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

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else il. soon found himself engaged
in q most delightful discussion with
his lovely guest. At a late hour they
separated, and as Carl took his wife'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
showerlng their rosy leaflets down
over 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
quet 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
san 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 n
was conscious of it, and she only in a
vague, uneasy way-the vile VINO felt
that he was changed. SOmeway she
feared more than she knew, and her
fair cOuntenance began to wear an
anxious, forebod;ng !""&, and s0Ine-
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, [ 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 one time had quite
filled 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 q sigh.
''Hullo, Sir Cavaliers" cried Maud's
silvery voice, $50 you are making love
to your wife while your guests are suf-
fering from enaaai.! Don't sit here
like an owl, but come out into the
sun"
She laughed gayly 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 rar faculty for story
telling. And poor Carl admiringly
listened while through his brain fash
ed the thought, eff / was free | could
win this glorious creature. Why can
not Lillian be as brilliant P"
1t was nearly dark as they walked
UP to the house, and the grounds were
dim in the twilight shade.
"Stella, Guy, you must see Lillias'
rose tree" cried cousin Ellice. sit is
a wonder and she led them to a dis
tant part of the garden.
al am tired" said Maud. 81 think
q little music will cheer me. Mr..
Leigh, shalt not sing to youpn
He bowed, murmuring some gallant
speech, he scarcely knew what, as she
flashed her sorceress eyes full upon
him.
The piano stood ia q far of, shad.
owy orn of the long high parlor,
and her white hands sparkling with
rings went straying over the KEYS with
mastery skill. 1t was no scnoolgir,
jingle; every note breathed fire and
passion, flames from the hot burning
Southern heart of the proud beauty
singing. She had a rich, clear voice
full and plaintive, and was d perfec
mistress Of it.
it was an Italian opera that sh,
sung full of love and passion, and o
music, too, and she played it from
memory. Carl went and stood by he,
side, and gazed down upon the Inn
periously beautiful face. The be
witching spell of her music and he
beauty. and the dreamy stiffness o
the hour fairly intoxicated him. III
felt that he could have fallen upon hi
knees there and worshipped her.
She finished -ae opera, and the Jew
elled hands went wandering tremu
lousy over the ivory, the long blacI
lashes yelling the dark lustrous eyes
Finally she stopped. whirled round o.
her stool. and Aaid with ono az ha