Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1885-06-18
CARLETON LEIGH'S FOLLY.

rhs WIND Cdulc Ndii'iS WV iiNNi auu
alley sounding dreary and desolate
The inmates of Leigh Manor House,
!, on the hill amid its groves of
snles which were just budding
I the early spring-time of the
ear
carleton Leigh threw down the
ook he had been reading, arose from
h. sofa with a yawn, lit cigar, and
I'm bis hands in his pockets
shntered TO the window. In front
nread out pale blank of driving
lin, and farther on the avenue of
reps that led from the broad highway
4 the mansion; through whose branch
he could see the river IN the valley
below and the roofs and steeples of
IA distant village. Overhead the dis
IN April sky, leaden and sunless,
nread far and near, above and below,
II was duh and desolate,
iIt's 4 terrible Storm he said after
time as he turned from the window
"a the elegant room with its carpets
md tapestries, bronze cabinets and
fch upholstered furniture, all lighted
In by the the cherry blaze that burned
IN the marble hearth.
40 you suppose our friends will
Iome. Carl?" asked Mrs. Leigh, glanc-
Eng up from her embroidery.
a sent James an hour ago with the
&arriage. and hope they will not dis
ppoiat us. We are getting lonesome
here, Cousin Ellice's gay laugh will
make the old rooms merry. Are you
hcouinted with her friend Miss Armi-
aage?"
II used to know her, though we
Mere never very great friends. think
4bere is Creole blood IN her veins. She
very beautiful, but always thought
Der trihe vain and deceitful. | am
Almost sorry she and Elnce are such
reat friends, and that she is coming
here
"fie, Lillias," said her stately, six
foot, handsome husband. THE more
Mic merrier, and am glad she Is good
Booking | detest homely, dowdy
women. | should never have married
you il You had not been Passably fair.
81 believe they called you a beauty in
those days, and | don't see that YOU
haye faded very much, though yoked
DO such tyrant as myself.
Lillias Leigh blushed like a girl.
She was indeed pretty woman, and
khe looked very sweet and graceful
that afternoon in her stylish dress of
purple velvet, and her brown hair
sweeping in short curls from its couture
Dpon her neck. She was only %, and
they had been married only three
Years
'40h, You flatter," she said smiling
n, doubtless you think / shall be
ealous Of Miss Armitagc, but | shall
pot, Carl. | know my husband; and
pow promise me that you will treat
Dur friends with due courtesy. You
re disposed to he q little brusoue
bometimes. Now for my sake do not
be rude "
lie drew himself up with an air of
mock gravity. Il ilatter myself that
shall make as agreeable host as you
pay desire, and II Miss Armitage is
Fery very handsome, why. Inlay
-whew! there is the carriage now. "
Carleton Leigh YVES hardly prepared
70 see so superb beauty as met his
Eyes when Maud Armitago stepped
from the carriage INTO the hall like a
brd seeking safety from liz, storm.
And as Ellice Beaumont introduced
1nem in her easy, nonchalant way,
Cousin Carl, my friend Miss Armi.
page, and he held for a moment the
email warm hand and glanced into the
dark slumberons eyes, he was thrilled
with power and a magnetism such as
no mad never experienced before.
After supper when the lamps were
lighted and they all adjourned to the
parlor he had time to study her. How
Inherent she was from Cousin Ellice,
VINO was a small, lively thing, running
over with laughter. Maud ArrnItage
was tail and queenly, with a voluptu-
Ess,ss iahguor that told of Southern
blood. Her eyes were very dark and
iastrous, her face almost pale with
Just faint sea-shell tint on either
cneek, and her hair. neither brown
uor black. but of pale gold which
zoe wore like coronal upon her head,
might haze riyalled the glow and
spendcf OF the tabled Lilithis. Each
sahlng strand was fairy chain To
olnd as with the gives of slave the
heart of a man.
one was a brilliant conversational
~ and Carl, who had some talent in
'aat direction when he chose to exer-
Use II, soon found himself engaged
~ : most delightful discussion with
hs lovely guest. At late hour they
ssparated, aud as Carl took his wife's
inl ana walked up to their chamber
suddenly flashed into his mind that
aulli that moment he had not been
.osnlzant Of Lillias' presence once
Inc DAYS and weeks pessed mt Leigh
aauor House. The June roses were
covering their rosy leaflets down
oYer The lawn which sloped to the
I'VE rner, IKE an expanso of emerald vel
w the apple trees had just lost their
Mantle 81 pink bloom, and morning
NV night the thrushes sang from the
;ap,es-a whole orchestra of mad. be-
SSi;ch'ng music. Very merry were the
;ugs AZ the mansion boating on the
o ever riding in the park. playing GRO
Nv. ~ tennis in the garden. and play
~ and singing in the dim, shadow
ra'iof or talking on the piazza in
, wy s0it moonlight Carleton Leigh
NJ iIio W. 1t was the happiest summer of
noe ne scarcely realized, though, how
PoSerinl IN influence Maud Armitagc
Ia o obtained over him. He simply
h ulat he was best content when
hs; nv company. that the sunlight was
~ h'er when she rode with him. and
80 evenings more delightful as she
ner old ballads with an art and
Iuneetness that held him spellbound.
tida was drifting, drifting with the
W. W. ana yet he knew it not. Only one
vas ~as conscious Of IL. and she only in a
,bsue' uneasy way the wife who felt |
saas We was changed. Someway she
t,I. eu more than she knew, and her
an, countenance began TO wear an
ti nus foreboding look, and some
tears. o"h oyes "eto iuii VI
lootH noticed his wife's changing |
i shs one one dry, and very gravely asked