The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1886-08-14
that nocturneP" queries Grace Cart


land.
Moves that is-well enough.
The last number. lam glad
Lora rises and draws her rich wraps
close about her. Those who pass turn
to glance again at that dark. brilliant
face above which the jetty hair coils
and waves under scarlet-plumed
hat.
She is unusually silent as they move
down the aisle into the wide, Illuminated
lobby, where hangings of crimson and
gray exclude the light and sunshine of
the November afternoon.
From under a side archway comes the
tall form OF him who lately charmed the
dispensing audience with his "silver
notes." and beside him is APPETITE figure
in ruby velvet and furs.
One look into that pure, beautiful face
gives Lora Erskine, then her hands
fall heavily on the arm of her compan-
ion, and she drags rather than leads
her forward, till they are i'm the outer
world.
Grace Garland, looking with wonder
into the face above, cries out in
alarm:
"Lora, what is It? You are illr'
"No, no. Am paleP"
She rubs her cheeks nervously. and
laughs in a strange way. The two
persons passing in Garage at that mo-
ment see only that her face is rosy and
brilliant, her lips smiling her eyes fash
ing.
at is Lora Erskine," says Raynor
Savile's wife.
Eyes, gay as ever. She Is one of
Fortunes favorites, untouched by
sorrow. care, regret"
at is because she has 70 heart, Ray
nor"
81 believe you," he says, and sits
with moody look on his face. that does
not quite vanish when his wife slips her
little hand caressirgly in his and raises
her lovely blue eyes.
"Do you know. Raynor," she says,
'there is something about Lora Erskine
that fascinates me still? Cold, false, sell
fish as know her to be, feel strangely
drawn toward her."
She looks at him inquiringly, but
whatever his thoughts, he does not
speak, and his dark face tells no tales.
Gould you ever quite forget her?"
asks his wife.
81 have no wish to remember her."
he answers. ''Speak of her no more.
True, loyal wives like you, Nina, have
nothing in common with such women
as Lora Erskine. Her name should be
strange TO your lips"
She smiles in her childish, trusting
manner, and nestles back upon the
cushions. They are both thinking of
Lora Erskine; she is thinking of them,
and not one of them knows what
dwells in the others heart. OF our
own thoughts alone we may be certain
we can but surmise another's, and alas
how often are we led astrayl
nina, dear, you are better, to-day?"
'Better! l think so. Raynor That
terrible pain is gone from my head, but
| feel so weak, so weak"
Raynor Saville bends above the in
valid with look of affection and anxi-
ETY..
The sweet face is SO white and wan,
the innocent blue eyes so lusterlcss and
sunkcn, his heart sinks within him and
his vision is dimmed with tears.
"My little saint, my fragile flower"
he says, bending nearer and laying a
gentle hand on the waving, yellow hair.
She looks up into his face searchingly.
"Raynor,' she says slowly, 81 have
been your wife for five years. Have /
not always done my duty?"
you have been the best, truest of
wives" he answers, wondering at the
query.
"And-you love me?"
Gould do otherwise, darling?"
cliff should die"
He silences her then and kisses her.
uttering words of love and reinsurance.
There is little silence after that, and
then Nina speaks abruptly.
'Raynor, l want to see Lora Frs
kline"
lie starts as if pierced by an arrow,
and looks at his wife with wide, won
dering eyes.
Il want to see her; you must send for
her." the invalid insists. "She is at
Long Branch now"
"Even were / to send, do you think
she would leave her pleasures, her court
of admirers, her life of gayety and friv-
olity to come here?"
You must write; she will come"
Nina, you do not know what you
are saying" cries Raynor Saville.
"our home is no place for Lora Ers-
kir e
Yet must see her."
1T is nervous fancy" he says, and
resists all her appeals.
The days pass and Nina Saville grows
Trailer and whittier, her strength is fast
deserting her, her life is slowly but
surely drifting away, and Raynor
awakes to the bitter truth one day Of
their approaching parting, when she
will leave him and he will be alone. He
can refuse her nothing now.
'Send for Lora Erskine," she says,
and he does her bidding.
She comes, not as he had anticipated,
with gay smile on her lips and her
form decked in brilliant attire. but quiet
ly and pltyingly, looking more like a