Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-06-05

eteott ihost fetlrlDS. most modest, ana the
handsomest and most imposing, in her
DAINTY robes of lace and blue silk, was Miss
0rmby
Caroline regarded her from distance
and could not withdraw her fascinated
gaze. To her jealous eyes Grace had all
the bewlldering beauty of an enchanted
princess her golden hair scntillated in
the sunlight her dark blue eyes were
proudly beautiful. Now she was standing
the center of host of worShipers, and now
she was accepting an ice which one of
them offered, and now she was dancing
with George Rochester. They seemed to
be very, very intimate, she and he, and
Caroilne's heart grew sick anl cold. Next
she saw him dancing with Emma Will
Jams; but he did not come to ask her.
Only once during all that bitter afternoon
did he approach Caroline in converse; and
then he entered upon ordinary topics-the
gay scene before them, the superb weather
and so on.
We have not seen much of you the last
week or so" she took courage at length to
say; and only herself knew what effort it
cost her to speak calmly.
=" have been very busy" he answered.
" Now that the line is progressing it takes
up more of my attention than it took at
first, and while my mother is here, she
claims from me most of my leisure time"
OF course | understand that" said Car
oline.
But not word had he said of regret
not hint given that III time their former
intercourse should be renewed. AT that
moment Miss Ormby crossed the lawn with
Emma Williams.
That is your cousin, think said Car
oline.
"Yes, that's Grace" he assented. She
/ Mrs haot 10 har
from the refreshment-room, and he did not
finish his sentence Close upon that he
was told that his mother waited, and soon
| afterward Caroline saw Lady Rochester's
| barouche drive away, herself and Grace
Ormby seated in it side by side, and Geo.
Rochester opposite to them.
How very dark the sky had suddenly
grown. Caroline looked up to see if the
sun still shone; it was setting in clouds of
crimson and gold Was she quite uncon-
| scious that the change had only been
wrought by his departure.
The next day there Was q wedding in
| Briarly Church, a quaint little church nest
| ling in its graveyard. John Albright had
espoused Martha Brand, and Caroline was
! bridesmaid.
at will show people that you are not
pining all forlOrn anyway" Mrs. Heath
had remarked when Caroline was invited
| to take the Office. You are q great SIM
pleton, Carry, to give John Albright up.
! Halt the parish thinks it was he who gave
up you; he may protest tc the contrary till
he's red in the face, and does l believe;
! they II never believe him."
! There came another glorious sunset. Oc-
! tober was in now with its beautiful lights
and changing foliage, reminders of the
winter that would soon be at hand. The
SHOWS and frosts the dark days of the bit
ierest winter the world can know, could
not match the winter reigning in Caroline
| Heath heart.
Yet this sunset was very lovely; even
she, with all her pain, could notice that
Every one was away at home, and she had
seized the occasion to get an evening to
| herself.
She had gone down TO the banks of the
river, which in its strong current was just
there almost like sea- and. seated herself
on bench which was close to its brink,
the bank rising behind her. The water
was running along swift and sure, just as
runs away our life.
| If Caroline had never prayed earnestly
before. she did then, as she sat there think
ing. She prayed that God, who saw all
| her hearts distress, would help her in the
battle she was fighting. 1t was q very hard
one. She loved George Rochester with all
the strength of first passion, and he loved
another! Should she be able to bear it
and live
There came a sudden splash, a wild
scream. Looking up, Caroline saw at
distance something gold and azure in the
water Ii was Grace Ormby. In reaching
over the bank for some pale blue-bells
which grew there, she had overbalanced
! herself and fallen in.
Caroline sprang up to go to her rescue
| ha ,itrbt ha oh 10 70 iSl,
it. A horrible thought surged into her
mind, if Grace died-was drowned-she
could no longer stand between herself and
George Rochester. She drove the demon
away with a cry for pardon. God help
me and her. We need it."
| Running swiftly along, she came oppo-
site the spot where the girl was struggling.
Clinging to the dropping branch of will
! ow she waded in yard or two, and was
just in time to catch the floating blue drap-
| cry as Grace was sweeping past. Miss
Ormby retained her consciousness, and
| chung to Caroline with all the tenacity of
the drowning.
| IF Won hold me like that cannot save
YOU called out Caroline through the noise
| of the water surging in their ears. Loose
me, and | will get You TO the bank"
| 1t was as if she spoke TO the wind. In
her terror, the drowning girl only chung
the tighter. Caroline was dragged in. The
next moment Grace dropped her hold, per-
haps with the force OF the water, and Caro-
line felt herself carried away by the cur
rent She looked up at the blue of the
evening sky, the gold and crimson sunset,
her last look, she believed, of this world.
She had sunk twice, when the strong arm
of a powerful swimmer closed round her
and bore her TO the shore He held her TO
him for moment az she lay there; his lips
were lifted 10 God in thanksgiving. 1t was
George Rochester.
GO to Grace; save her; you should not
have minded me- spoke Caroline family,
when she was recovering.
Hush. my dear. Compose yourself. /
Grace is all right. You saved her. Your
last effort before floating away was to fling
her close to the bank, and she caught the
willow branch. Our party-we were all not /
far off-are bearing her away to the nearest
house to get her into dry clothes. Yes,
you saved Grace, and now, my darling,
have saved YOU
She was frightfully ungrateful. She was
thinking, in her minds confusion, that it
might have been happier for her had he let
her drown.
Il have saved you for myself, Caroline"
"No, no; how can you be cruel enough :
to say such things? 1t is Grace who is
saved for YOU; your future wife
80 you have taken up that pretty prob
lem he said laughing. Not if | know
1t, my dear Grace and perfectly under
stand one another; she cares for somebody
else more than she cares for me-"
q don't understand murmured Caro-
line, a curious rift of joy shooting through
her heart.
MY mother has an imperious will; for
peace sake we do not care to cross it; so
Grace and have let her enjoy her favorite
wish uncontradicted-tha we should be-
come man and wife. But. my dear" his
tone changing to gravity" it is not Grace
/ wish to make my wife; it is another, and
her name is Caroline"
You have been so distant TO me lately,
so changed, she breathed.
81 had motive in it. | did not care to
disclose the truth to my mother during her
sojourn here; she might have visited her
vexation upon you. have loved you, Car
oline, ever since that first evening when |
saw you standing at the gate with lily
in your hair"
II am not your equal she sighed.
Never think that again." he said earn
estly. My father was only poor, hum
BILE lad it was by talent and industry he
rose to emineuce in his profession and to