, as it seems to me. L
yant YOU to tell me why ?"
How can L? Even to myself an ex-
,b.,ton would be difficult; and to you
She hesitates; her head is bent now
br .seaIer fingers are toying nervously
nth the roses in her lap; the pale flush of
,moment since has deepened into burn
hg crimson. Still pitilessly he keeps his
syes upon her face, as though her childish
sufusion and distress afford him some in
reimbursement. With persistence that
mounts to cruelty he watches each varla-
6on of her mobile features, finding, in thus
Studying her transparent mind, selfish
ieasure not to be foregone.
go Oh. he says, evenly. ''To me =
Why wall yon pursue the subject?
he asks, tremulously, raising her large eyes
10 his for moment,
Because / wish it, returned he, still
gling. Under the smile, however, there
i touch of mastery beneath which she
nOres uneasily.
-Ifyou will have it, then, she says,
"iisthis: there are moments when l think
you love me: there are moments ghen
seem to know it-but there are many mo.
nnts when ] doubt your power to be faith
hL'
He throws himself back on the grass and
hHghs aloud. Perhaps he has not seen the
iDny on her young face or the %istfHl
bnging to be contradicted in her beautiful
gS.
What baby you are, Vera! And so
pu think, with the little wisdom bred in
your pretty head in this old-fashloned
gange-or borrowed from the village down
beOw-you can read me through and
through and shift my character with ease.
Well think 50 still.
Such thought is torture, returns she IN
! low voice, desolated by touch Of tender
st passion. 'Tell me rather than that my
dOubt is false"
"A taste of punishment will do you
god, retorts be, smiling still and pinching
her little shell of an car in gay fashion.
Tut let us now speak Of that something
else you were so eager for while ago.
A sudden, curious flash lights her eyes
her nostrils dilate. 1t is but momen-
iry thing and then is gone.
well what shall it be about ?" she says
rlnly.
You, of course what other subject
bleste for ?" says Stainer, quickly. Per
hapS be has seen that sudden flash.
"YOu don't ask what | care for: says
the girl slowly, her manner little strange.
"Because-was / wrong?-I believe L
would be your first thought, as you are
nine? And, surely, you should take pre-
cedenee in our discussions.
"EIer newborn anger dies. a heavenly
expression comes to her soft face as she
turns it upon him.
"TO think you must leave me this very
evening" she says, with tears in her eyes,
Only for a little time
You are glad to go back to your Lon,
d0n%-with a side glance at him full OF
reproach.
4 can be glad of nothing that takes me
may from you" There is real feeling
y his handsome face, as he says this,
You know that, at least, Veda?'
For answer, she holds out one band to
nm, which he kisses lovingly; and still
aolding it, drags himself even nearer to
aer over the swaying grass.
Still you love the town" she says. jeai,
,usly.
Well like it,"
Yet when your uncle, over there,
pointing vaguely in the direction of some
wooded lands on her left, ''dies, you Will
nave to live down here most of your life.
Il shall have you then ?" says Stainer.
u, ]Ah yes. But if you prefer the town
" nat pity it is | could not go there with
fon."
1T wouldn't suit you, says Major Stain
l l slowly, "You are only little violet
ne 1 more charming to me'-hastily-sfol
mat but you would, l fear, feel yourself
OSt I'm IN that big world you speak of.
Not lost, with you," says Vera, uneer'
AMY Somehow her great eyes, resting
% MN as they do with soft question anc
wonder J in their depths, put him opt WOO
luily, man of the world though he be.
IN "of course, not in that sense" he says
Dut you have no idea how different yor
ire from the women one meets up there.
Are they soyery lovely p asks the CIR
'u low, dishearted Tone
!, Not so lovely by half as you, most O