The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1885-06-18
taN0 Carl I &oo1 hn.so we'll"

Zip and d6wh the Slender finger that he
remembered at one time had Quite
filled the golden circlet.
1T is the hot seascccc perhaps" she
said, turning away her head.
"You ought to 60 out doors more.
Won't YOU 60 boating with us this af-
ternoon?" asked Carl. solicitously.
mo, thank you Carl; do not care
Then come out and play croquet
on the lawn with us, Lillias.'
IL never play croqnet, YOU knows
she replied with q sigh.
''Hullo, Sir Cavalier!' cried Maud,s
sllvery voice. $50 you are making love
to Your wife while your guests are suf-
tering from enn,i! Don't sit here
like "ah owl. but come Ont into the
SUM-" =! =,
She laughed gayly and went out, and
he arose and followed her: In her com.
Pany he. forgot the momcntary thought
that had troubled him. :.
That afternoon they took row up-
on the river. Carl, Maud, Ellice, and
Guy and Stella Vincent, two vounp
folks from neighbours house. Never
mad Maud appeared SO queenly, never
mad hor conversation been SO brilliant
She fairly facinated them all by her
cancellations OF wit, her qt,ickness of
rePartee, her rare faculty for story
telling And poor Carl admiringly
listened while through his brain flash
cd the thought, If [ was free t could
win this glorious creature. Why can
not Lillian be as brilliant :"
1t was nearly dark as they wake d
zap to the house, and the grounds were
dim in the twilight shade.
"Stella, Guy, you must see Lii las
rose tree, cried cousin Ellice. lit is
wonder, and she led them to dis
tant part of the garden.
Il am tired,"' said Maud. II think
a little music will cheer me. Mr..
Leigh, shall not sing to you?'
tic 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. shai-
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 heaft OF the ploud beauty
singing. She had rich, clear voice.
full and plaintive, and was a perfect
mistress of it,.
It was IN 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
perious1y beautiful face. The be-
witchi6g 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, ard the Jew
elled hands went Wandering tremu-
lousy over the ivory, the long black
lesi.es yelling the dark lustrous ewes.
Finally she stopped. whirled round on
her stool, and said, with one of her
bewlldering smiles:
~ am going away tomorrow, Mr..
Leigh. Soyou must prepare to bid
me good-bye.'
Maud, where -
"Home-down South. 1 am tired
OF this northern climate and the cold
hearts in it. Oh, my beautiful touisi-
ana! that any one should prefer this
country to YOU -
Carleton Leigh turned white a mo-
ment, and then a hot flush swept over
his face. He grasped one of the soft
lily hands and kneeling cried:
IL cannot let you 60. Stay, here,
Maud, and be the sunshine of nv lite.
never know till now what paradise
you have made this world to me. Will
you go and leave me when J-oh, God,
what am saying 3'
Maud Armitage placed her other
hand in his and stopped forward, eaz-
ing with her beautiful eyes upon his
strained, passion-heated face.
You love mo, Carl?' she breathed.
He raised both hands to his lips rain
ing kisses upon them till they were as
flushed as her cheeks.
''Love you! Great Heavens, -
The merry laugh of Ellice and the
voices OF their friends on the piazza at
this instant startle them both. Maud
turned suddenly to the piano and
struck up a lively air. Carl arose and
lighted the lamps.
Two hours later he lighted a cigar
and wandered mechanically out among
the garden paths. He came to lit
tie summcr-house, and with \ sigh en-
tered and sat down on a rustic seat.
His brain was in a whirl; he could not
think clear, and he sank into a st upid
reverie.
He was aroused by the sound of a
voice-her voice; it thrilled him all
over like draught of wine. The
soft rustic of feminine garments paus-
ed near HIM and he heard Maud saw:
''Ellice, shall conquer. If YOU had
not Interrupted us l should have won
his confession tonight. But l know
that he loves me. told him that was
going away tomorrow, but I shall
stay few days longer now"
lis it worth the while, Maud?"
asked her companion, half reproach-
fully. "You do not love him, and
think how much sorrow you may
Cause
''No, l do not love him. returned
the syren. her voice as silvery as ever.
But have sworn that Lillias Gates
husband shall bow at my feet. When
| haye disgraced him and wounded
her my work is done, and not till
then."
II had hoped you would change
your mind, Maud. 1t is a wicked
thing. You will not prosper
Maud Armitage laughed one of
those light silvery laughs which had
been so captivating heretofore to
Carleton Leigh, but which sounded
like mockcry to him now.
"Wicked! What of it? twill only
serve him right for being false to so
fair Il wife!''
He heard no moro, and for mo-
ment he was like one striker dead.
Could she be so treacherous and had
he been so vile! Thank Heaven that
he was warned in time. The syren
should not triumph over him; and his
wife, his deeply-iniured, dearly-be-
loved wife. should yet be proud of
husband deVOto1 Iowa Ao1,, ,,,o,,1J