Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1885-05-15
CARLETON LEIGH'S FOLLY.

s1fs} Ddncc6 at VIII along NE Qarkilng seas.
~. ~ Mdttheus, N The Cass're',t.
CARLETON LEIGH'S FOLLY.
% How it rained that day From
morning to night one unceasing down
4 pour swept along in binding gusts.
The wind came wailing overriyer ana
valley, sounding dreary and desolate
to the inmates of Leigh Manor Hous 0,
set on the hill amid its groves of
4 naples which were just "a budding
in the early spring-timeS of the
I year. Y. %
Carleton Leigh threw down the
book he had been reading, arose from
the sofa with yawn, lita cigar, and
with his hands in his pockets
saunterei to the window. In front
spread out a pale blank Of driving
rain, and farther on the avenue Of
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 desolare. ..ss,. .sy.SI
''It'sa terrible STORM he said after
time as he turned from the window
to the elegant room with its carpets
and tapestries, bronze cabinets and
rich upholstered furniture, allGlighted
up by the the cherry blaze that burned
on the marble hearth. i s,.. ~
''Do you suppose our fqends will
come, Carlp' asked Mrs. Leigh, glanc-
ing up from her embroidery.
Il sent James an hour ago with the
, carriage, and | hope they willnobsds-
appoint us. We are getting lonesome
here Cousin Ellico's 5, gay laugh will
make the old rooms merry. Are vol,
acquitted with her friend Miss Ami
tageP'' s%sg;S rs &.ssssA !
II used to know her, though we
were never very great friendse Il think
there is Creole blood III her veins. She
Is very beautiful, but always thought
her u tribe vain ard deceitft1l. am
almost sorry she and Ellice are such
great friends. and that she is coming
here - .aia, Il stss i,s' ,.F". :,
''Fie, Liilias," said her stately, six
foot, handsome husband. ge.'Tl,e more
the merrier, and l am glad she IS good
looking. L detest homely,s dowdy
women. lshouid never have married
you if you had not been passably fair.
believe they called you beauty in
those days, and l don't see that Vol,
have faded very much, though yoked
to such a tyrant Us myself. ~ aSf&
lLillias Leigh blushed like a girl.
She was indeed q pretty woman rand
she looked very sweet and graceful
that afternoon in her stylish dressFo1
. purple velvet, and her brown hair
sweeping in short curls from its couture
upon her neck. She was only IS, and
they had been married only three
years. G
, "Oh. you flatter,' she said ssmiling-
ty, doubtless YOU think 1 shall be
% Jealous of Miss Armitagc, but shall
i. not, Carl. know my husband :. and
now promise me- that you will treat
our. friends with due courtesy. & You
are disposed TO be a little brnsoue
sometimes. Now for my sake Go not
be rude" '>- ~
He drew himself up with an air OF
mock gravity. II fatter myself that
I shall make as agreeable ahostas YOU
may desire, and if Miss Armitage is
! very very handsome, why, I--I-may
E--whew! there is the carriage.now:
Carleton Leigh was hard lIyprepared
to see SO superb q beauty as met his
eyes when Maud Armitag8, Stepped
from the carriage into the Hall tIikeSa
bird seeking safety from the storm.
And as Ellice Beaumont introduced
them in her easy nOnchalant way,
f'Cousin Carl, my friend Miss Arlni-
Z tage." and he held for a moment the
4 small warm hand and glanced into the
dark slunlberous eyes, he was thrilled
with q power and . magnetism such as
.he,had never experienced before i
After supper when the lamps were
lighted and they all adjourned to the
parlor he had time to study her. How
different she was from Cousin Eilice,
who was q small lively thing. running
y over with laughter. Maud Ar,n1tage
was tall and queenly, with, q voluptu-
aus languor that told Of Southern
blood. Her eyes were very dark and
4 iustrous, her face almost pale with
u Just faint sea-shell tint on either
cheek, and her hair, neither brown
3nor black, but OF q pale gold which
she wore like q coronal upon her. head.
might have rivalled the glow and
splendor Of the fabled Lilithis. Each
shining strand was a fairy chainsstQ
bind as with the gyves.of q slave the
heart Of q man.
She was brilliant conversational
ist, and Carl, who had some talent in
4 that direction when he chose toexer-
Y oise it, soon found himself engaged
j In most delightful discussion with
his lovely guest. At a late hour they
4 separated. and as Carl took his wife s
arm and walked up to their chamber
4 Il sud denly flashed into his mind that
II until that moment he had not been
/ ccgnizant of Lillias' presence once
4 that evening.
The days and week passed at Leigh
Manor House. The june roses were
IhoHerlng their rosy leaflets down
3 over the lawn which d sloped 10 tks
y river, like N expanSe emerald vel
vet; the apple trees % II Just lost. their
4 mantle of pink bloom, and morning
and night the thru Shes sang from the
4 naples q whole orch hest ID "a mad he
Witching music. Ferry ni1aCy Het6 the
i doings at the mansio ting On t6e
B river. riding - the pr playinf' CO
sSquet 81 tennis is the gard ~, aisd IN
Il M and SeinR ling ii Nc dim, sh1loSsy
payicr, or liking IN the plaxxa ip
& 3he soft m0enlig 3
thought il Nss tho happ iest summer 81
Il his life. 81 q
ne rely real izctl though ili
ooWerfnls an infl nence fa,as Artnis e
had cbtained over him
& knew that lie Nh tbest col tent {
ia, Al her conn t !. 4 a ~ 4 -