The Warner weekly sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1885, 1885-08-21

that direction when he chOSe 10 eAeE-
else il. soon found himself engaged
in a most delightful discussion with
his lovely guest. At a late hour they
separated. and as Carl took his wite's
arm and walked up to their chamber
it suddenly flashed into his mind that
until that moment he had not been
cognizant of Lillias' presence once
That evening.
The DAYS and weeks pessed at Leigh
Manor House. The June roses were
showerIng their rosy leaflets down
V e the lawn which sloped to the
river, like an expanse of emerald vel
vet; the apple trees had just lost their
mantle of pink bloom, and morning
and night the thrushes sang from the
maples-a whole orchestra OF mad, be-
witching music. Very merry were the
doings at the mansion-boating on the
river, riding in the park, playing GRO
Duet or tennis in the garden, and play
ing and singing in the dim, shadowy
parlor, or talking on the piazza in
the soft moonlight. Carleton Leigh
thought it was the happiest summer Of
his life.
He scarcely realized, though, how
powerful an influence Maud Armitage
had obtained over him. He simply
knew that he was best content when
in her company, that the sunlight was
brighter when she rode with him, and
the evenings more delightful as she
sang her old ballads with an art and
a sweetness that held him spellbound.
He was drifting, drifting with the
tide, and yet he knew it not. Only one
was conscious of it, and she only in a
vague, uneasy way.-the wife who felt
that be was changed Snmawav she
feared more than she knew, and her
fair countenance began to wear an
anxious, foreboding look, and some
times the soft brown eyes were full of
tears.
Carl noticed his wife's changing
looks one day, and very grayely asked
if she was i'll.
mo, Carl, I feel quite we'll"
''But you are pale, and you are los
ing flesh. See how thin you are, Lii
lias!" and he slipped the diamond ring
up and down the slender finger that he
remembered at n time had quite
filed the golden circlet.
at is the hot season perhaps" she
said, turning away her head.
''You ought to 90 out doors more.
Won't you GO boating with us this af-
ternoon?" asked Carl, solicitously.
mo, thank you Carl; l do not care
to-"
''Then come out and play croquet
on the lawn with US, Lillias."
81 never play croquet, you know"
she replied with a sigh.
s'Hullo, Sir CavalierI" cried Maud's
silvery voice, $50 you are making love
to your wife while your guests are suf-
fering from eanui! Don't sit here
like an owl, but come out into the
sun"
She laughed gsyly and went out, and
he arose and followed her. In her COM
pany he forgot the momentary thought
that had troubled him.
That afternoon they took a row up
on the river. Carl. Maud, Ellice, and
Guy and Stella Vincent, two young
folks from a neighbours house. Never
had Maud appeared so queenly, never
had her conversation been so brilliant.
She fairly facinated them all by her
scintellations of wit, her quickness of
repartee, her rare faculty for story
telling. And poor Carl admiringly
listened while through his brain flash
ed the thought, 'If I was free / could
win this glorious creature. Whv can
not Lillian be as brilliant pn
1t was nearly dark as they walked
up to the house, and the grounds were
dim in the twilight shade.
ssStella, Guy, you must see Lzliias'
rose tree" cried cousin Ellice. at is
q wonder" and she led them to a dis
tant part of the garden.
81 am tired said Maud. al think
a little music will cheer me Mr..
Leigh. shall not sing to you?n
He bowed, murmuring some gallant
speech, he scarcely knew what, as she
flashed her sorceress eyes full upon
him.
The piano stood in a far off, shad-
owy corner of the long high parlcr,
and her white hands sparkling with
rings went straying over the keys with
mastery skill. 1t was no schoolgirl
jingle; every note breathed fire and
passion, flames from the hot burning
Southern heart of the proud beauty
singing. She had a rich, clcar voice,
full and plaintive, and was a perfec,
mistress OF 1t.
1t was al italian opera that she
sung full OF lore and passion, and OF
music, too. and she played It from
memory. Carl went and stocd b. ner
side, and gazed down upon the Inn.
periously beautiful face. The be-.
witching spell of her music and hei
becuty. and the dreamy stiffness od
the hour fairly intoxicated him. He
felt that he could have fallen upon his
knees there and worshipped her.
She finished the opera, and the jew.
elled hands went wandering tremu,
lously over the ivory, the long black
lashes yelling the dark I~ustrcus eyes
Finally she stopped. whirled round Oh