The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1886-04-01

like nonsense when he talked it, but
did now. Mrs. Ardenheim did not
know what to make Of him. He
showed neither qualification in her
smiles nor piqne at her coldneso, and
in tho end, he withdrew from her
association altogether, and she mar,
ried nm old mariner, was still enough
in her thrall to look at everything in
the past with her eyes.
When years passed, and brought
no news Of Muriel, it was generally
supposed that she wac dead. There
were various rumors concerning her
fate, ono was as authentic perhaps as
another. Warner Vance meanwhile
was changed man. lle had no,
loved his simple young wife, but he
had feerfully wronged her, and the
shock of her leaving him 80, her very
uncomplniDingness, the mystery
which shrouded her disappearance,
oil tended to rouse him from the sell
fish lethargy into which he had fall
en-. In quiet way ho never ceased
to search for hor, never quit lost
hopo His father and mother, much
as they wauld have liked to zee him
get married, did not urge such an
event, while there remained the least
uncertainty concerning the fate OF
Muriel. For himself he thought no
woman would ever have power to
touch his heart again.
Most reluctantly one season be
consented to take part in some pri-
vate theatricals, which amusement
was just then very much the rage.
The play selected was Tho Lady OF
Lyons" and to him was assigned the
part of Claude Mclnott. IL was
rather trying position for any man
with the least claim to susceptible
nature, for the young lady who play =
ed Pauline was q most bewildcring
creature. Not strictly beautiful,
perhaps, but exceedingly attractive
Graceful iu all her movements, con-
taGiously enthusiastic in all she IN
dertook, she gave to her part an elo
Guence that thrilled Claude more
: sensitively at every rendering. New.
or suspectiug his omu meahness,
Warner Vance did not think of dan
ger until it was too late. Rehears-
ing night after night with tho sing
ulayly attractive girl each time rem
dering her Pauline with moro elo.
qucnt fai,hfulness, he turned always
from tho thrilling gaze of those
. liquid dark eyes in n half intoxica-
ton, like man who has taken Just
enough vino to make him fee us ifht
were walking on air.
When all was done, tho play play
=, ed, Warner Vance discovered sud.
denly that with Pauline ont Of it, lif,
, had become void. lie had some
; conscience, however, little us be had
y behaved like it in early life, and lt
- would not Of himself have sougL,
Miss Clifford (Pauline). She sen,
for BIN upon some plea, trining il
' itself, but he could not resist thai
: for an excuse, the temptation of see.
ing her once more. He was shocked
to behold her, so much had sh,
changed in brief week, and befor,
" the interview terminated, he muciet
u that he detected the cause Of thi
= change in her interest in him self
His resolution was at once taken, t.
;, tell her the truth. And he did so
a He told her how unconsciously h
o had learned to love her, and why Ia
= Gould not feel himself free TO wo,
any woman under these cilcumstan
ces.
Miss Clifford heard with face aver
8 ted. but in evident agitation. A
t last she turned to him.
o "You love met" she questioned
= dropping towards him with irressti
ble grace, and lifting the dark witch
It cry Of her eyes to his.
n "Yes, love you,' Warner said re
# sisting the impulse to clasp her il
: his arms.
;" "And she who deserted you 80 loni
is ago, stands between us ?"
't Warder Vance flushed.
d "You do not understand. / de
10 ceived and wronged her cruelty.
81 Her going from mo was tho pures
j. piece of womanly sacrifice" "M
Is remorse for the wrong did her vii
4 be undying."
n lie was going on but Miss Cliffor
drew from the folds of her dress
w ubara IL huno nv choin N pluiI