The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1886-01-29

90 any mad thing for her ssIke or 'at her
5addingf
And Hg-ita enjoyed this SqIumph;esonly
.Coarse natures such as ilcEs can.
But 1,orita had little power Of disCrimi-
nation 1t never occurred to herit0 sup
posetthat Love, once psre and true, may
scorth its wings in the fre of an 5znwor-
thy worship. and fall 80 earth; and yet
thatiove may rise to new life from the
ashes of folly. She judged others, and
lthefeelings of others, 1y her own standard.
.CSJbriel walked by sIsr side silent and
suhea.
IEs-x as were his MORALS AMI Elunted as
ihissense of delicacy had been by his ear
Eerscareer. he was cTnscious-C'w Of some
shame for his cowardsty avoidance Of Fleur
de Marie.
yEe had half u55ni,to e. back and
sg,eak to her. for an his iimnost heart,
tAough perhaps he hardly lNnew it then,
be still felt there was no woman in the
world Hke his old 8uve: asal girl comrade,
n ysie O'Farrell.
How beautiful sine was fair as lily
and as pure. and she 'carel for him-for
aim, debased, false, coarse, given up as
ne was to every vice that ever sent a
mans soul ~ pcliitiou She cared for
him-aye, i zen now. heiknew he had on
" to go back and ask &C. be forgiven, and
she would smile that s6ft- slow, wonder
full smile, and grant llinl' the token Of for
giveness.
He had only to go bark-but ali, that
was the rub The -onlys'' are often as
difficult to get oveu' ses death in this
world. Only to go back-to bid goodbye
to this black -browed asoauty by his side,
and yet he could not
She held him in bondage. twisted him
round her finger, pipe6 her own tune to
which he must dance ucrforce, kept him
about her like any spaniel. to fetch and
carry; now petted ham, now neglected.
Yes. held in bondage ar the power of her
beauty, such as it was
He was no more to her than fifty others
who carried her fan, @stood" her suppers.
threw her bouquets gave her gold, and
yet when she would, she could caiole him
into the belief that while she accepted
gifts and gold from othal's, from him she
took only love.
And Fleur de Marie. sweet Mysie
O'Farrell. was all his own, as true as
death, and as pure as aagels. And yet
yet what
One by one Lorita's followers had drop
ped away in despair OF getting a word or
a look. while Gabriel nlonopolized her at
tention At the door of the Dolphin they
came to a standstill. His rooms were at
the Brunswick.
She looked at him. tapping her foot pet
ulantly on the stone steps.
If you want 10 lunch azlth me. can't
you say sol But / don't &hink l want
you. You are stupid and &sll to-day, and
why is itf You can be so beilliant when
you choose. like to be amused, so, as
you have lost your tongue. go and buy
me a new book, and be quick back, like a
good boy-I like to read wniie l am eat
ing. It's case Of double digestion. Cor
"Then may I stay when l returnf'
We'll, wen see; depends oa the book
you bring. Mind, it must be chock full
of fun. l like TO be kept on the broad
grin. Go on" and she Playfully dealt
him no gentle blow on the knuckles of his
ositstretched hand with her parasol.
"If you send me about my business
whea do come back, shall take the
book with me, mind"
"AH right, wait and see. Well square
matters when you bring the book. Don't
be long," and she turned into the hotel
CHAPTER ".
Life in the busy little bay was like 6
fashionable scrap-b book all through those
memorable months Of July and August
sketches, portraits, finished pictures
woodland scenes. bits" of shore and
boats. with changing sky overhead,
each page a contrast 70 the last
Herne Bay was keeping carnival. only
at the wrong time of the year.
In the shadow Of the cliffs sits a woman,
and Mt her feet lies man with a sun
burnt, handsome face that rests on folded
ha nds and il upturned to hers with n
look she could not help understanding,
were not her eyes on the water instead Of
on him.
His elbows are sinking deeper into the
shingle, and his si1-fect long body is
stretched at its length, as near to her
chair as he dare approach.
He is thinking how pretty she is, and
wondering what she secs in those endless
waves to bring that wistful expression to
her pretty eyes and that sudden quiver
TO the parted lips. And she-oh, sad TO
tell,-has for the moment forgotten his
existence, which accounts for the start
that recalls her to present company as he
speaks.
"Have you quite made up your mind to
go lack to town Tomorrow 2" he asks, as
prelude TO what he means to lead up TO
a proposal.
Yes, indeed" was the reply. Il have
taken q very long holiday-nearly six
weeks. Here we are ir September.
must begin work again at once, or shall
be getting into Mr. Brevet's black books,
not to speak Of Signor Brunetti. l have
much to do before the winter season COM
meucesr
There is a pause. He finds conversa-
tion an uphill affair TO day.
do you care for the life you lead
That sounds rather an impertinent ques-
tion, but hope we are friends enough TO
allow Of something beyond convcntionali-
ties between us. / know most women
would declare themselves more than con-
tent with your brilliant present aud pros
poets, and, certainly. the career Of a
prima ,iopD0 is enviable in a way; it must
be paradise to a small material mind set
on vanity in all its forms. But YOU are
not like any other woman l have ever
met You are not vain, you are not a
lover Of luxuries. the worship which waits
to make you It's object does not turn your
head. You can see London at your feet
and vet remain calm"
'Oh, you do not know me, Captain New
en-. do heartily enjoy my success. and
do not think ] could. of my own free
will. abandon the career Of singer for
anything under the sum" replies Fleur
de Marie candidly, smiling down calmly
into his upturned face in which there is
so much for her eyes to read if she could.
mo" she repeats softly, as if some
question within her had risen to confront
ht.I' :. = me- DO nft think efaid ieave