The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1885-06-18
CARLETON LEIGH'S FOLLY.

morning to night one unceasino down.
pour swept along in binding gusts.
The wind came wailing over river and
valley. sounding 4reary and desolate
TO the inmates Of Leigh Manor House.
set, on the hill amid its groves Of
NAPLES which were just budding
IN the early springtime of the
Carleton Leigh threw down the
book he had been reading, arose from
the sofa with yawn, lit i cigar, and
with his hands in his pockets
sauntered to the window. In front
spread out pale blank of driving
rain, and farther on the avenue Of
trees that led from the broad highway
to the mansion, through whose branch
cs he could see the river IN the valley
neloW' and the roofs and steeplcs of
the distant village. Overhead the dis
mai April sky, leadcn and sunless,
spread far and near, above and below,
all was dull and desolate.
lit terrible Storm he said after
a time as lac turned from the window
TO the elegant room with its carpets
and tapestries, bronze cabinets and
rich upholstered furniture, all lighted
up by the the cherry blaze that Burned
on tho marble hearth.
do you suppose our friends will
come, Carl?' asked Mrs. Leigh, glanc-
ing up from her embroidery.
~ sent James an hour ago with the
carriage, and | hope they will not dis
appoint us. We are getting lonesome
here. Cousin Ellice's gay laugh will
make the old rooms merry. Are Won
acquitted with her friend Miss ARMS
tago?'
II used to know her, though we
Wero never very great friends. think
there is Creole blood IN her veins. She
IS very beautiful, but always THOUGHT
her trfle vain and deceitful. ain
almost sorry She and Ellice are snch
great friends. and that she is coming
here =
"Fie, Lillias," said her stately, six
1907, handsome husband. 1.-The more
the merrler, and am glad she is good
looking. l detest homely, dowdy
women. l should never have married
you II you had not been passably fair
L believe they called YOU = beauty in
those days, and l don't see that YOU
nave faded very much. though voked
10 such u tyrant as myself"
Lillias Leigh blushed like pir}.
She was indeed pretty woman, and
sho looked very sweet and graceful
that afternoon in her stylish dress of
purple velvet, and her brown hair
sweeping in short curls from it's coifure
upon her neck. She was only 23. and
they had been married onlv three
years.
''Oh, you flatter,' she said smilino-
~, "dOubtlcss you think I shall he
jealous of Miss Armitaec, but shall
not, Carl. know my husband; and
now promise me that you will treat
our friends with due courtesy. You
arc disposed to he little brusoue
sometimes. Now for my sake do not
be- rude.'
He drew himself up with an air of
mock gravity. II tiatter myself that
shall make as agreeable a host as YOU
may desire, and if Miss Armitaee is
very very handsome. why. I-I-may
--whew! there is the carriage now"
Carleton Leigh was hardly prepared
to see so superb beauty us met his
eyes when Maud Armitage stepped
from tho carriage into the hall like a
BIRD seeking safety from the storm.
And as Ellice Beaumont introduced
them in her easy, nonchalant way.
cousin Carl, my friend Miss Armi-
tage,' and he held for moment the
small warm hand and glanced into the
dark slumberous eyes, he was thrilled
with power and a magnetism such as
he had hover experienced before.
= After supper when the lamps were
Lighted and they all adjourned to the
Rnrlor he had time to study her. How
Inherent she was from Cousin Ellice.
who was a small, lively thing. running
over with laughter. Maud Ar,nltage
was tall and quccnly. with voluptu-
Gus ianguor that told of Southern
blood. Her eyes were very dark and
austrous, her face almost pale with
just faint sea-shell tint on either
cheek, and her hair, neither brown
nor black, but of pale gold which
she wore like coronal upon her head,
might have rivalled the glow and
splehdor of the tabled Lilithis Each
shining strand was a fairy chain to
bind as with the gives of slave the
heart of a man.
She was a brilliant conversational
1st, and Carl, who had some talent in
that direction when he chose to exer-
else il, soon found himself engaged
in most delightful discussion with
his lovely guest. At a late hour thew
separated and rs Carl took his wife's
arm and walked up to their chamber
1t 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 cxpanse of emerald vel
vet; the apple tree. 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 Misunderstanding on the
river, riding in the park, playing cro-
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
sang her old ballads with an art and
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 he was changed. Someway she
feared more than she knew, and her
fair countenance began to wear an
anxious, fore boding 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
ifshe was III.