The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1886-08-11
INTERESTING STORY.
EVANGELINE'S RIDE.

Down the cool, dark avenue foated a
song in Evangeline Wrays sweet, fresh
voice, and involuntarily her guardian
paused in the deep, soft shadows, drawing
the reins on his thoroughbreds arching
neck with a..frmer hand, as if voice and
words had Jared upon some inward
thought.
Yet there was only sweetest, softest music
In the voice, and only the freshest, fairsst
beauty In the slim, girlish figure leaning
against the gate, with pensive look on her
dainty, fowerlike face-a face far /" sweeter
than all the roses" nodding and waving
above her in the soft spring air and twilight
shadows
She looked up into Norman Chesleigh's
dark, stern face with little laugh, and took
a step forwards yet his eyes never relaxed
the stern, dark gravity of their glance as he
dismounted beside her, and took the tiny
white hand she extended in glad greeting
" You have come at last, Norman she
,aid, with little sigh of relief. az have
been waiting here for ages--all alone
expecting every moment to see Cairo's head
come round the bend |"
slow, faint smile, in which lay great
deal of weary sadness, for a moment curved
Norman's bearded lips, and deepened the
erow's-feet beneath his eyes.
And you were actually alone for once
little coquettel" he said, looking down into
the beautiful, gray eyes SO full of trusting
| innocence. Why was itS Have you
grown weary of all your knightly court
| You are almost too fastidious, little one, in
that you can see no satisfaction in Guy,
who was the curled darling of the gods te
all European ladies'
Evangeline turned away with petulant
Little gesture Of reproach, and reached to
gather cluster of snowy roses far above
her golden head.
The cynical smile only deepened in her
guardians eyes as they followed every
graceful movement If the lovely, 1.-the
figure, In the dainty robe Of pure white.
/" Since they have oil failed to please" lac
said. with his eyes on her face, 81 certainly
cannot SO 1t Is quite useless to waste your
destinations and attentions on me, Eyange.
line. am quite out of practice at firtations,
and with low, amused laugh of super.
cilious scorn that makes Evangeline's checks
glow" even the picture you made leaning
on tho gate, for me, Is quite lost, aid"
She drew herself 10 her fullest height
Norman Chesleigh had ne Idea she was 30
tali--and turned on him with flashing eyes,
=" If you cannot speak without insulting
me, Norman" she said haughtily, "please
do not talk at all, and spare me the pain OF
hating you more than already do l came
down to meet you, that might be the first
to tell you that we have an unexpected guest
one that you knew long ago-Mrs. st.
Clair Wrsy-my stepmmama."
With which she turned and walked away,
proud erect young figure, between the
fragrant shrubbery that dotted the velvet
lawn; and Norman Chesleigh staggered
back as II he had received blow from the
tiny jeyeled hand of his ward.
1t w& six years since lie had seen Oh
heard Of Virginia Wray; yet the sting OF
the wound she had then dealt him still had
power to wiring low cry Of passion and
pain from his lips, rs the past rose before
him in oil its black anguish and despair,
when the only woman he had ever loved
had thrown him inside, like q soiled glove,
10 marry his handsome wealthy uncle-the
father OF Evangeline-who had been at
Elmcourt ever since
But when he arrived at the house, and
was gayly greeted, all signs Of the storm at
his heart were gone from the strong, dark
| eyes into which Virginia Wray looked with
all the old tender fascination in her glance.
Perhaps, knowing the story of the past,
the guests were anxious to see how they
would meet after all these years, when Vir.
ginia was free again--her ambition satiated
| to marry the man whom years ago she
had "whistled down the wind" for the for
! tune which bought her beautiful face.
Later they all adjourned TO the beautiful
old gardens, where the moonlight struck
| jewels of dew in the hearts of the sleeping
| flowers.
In groups, In couples, and somytew
separately, they wandered down the paths
and across the lawns but as in the old
days, the choicest group collected around
the beautiful young widow, among the mum.
Der Guy Chesleigh, whose infatuation WINS
apparent to all.
Evangeline stole from the crowd, her
heart heavy with a vague, new palma
sense of loss and neglect.
What had Guy been to her that she should
care because he paid devoted attention to
more beautiful face, and why should Nor
l. a.. H. hoI
him wrong!
Down on the edge Of the lake little boat
was drawn upon the shore, tied by rope
TO o Leaning tree. To eseape--to be alone
with her own lonely thoughts, had been the
most anxious desire Of Evangeline Now
She hurried forward with low glad cry,
and loosened the boat from its fastenings
the Lake rippled and glinted in the moon
light and swished against the shore with
sad low cadence that soothed the trouble at
her gentle heart.
Faint and from afar came the laughter of
the group ON the lawn, and quite fearful
that it was coming nearer, quite fearful that
they would discover-her whereabouts,
Evangsline stepped quickly into the boat
and took the heavy oars in her slim young
bands.
Where are you going, Eva ?" asked
voice from behind her, suddenly, causing
her 10 drop the oars in dismay.
n Ia Norman, standing hsreheaded In the
moonlight, with o look Of stern gravity ON
his dark Zoo az his eya meet hers.
Why did you oone down here alone,