The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1885-04-17

and night the thrushes sang from tt
maples-a whole orchestra of mad, b,
witching music. Very merry were tn
doings at the Misunderstanding on tn
B river, riding in the park, playing Gre
quet or tennis in the garden, and play
ing and singing in the dim, shadow
parlor, or talking on the piazza i
s the soft moonlight. Carleton Leig
thought it was the happiest summer o
! his life.
He scarcely realized, though, hoy
powerful an influence Maud Armitage
5 had obtained over him. He simpl,
knew that he was best content whel
in her company, that the sunlight wa
brighter when she rode with him, an(
the evenings more delightful as sh,
sang her old ballads with an art anC
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 8
vague, uneasy way--the wife who fell
that he was changed. Someway she
feared more than she knew, and heI
fair c~ountenance 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 n day, and very gravely asked
if she was i'll.
mo, Carl, 1 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
- ~ N h. rod ~ -1@ LII ..seN
filled the golden %circlet.
sit is the hot season perhaps" she
said, turning away her head.
you ought to go out doors more.
Won't you go boating with us this af-
ternoonP' asked Carl, solicitously.
"No, thank you Carl; l do not care
to-"
"Then come out and play croquet
on the lawn with us, Lillias."
IL never play croqnet, you know"
she replied with a 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 gaylyan 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 a row up
on the river. Carl, Maud, Ellice, and
Guy and Stella Vincent, two young
folks from a neighbours house. Never |
had Maud appeared so ~queenly, never
had her conversation been so brilliant.
Sho fuirlx foninnfaA fhAp, oil H., Lox
scintellations OF wit, her quickness of |
repartee, her rare faculty for story
telling And poor Carl admiringly
listened while through his brain flash
ed the thought, ''If l was free I 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 ElIice. ssIt is
q wonder, " and she led them to a dis
tant part of the garden.
Il am tired" said Maud. 81 think
a little music will cheer me. MIR.
shall l not sing to your"
He bowed. murmuring some gallant
speech, he scarcely knew what, as she
dashed her sorceress eyes full upon
him.
The piano stood in q far off, shad-
owy corner of the long high parlor,
her white hands sparkling with
went straying over the keys with
nasterly skill. 1t was no schoolgirl
ingle every note breathed fire and
flames from the hot burning
southern heart of the proud beauty
She had a rich, clear voice,
ull and plaintive, and was a perfect
mistress of it.
1t was an italian opera hat she
Jung full of love and passion, and of
music, too, and she played it from
memory. Carl went and stood by her
ide, and gazed down upon the i'm
'eriously beautiful face. The be- ,
spell of her music and her
and the dreamy stiffness of I
he hour fairly intoxicated him. He !
cit that he could have fallen upon his {
nees there and w%orshipped her.
She finished the opera, and the Jew 8
lied hands went wandering tremu- {
over the ivory, the long black
ashes yelling the dark lustrous eyes.
inally she stopped, whirled round on
er stool, and said, with one of her
ewlldering smiles:
IL am going away tomorrow, Mr..
So you must prepare to bid
'e goodbye" q
"Going away !" he gasped. 80 r
aud, where P" il
''Home-down South. l am tired d
this northern climate and the cold 1
carts in it. Oh, my beautiful Louisi- S
Ia that any one should prefer this t
to you ~ Il
Carleton Leigh turned white a mo- Il
ent, and then a hot flush swept over Ii
S face. He grasped n of the soft Il
y hands and ~kneeling cried: ii
Il cannot let you go. Stay, here, z
aud, and be the sunshine of my lite. b.
never knew till now what a paradise it
u have made this world to me. viii el
u go and leave me when I-oh, God, et
lat am saying ?" sc
Maud Armitage placed her other 81
nd in his and stopped forward, gaz- So
2 with her beautiful eyes upon his W
passion-heated face.
d. = ~