The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1885-04-17
CARLETON LEIGH'S FOLLY.

CAhLEION LElGHS FULLY.
How it rained that day! From
morning to night one ~unceasing down
pour swept along in binding gusts
The wind came wailing over river an
valley, sounding dreary and desolat
to the inmates of Leigh Manor House
set on the hill amid its groves O
NAPLES which were just buddin!
in the early spring-timo of thu
year.
Carleton Leigh threw down the
book he had been reading, arose from
the sofa with a yawn, lit a cigar, an6
with his hands in his pockets
sauntered to the window. In from
spread out a pale blank of driving
rain, and farther on the avenue o.
trees that led from the broad highway
to the mansion, through whose branch.
es he could see the river IN the valley
below, and the roofs and steeples OF
the distant village. Overhead the dis
NAL April sky, leaden and sunless,
spread far and near, above and below,
all was dull and desolate.
'.It's q terrible storm" he said after
8 time as he 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.
II 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 DON merry. Are you
acquitted with her friend Miss Armi-
tage?"
II used to know her, though we
were never very great friends. / think
there is Creole blood IN her veins. She
is very beautiful, butt always thought
her a trife vain and deoeitfui. am
almost sorry she and Ellice are such
great friends. and that she is coming
here"
"Fie, Lillias," said her stately, six
foot, handsome husband. 'sThe more
the merrier, and l am glad she is good
looking. l detest homely, dowdy
women l should never have married
you if you had not been passably fair.
l believe they called you a beauty in
those days, and don't see hat you
have faded very much, though yoked
to such a tyrant as myself"
Lillias Leigh blushed like a girl.
She was indeed a pretty woman, and
she 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
upon her neck. She was only 20, and
they had boon married only three
years.
''Oh, you flatter," she said smiling
~. "doubtless you think | shall be
jealous of Miss Armitagc, but l shall
not, Carl. ] know my husband; and
now promise me that you will treat
friends with due courtesy. You
arc disposed to be a little brusoue
sometimes. Now for my sake do not
be rude."-
He drew himself up with an air of
mock gravity. Il iiatter myself that
shall make as agreeable a host as you
may desire, and if Miss Armitage is
very very handsome, why. I-I-may
--whew! there is the carriage now"
Carleton Leigh was hardly prepared
10 see so superb a beauty as met his
,yes when Maud Armitage stepped
rom the carriage INTO the hall like a
bird seeking safety from the storm.
And as Ellice Beaumont introduced
hem in her easy, n%onchalant way,
Cousin Carl, my friend Miss Armi-
age" and he held for a moment the
mall warm hand and glanced into the
lark slumberous eyes. he was thrilled
With a power and a magnetism such as
&c had never experienced before.
After supper when the lamps wore |
lighted and they all adjourned to the
'arlor he had time to study her. How
ii1erent she was from Cousin Ellice.
Who was a small, lively thing, running ,
'ver with laughter. Maud Armitage \
vas tall and queenly, with a voluptu- '
us languor that told of Southern
Hood. Her eyes were very dark and
u%strous, her face almost pale with i
a faint sea-shell tint on either S
heck, and her hair. neither brown
or black, but of a pale gold which +
wore like a coronal upon her head, il
hight have rivalled the glow and fl
of the tabled Lilithis. Each
Inning strand was a fairy chain to I
as with the gives of a slave the v
cart of a man. Il
She was a brilliant conversational t,
t, and Carl, who had some talent in 81
lat direction when he chose to exer- Ii
$50 it. o found himself engaged
q most delightful discussion with a
is lovely guest. AT a late hour they IL
'parated, and as Carl took his wife's ii
I'M and walked up to their chamber t.
suddenly flashed into his mind that II
ntil that moment he had not been Il
'gnizant of Lillias' presence once r,
'at evening.
The days and weeks pessed at Leigh v,
amor House. The June roses were O.
their ROSY leaflets doun or