The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1886-09-01
INTERESTING STORY.
A WITCHERY OF THE MOONLIGHT.


Draw your wrap closer around you,
dear, says Miss Katherine Neill, caressing
the graceful shoulders of her beautiful
niece. 81 do not think you are looking
quite so well as last week Robert and I -
lin her gay, gentle way" must take good
care of society's pet, mustn't we, Robert ?'
Leigh Arndale smiles-a beautiful,
dreamy sort of smile, that softens and sweet
ems into wondrous beauty all the proud,
exquisite curves of her dainty face.
Almost inyoluntarily Robert Grey lifts
his handsome head and encounters that rare
smile, but his dark eyes only grow sterner
yet as they again turn from that exquisite
living picture, framed in roses and lilies, to
the picture growing into beauty on the
easel before him.
" No wonder" he thinks bitterly, Z" that
men have been fools enough to blight all
their lives for one smile like that from her
No wonder, when bewildered by its spell,
that they have been misled into believing
that she possessed a heart. BAH she
knows her power--nnd uses it %
AS if she divines his thought, crimson
stain dyes all her pure, pale face; but in
moment it is gone, leaving her, if possible,
more pallid than before; the old proud
calm comes back to her eyes, and she bends
her head slowly above the brilliant, odo--
GUS flowers in her white hands.
81 am sometimes tempiUd to disobey the
physicians orders, Aunt Kathie," she says
in a sweet, languid voice, just touched with
q weary recklessness, " and go-to Saratoga.
II is too late in life now for me to live with
out the whirl, excitement, and dissipation
of fashionable life"
Miss Neill clasps her hands with cry of
alarm.
Dear child" she says teproachfully,
you must not think of it; it would be
sure death. Do you find Bob and me such
poor company then, that you wish to leave
us 80 soon, and that on your first visit to
me? There! those servants calling me
again. Don't stay out long, dear, and make
Bob amuse you"
Saying which she disappears in the d.
rection of the fine old house.
Leigh continues caressing the roses in her
hands, and Robert CO rs one sidelong gIanes
in her direction.
The extreme delicacy of health which
brought her to the country has only added
another charm-a more spiritual fascina-
ton, if possible-to the beauty of face and
form SO with an impatient sigh, he turns
away, apparently obliyious of Miss Arndale's
presence as he bends his cIose-cropped head
above the easel.
For soue time Leigh watches him in
silence, and a dreamy, pathetic look creeps
Into her great, beautiful eyes.
Below the long line of terraces lies the
lake, glinting in the last rays Of sunlight
flung from the west beyond the smooth
lawn lies the cool, deep forest, from the re-
cesses of which come family the song of an
early nightingale; the air is heavy with the
odor of roses and lilies, yet to Leigh Arm
dale it brings only yearning pain-a sense
Of loneliness and loss.
She shivers as if from chilling draught,
Travis her white wrap about her shoulders,
and rises slowly from. her swinging willow
chair.
May look at your work, Mr.. Grey?n
she asks softly, surveying the picture while
she speaks and with q cold bow he steps
aside
g If il will interest you for one poor mo-
ment, he says, latent mockery in his deep
voice, certainly. She told me to amuse
you, and have wofully neglected her COM
mands. A treacherous memory is my only
excuse. Now am at your service, Miss
Arndale. am quite aware that Irritation
"a conquest would amuse you most but
t is quite out Of my line I"
Not one curve of her fawless face changes
under the fire of his sarcasm.
A moment her eyes meet his In naughty
,corn, then pass him by to rest YEARLY on
the tender, purple hills beyond.
When Aunt Katherine was here" she
says calmly, you were judging me. AL
hough every one should have the chance to
,lear himself, will not ask TO hear your
verdict; it is not necessary. Let us calmly
stare facts in the face Years ago you saved
my life. I was not ungrateful but since
then you have made me regret that I ever
owed you gratitude. Did you follow me to
Red Oak to torture and insult me 2"
A hot wave of color crosses his high brow,
an angry, passionate vehemence flashes in
bis eyes, and he bites the long ends of his
mustache before replying.
:" The object is not worth SO much con-
sideration," he answers, with little sneer.
ing laugh. But the fact is, Miss Arndale
that when accepted Miss Neill's invitation
[ had not even dreamed of meeting yor
here. She is kind enough to make me her
favorite friend, you know You were never
here ON any of my previous visits. Why
should poor devil of an artist dare even to
think of the world-worshiped beauty and
heiress? suppose you were, of course,
with the brilliant world to which you be-
longed, with your fance, young Lester"
A momentary pause, during which they
survey each other, and then: