The Sunday tatler and Jersey City express. (Jersey City, N.J.) 1883-1886, 1886-09-05
A RIVALS ISLANDER.


Aurora Moore spoke in playful accents,
but there was very little spoitiyeness in
dark. sparkle of her large black eyes, or
| the CULVER of her red lip as she looked up
into Calonel Playfair's face.
She was brunetie-tall, handsome and
distingue looking, with cheeks of peachy
bloom, and purple-dark hair, ripping
away from her olive forehead in graceful
carelessness; and Colonel Playfair, look
ing down upon her, owned to himself that
Aurora was very handsome. And yet he
did not feel at all disposed to fall ia love
with the star-eyed brunette-perhaps be-
cause his heart was already ensnared ia
another direction.
.'And when is the wedding to be?" went
on Aurora, with pretty audacity.
Whose wedding, Miss Mooref"
"Why, yours, with Bertha Amory."
81 am quite unaware of any such ar
rangements.
"Ah, then popular rumor is at fault"
He smiled.
First tell me. Miss Aurora, wha: popu-
lar rumor says.
THAT you are very much in love with
Bertha's violet-blue eyes and auburn
hair
Miss Amory is very beautiful, hesaid,
evasively.
.'But you are not engaged to her?
Really, Colonel Playfair, that is such
relief 10 my mind.
81 am too much honored by Miss
Moore's interest"
NO" said Aurora, winnIugly laying
one white hand on. Colonel Playfair's arm,
s.but please allowtme to explain. You
know the sisterly feeling | have ever felt
toward your"
Colonel Playfair bowed coldly. There
was certainly something more than sister
ly in the soft brightness of the midnight
dark eyes that were looking into his.
"And although Bertha Amory seems so
innocent and ingenious, she is very far
from the person l should wish to see your
wife"
miss Moore, this is rather vague ac-
cusation to make"
Gin plain words, then, Colonel Plavfair,
she is selfish, deceitful and treacherous!"
Philip Playfair's .swarthy cheek had
paled, be bit his lip until the blood started.
Had Aurora Moore been a. man he would
have promptly Knocked him down, then
and there; as she was only beautiful
woman, fair and fragile as butterfly, he
sat still like carved statue.
do not imagine thatI judge rashly, !"
she said, without taking her white hand
| from his arm. "Only I am too much in
| terested in your welfare longer to preserve
silence"
what proofs have you to allege, Miss
Moore?"
| you are aware of her fathers extreme
poverty, and that Bertha gives music les
sons TO help in defrayiDg the household
expensesf"
Il know that Mr.. Amory struggles hard
| to obtain livelihood.
| Under those circumstances it is GER
tainly advisable for Bertha to adapt her
dress to the family funds.
| ''She does, believe.
II beg your pardon, Colonel Plairfair
| / saw her at Mrs. Noodles last night with
a three hundred dollar silk robe on, and d
set of pearls that must have cost three
hundred more, at the very least"
surely you are mistaken, Miss Moore.
Mr.. Amory is very heavily in debt, and it
| Would scarcely be seemly.''
.sOf course not; but did not tell you
| that she was selfish aud treacherous? Poor
Mr.. .Amoryl TO say nothing of her reck-
| less disregard for the feelings of his cred
| itors, it must have deprived the family Of
many necessaries to enable her to shine in
silks and jewels"
And Aurora heaved a graceful sigh.
Philip Playfair sat silent, with painful
| feeling at his heart. If Bertha Amory'
was selfish and heartless, in whom could
he put his trust? And while Aurora pratt
lied on, at his side, he was silently bury
Ing away in the innsrnost depths of bis
nature the love that had grown up SO
strong and tender during the last few
weeks.
You will be sure TO conner" were the
first words that reached his ear 10 any
thing like coherent shape.
He Started.
II beg your pardon, Miss Moore; what
were you asking me?"
Aurora broke into little peal of must
cal laughter.
sOnIy 10 honor mamma and me with
your presence at our soiree next Monday
night"
THANK you; but shall leave for Eu-
rope on Saturday.
Aurora started and the roses died away
from the satiny olive of her round cheek.
She had only intended 10 vile Philip Play
fair away from Miss Amory, not to Danish
him from the beguiling influence of her
own charms
s'surely-surely you viii not leave us
SO suddenly"
my mind is definitely made up"
And Aurora saw that no persuasion
from her lips would avail to alter his de-
termination. Unfortunately she had over
shot the mark.
y \
"Goingl Harry, you must be mistaken
II am not mistaken, Bertha" said the
boy, resolutely. 81 saw his name myself
in the list of passengers on the ships
books Philip Morton Playfair.' Hes