McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1885-04-16

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 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
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 he was changed. Someway 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 ILL.,
"No, 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.
"It is the hot season perhaps" she
said, turning away her head.
"You ought to 90 out doors more.
Won't you 90 boating with us this af-
ternoon?" asked Carl. solicitously.
''No, thank you Carl; do not care
to-"
''Then come out and play croquet
on the lawn with us, Lillias."
81 never play croqnet, you know"
she replied with sigh.
'.Hullo, Sir Cavalier!" cried Maud's
silvery voice, $50 you are making love
to your wife while your guests are suf-
fering from ennui! Don't sit here
like an owl, but come out into the
sum-"
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 row up
on the river. Carl, Maud, Ellice, and
Guy and Stella Vincent, two young
folks from neighbours house. Never
had Maud appeared so queenly, never
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 fash
ed the thought, eff | was free could
win this glorious creature. Why can
not Lillian be as brilliant ?''
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. ''It is
WONDER" and she led them to dis
tant part of the garden.
81 am tired" said Maud. 81 think
little music will cheer me. MIR.
Leigh, shall | not sing to you?"
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 parlor,
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 ploud beauty
singing She had rich, clear voice,
full and plaintive, and was perfect
mistress of it.
III was an Italian opera that she
sung full of love and passion, and of
music too, and she played it from
memory. Carl went and stood by her
side, and gazed down upon the i'm
periously beautiful face. The be-
witching spell of her music and her
beauty. and the dreamy stiffness of
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-
lousy over the ivory, the long black
lashes yelling the dark lustrous eyes.
Finally she stopped, whirled round on
her stool, and said, with one of her
hew11derinp smiles.
81 am going away tomorrow, Mr..
Leigh. Soyou must prepare to bid
me goodbye"
"Going away !'' he. gasped. so
Maud, where E'
Hometown South. I am tired
of this northern climate and the cold
hearts in it. Oh. my beautiful Louisi-
ana! that any one should prefer this
country to you -
Carleton Leigh turned white a mo-
ment, and then hot flush swept over
his face, He grasped one of the soft
lily hands and kneeling erred:
81 cannot let you 60. Stay, here,
Maud, and be the sunshine of my lite.
l never knew till now what paradise
you have made this world to me. Will
IL