The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1886-09-18


in oh, assure you''-as Dora
turns quickly with startled eyes-''rul
NOR has it only that he is the perfect
man-the noblest work of God"
"He is, exclaims Dora, emphatical-
ly. Her brother is her idol. He is the
handsomest man | ever saw--and the
dearest and wisest and best! Gracious"
AS the tiny, jeweled clock on the
mantle chimes for the hour in a burst of
music-''eight o'clock, and'-"E "Estella,
Estella, do hurry me up, else the guests
will arrive before l am ready. Come
in Naomi, and sit down, if anything so
heavenly can sit DOWN.
81 could" laughs Miss Quiverleigh,
softly, Every forcibly, indeed; but will
not. am 'moon-struck, and must 60
out into the garden. When you are
dressed, Dora, call me from the balcony.
l shall hear, if the flowers are not WOO
ing me-"
With which she turns and iuns light
ly down the broad, shallow stairs, trill-
ing back a laugh, and snatch of popu-
lar opera to Dora's.
"Do not get your slippers damp.
Naomi; the dew is falling. In just one
half hour l shall be ready"
"IIalf an hourr' thinks Miss Culver
leigh, scornfnlly. "Who or what is
worth so much care and time! What
fools all we women are, and how long
time it is before we discover the fact
of which l am brilliant illustration
Ball."
Drawing her long white skirts around
her just sufficiently to display a beauti-
full slim ankle, she steps out across the
balcony into the white, wind-tossed
beauty of the June night.
81 will keep in the grarel paths" she
whispered, bending above bed of'white
lilies, and severing the loveliest from its
parent-stem. "The grass is damp and
chill. But somehow l do feel over re
bellious to-night-just like doing some
thing which shall make the world raise
its hands in holy horror-just like
breaking the chains of mode, fashion,
and costume to scream-just once-I
am freep
Down the graveled paths she glides,
between the beds of sleeping, dewy
flowers, like some fair, frail shadow OF
the white moonlight flooding the earth
with its glory.
at is glorious!' she whispers TO the
faint night wind that riots around her.
But what can it bring to me-to any
of us? The moon goes down in dark
ness, and the flowers die in tears! All,
the people are already arriving, 50
must desert the path, or else return tO
the house. The latter cannot do-at
least, not yet! All, must view the lake
with this moon on its breastr'
"On its breast" it is lying, certainly
just as a vague, heavy, pain is lying OF
her heart-the remembrance of hopt
long since blighted, the memory of {
priceless, tender passage which neithc
wealth, position, nor adulation has eve
been able to renew.
at is dead, of course. 1t is almos
four years since all her tender loye ant
wild misery were burned out togethe
in unayailing tears.
Since then-how can they blame he
that she has no heart-that she mus
laugh with and at all alike, as the cas-
may be.
The only wonder would be that sh
had not become imbittered.
The lake, with its messy shore decor
ated with cleaning white statues an,
vaces, lies sleeping in the moonlgh
from, above.
Through the branches of water-wi
lows and beeches the wind sighs family
while from the house comes the distan
sound of sweet, clear voice, singing:
"Ah! that thou and were sleeping
Meath the churchyards quiet sod-
Our hearts at rest on earth's tender breas
And our souls at home with God"
Naomi stands-her beautiful bare arr
thrown carelessly above white s;on
, vase, TO which she appears an eXquisil
caryinG-part of itself; her beautifJ
eyes are resting on the water with loo
of sad, pathetic pain, of which the worl
e would never dream; but as the last fair
note Of the song dies away across I'll
lake, she falls on her knees with a CT
of irrepressible pain, passion and despa
the pent-up misery of years.
"Naomir whisperes a mans voic,
low and eagerly. "Oh, my darling, m
darling, why will YOU suffer so, when
word, little independence would set |
= free-make us happy again.
+ He attempts to draw her in his arm
!, but she eludes him with a look in h,
n face that holds him silent.
n Happy" she whispers hoarsle
y Between you and me, Arthur Hamlil
t even we're you free, there is no sue
e word. You murdered it four years ag
and in the future please remember i
S Please remember also that YOU are
a married man, and-though you may b
/ undoubtedly are-I am not devoid Z
S honor. Where is your wife?'
e "Hushm he whispered hoarsley, 20
S not remind me of that Naomi-tl
k mad folly that wrecked mylife and your
Il Why did you let me do it? Why di
not YOU, who might have done so, say
1 me from myself Some time l shall ell
y it all with this, and then"
: A quick movement of his arm, and
j. low, mirthless laugh breaks from h
d lips as she falls back in horror from Il
}, sight of jeweled revolver flashing
- the moonlight.
# "Put il awayr' she pants hoarsel