Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1885-06-18
mo, Carl, 1 feel quite we'll -

hiied the golden circlet. A"''e
1T is the hot season perbaps ~ sho
salo, turning away her head JAW
~ lou ought TO go out Doors r,o,a
won't YOU go boating with ne thu M. 81
ternoong asked Carl, soliejtousiy al
NO thank you Carl; | do moi c,ro
Then come out and ,i,, .m.-,.--,
on =. lne lawn With us, Lillias.'
sho meyer never play croquet, you know, j.
|, "HullQ, Sir CaYalierr' cried ,to,,,.
sspFefI voice, 80 you are maxine w. =
10 your wife while your guests are . s',,
iieeflng from enHt3i Don't eli E"no
IKE an owl, but come ont into ,ho
one laughed gaylyand went ont and
pe arose and followed her. In her com, ,
pany he, forgot the momentary tbom%h,
mat had troubled him III
inat afternoon they took a row nm
on the river. Carl, Maud. Eltice anJ
nuy and Stella Vincent. two 49," "nu
ioiGS from neighbor's house. NevaSs
haG Maud appeared so queeplv nevar
had her conversation been SO briII;ant
one ialriy tacinated them all by her
cancellations OF wit, her quickness II
iePartee' her rare faculty for sto,v
t,oliinS ANA poor Carl admiringIy
l'sIGhoa while through his brain flash.
ed the thought. III / was free conid
WIN ms glorious creature. Why can,
NOT Lillian be as brilliant ?"
IL was nearly dark as thew waIkod
up to the house, and the grounds w noo
aim in the twilight shade. "'''
stella, Guy, you must see LiIIi,s,
rose tree, cried cousin Ellice. III il
wonder, and she led them to a Jis
tant part Of the garden. ''
J am tired, said Maud. ttb;,k
little music will cheer me NJ
Leigh, shall not sing to you?''
lie bowed, murmurinp some aoIto,,
speech, he sCarccly knew what os Sho
him. '"'i upon
The piano stood in a far of shaJ.
owy corner OF the long high parlor
ana her white hands SPARKLING With
rings went straying over the keys with
mastery skill, 1t was no sc6ooIgiri
Jungle every note breathed fire and
passion, flames from the hot burning
southern heart of the proud beauty
singing. She had a rich, clear voice
luil and plalntivc, and was a perfect
mistress of il.
1t was an Italian opera that she
sung full Of love and passion. and nj
music, too, and she played it from
memory. Carl went and stood by her
side' and gazed down upon the i'm
perlously beautiful face. The he.
,witchlng spell of her music and her
beauty, ard the dreamy stiffness Of
the hour fairly intoxicated him. He
felt that he could have fallen upon his
knees there aud wOrshipped her.
She finished the opera, and the lew
elled hands went wandering trcmu-
lousy over the ivory. the long black
laShes yelling the dark lustrous ewes.
Finally she stopped, whirled round on
her stool, and said, with one of Ier
bewlldering smiles:
81 am going away tomorrow, Mr..
Leigh. 80 you must prepare TO bid
me good bye
Going away ~ he gasped. go
Maud, where ?'
Home down South 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 mo
ment, and then hot flush swept over
his face. He grasped one of the soft
lily hands and kneeling cried
Il cannot let you 90. Stay, here,
Maud, and be the sunshine of my lite.
| never knew till now what a paradise
you have made this world to me. viii
you go and leave me when I-oh, God,
what am | saying ?"
Maud Armitage placed her other
hand in his and stopped forward, gaz-
ing with her beautiful eyes upon his
straiued, passion-heated face.
You love me, Car!?' she breathed.
He raised both hands To his lips ram
ing kisses upon them till they were as
flushed as her cheeks.
love you! Great Heavens, -
The merry laugh of Elice 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 cigar
and wandered mechanically out among
the garden paths. He came to q lit
tie summeT-hOuse, and with a sigh en-
tered and sat down on rustic seat.
His brain was in a whirI; he could not
think clear, and he sank into stupid
reyerie.
He was aroused by the sound of a
voice-her voice; it thrilled him all
over like a draught Of wine. The
soft rustic of feminine garments pauS-
ed near HIM and he heard Maud say:
.Ellicc, | shall conquer. II you had
not interrupted US | should have won
his confession tonight. But | know
that he loves me. | told him that | was
going away tomorrow, but j shall
stay few days longer now
''ls it worth the while, Maud"
asked her companion, half reproach-
fully. You do not love him, and
think how much sorrow you may
Cause"
mo. do not love him. returned
the syren. her voice as Silyery as ever.
But have sworn that Lillias Gates
husband shall bow at my feet. When
have disgraced him and wounded
her my work is done, and not till !
then"
Il 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 mOckery to him now.
Wicked! What of itP twill only
serve him right for being false to so
fair n wife,
He heard no more, and for mo-
mcnt he was like one striken dead.
Could she be so treacherous and had
he been SO viIel Thank Heaven that
he was warned in time, The syren
should not triumph over him; and his
wife, his deoply-iniured, dearly-be-
loved wife. should vet be proud OF
husbands devoted love. How would
he not atone for his late infatuation-
The sin of the last few weeks. He felt
M though he could crawl in the dust