The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1886-07-22
BEATRIX.

--------
The evening light fell very tenderly
on two girlish faces. showing how very
unlike they were, yet. both so very
lovely.
Beatrix Lane, with her nut brown
locks,' and fresh, young face, on
which the sun and wind had left a
healthy color, made very pretty pic
ture, standing at the gate, her brown
eyes sparkling with life, her red lips
smiling, her dimpled hands full Of
golden-headed daisies.
Her companion-thef fair city cousin
who was spending the summer 1t th<
farm-was strikinglv unlike the coun'
try-bred girl to whose eyes she looked
so very fair:
From the crown of her golden-crown'
ed head to tho toe of her dainty boot
lone Lawson was perfect in delicate
blond way. Her hair was the puresl
gold, her eyes the most heavenly blue
her cheeks the daintiest rose-leaf tint
her lips the purest crimson, her form
willowy as reed, her every move
ment gaace itself.
And yet there was certain light ir
tho dark eyes of Beatrix which the blue
eyes of her cousin lacked. A certain
unconscious sweetness on her red lips
for which one would look vain]y or
those of the fair, composed ones O!
lone.
Different in garb, different in appear
ance, different in training, she stood
chatting at the gate as the last red
flashes. of the setting sun fell tenderly
upon them.
You like your new neighbor, Beat
rix?' lone asked, without the slight.
est ripple Of interest in her cultivated
tones, although her blue eyes turned,
for the briefest possible space. to the
face of the farmers daughter. over
which faint flush fitted.
''He is so courteous, so kind and
friendly Beatrix answered; chow
could we do otherwise? And he so
handsome! l never saw so noble a
face, Lone
The fair beauty smiled as she pinned
a white rosebud in her gold II hair;
and the smile somehow made Beatrix
uncomfortable.
Handsome? Yes, in proud
naughty way!" lone said, evenly: but
do not lose your heart there, my little
cousin, unless you would wear the
willow; that of Leon Vincent has not
been his own for nearly three years. u
A deep scarlet mounted to the brow
of Beatrix, but instantly receded,
while her brown eyes took an unusual.
" proud light as she lifted them to The
face of her cousin.
Thanks for the warning, however
unnecessary, she said; :'but l did
not know when l introduced you to
him last night, that Leon Vincent was
not a stranger to yOu.'
The city-bred girl gave Il low, music.
al laugh.
No" she said, quietly: you did no,
know, did not dream that l rejected
him three years ago.
"Rejected him. in incredulous sur.
prise but with a sudden pallor on the
pretty, girlish cheek.
Yes; you see he was only barris
ter then, without any too many briefs
no money to speak of, and nobody
could foreSoc that his uncle and cousin
would both die within three years and
leave him master Of SO much; so, be.
cause was not willing to become the
wife of a poor man, l rejected him
now things are very different
''How you must have loved him.
BeatriX exclaimed, with fine irony, .'tC
give him up because he was poor
Was not the love of such Il man az
Leon Vincent worth more to you thar
gold?
Again, the low, slow laugh, soft anl
sweet as strain of music, tlOated fOrtl
on the evening air.
You fooliShh little childv' Ion,
| said lighlly.
LAS if the love of any man were O
as much account as the position he cal
offer one. You will see these thing
more clearly as you grow older. Blu
l warn You, let no hope of yours folt
itself about your handsome neighbor-
he is mine.
They may take who havethe power
And they may keep who CAM
Beatrix laughed wickedly. l don
think I'll be found among your rivals
my fair cousin; Bnt l must 60 in
mamma will want me to help her.
And leaving the golden-haired cit,
beauty to wait for Leon Vincent at thu
gate-he was approaching along thu
highway with careless swinging strides
as she had observed-she went up tn,
path her heart throbbing, her cheek
burning.
He had been amusing himself then
in the six months during which he ha,
been her neighbor and so constant
vitstor at the farm. And his low
wOrds-so tender and soft. that ha,
set her foolish heart beating-the,
were his way of passing. now ant
then, an idle hour! And all the tim
be was thinking of the blue eyes an,
golden hair of her cousin!
Il am glad she told me- she though
angrily. II have built hopes tina
shame me now on his seeming regard
l have amused him by my credulity
my folly! But On. I could have love
him so! could have held his love :,
more than the crown of a king. A.
how foolish l am
Yet when Leon Vincent went I'D ii,
pretty walk half an hour later, accom-
panied by the fair, dainty blon l. Be;
triN greeted him with smile so frankl
careless. SO unconstructed. that non
would ever dream that she held hi,
higher than 4 careless friend. But 81,
soon made an excuse to leave him wit
her cousin, and did not appear again u,
til she met him in the hall as she W:
leaving; and lone was with him. h.
white hand on his arm, her beautif,
lips full of smiles, as she told he
cousin she would walk with Mr. Viz
cent to the gate.
And so matters continued until 6
length Beatrix made no excuse. bu
kept entirely aloof when the youn
man came to the farm, leaving biz
wholly to lone. who seemed to clair
him as her own, and even spoke {
him 10 her cousin, by his first nam.
in a calm tone of proprictorship.
1t was four weeks since that evening
when the two girls had stood at til