Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1888-09-29


gazing with such Tenderness as one has fol
the dead on the dclicatcly tinted oval Of Der
tha's beautiful face in porcelain. The E.ea,
blue eyes seemed to look surprise and re
proach at him. 1t had been long ago, befor,
50 much as dream Of sin had tainted th,
holy innocence Of her girihood.
Philip closed HIS lips very tightly; h
longed unutterably for her lost innocence; he
hungercd 50 desperately for the rlaideniy
purity that looked out of these startled eyes.
II she had died then, he might at least have
cherished her memory. Whist had he done
that he should be punished 50 terribly! Then
the memories of the day when the picture
T7as taken camo rushing back upon him.
They two had been sittIng in her gardeil
on the afternoon of a summer day 1t was
two, three, almost four years ago, but he
could see the blooming roses and hear tie
drowsy hum of the bees Us if it had been
yesterday. He had been reading love poem
20 her; that was as near as he dared come to
love making; sometimes letting his voice
soften and tremble little over the tenGerer
passages. He was but a tinid lover, and
Bertha so royalty cold Suddenly glancing
at her, he saw she was overcome with the
heat, and had fallen asleep leaning her
shapely head back against the rough bark
of the tree. Her fingers loosely clasped
in her sloping lap suggested perfect
repose; tho girlish bosom rose and fell with
her still breathing, and there was an exqui
site pout on her lips, as if vaguely mutinous
against the hardness of her pillow. His heart
was beating violently as he laid aside bis
book and seated himself on the bench by her
side But he dared not profane the vestal
purity Of such sleep as hers; hodevOured her
face with his eyes, but did not steal one kiss
from the red lips, though there was such
sweet, mute invitation on them. But he put
his arm about her and drew her toward him
as gently as if she were a sleeping infant, and
made her head rest on his shoulder. Then he
looked down the red tinged cheeks, like the
goods in autumn's tendereSt mood, swept by
her long, golden eyelashes and tried to fancy
she was awake, though her eyes We're closed
and that she was willing her head should rest
on his breast and her hair like fine threads of
twisted Roman gold kiss his burning face
But she moved in her slumber, and theH
her star like eyes opened and looked mute
astonishment into his eager face. For oAe
startled moment she did not move, and in
sudden boldness from the liberty he had al
ready taken he poured lis passionate declara
IlOnS ears, Covering LEI Hall 1t-lIA LCl
forehead and then her cool white ,uds with
kisses.
"You frighten me, Philip" Her quick,
startled tones as she rose to her feet yet rang
in his ears. She looked at him as half of a
mind to run away. Il don't understand
you" she said, reproachfully. The porcelain
picture is just as She was Shen.
'Why Bertha!" He had risen, too; but she
drew back from him. 81 love you. l want
you for my wife"
How coldly she had looked at his flushed,
excited face. He thought it was the supreme
moment in his life; but it seemed to be nothing
to her
"Is that all? Why, thought you were mad"
All, and the same madness burned in his
soul this moment. Time could not wear it
out Shame, outrage desolation could not
kill it, He rose to his feet and pushed the
tinted porcelain away from him.
Mrs. Silas Ellingsworth was all smiles and
grace as Philip entered her parlor, and she
shook hands with him, fingered as cordially
over the greeting as if she had quite forgot
ten her pretty fingers had ever been on his
throat. She made him take a seat and began
to make conversation with him, as if she sup
posed he had called to see her. But suddenly
she affected to be struck with an idea.
'Oh, | know why you are not more talka-
tive, you didn't come to ,e me at all" She
stepped to the door, Susan, call Miss
Ellingsworth.
"Miss!" Then there was no longer any
room for doubt. Philip shrank at the blow
she gave him. He had thought all uncer-
tainty was gone long ago, but he found that
up to this very instant he had cherished
spark of hope that Bertha had a right to the
name of the man she had fed with. And
she was miss" still. His hostess way saying
something, but he did not hear it, there was
such deathly faintness about his heart.
Then there came a step in the hall, and his
familiar thrill of tenderness at her coming.
She fingered an instant on the threshold, an
old habit of hers that gave him time to step
forward and meet her
Mrs. Ellingsworth had risen, too, and was
waiting to speak. 1t was only tenderness in
Philip Breton's eyes as he took both Bertha's
hands so gently, but she said
''Am very much changed, thenw and a
panied look fitted across her face. Philip
did not answer her for a moment, he was SO
distressed at her Interpretation of the love
that made his sight misty as he gazed at her
swell, 1 suppose l am in the way" re-
marked the mistress of the house. with in
bred vulgarity. She was smiling sweetly,
but women's smiles do not always signify
amiability. II suppose" she added, letting
her skirts touch her two guests as she passed
out, ''you want to talk over old times with
Miss Ellingsworth."
Now came the last terrible assurance;
Philip WINGED at the heartecss blow, but not
so much as a flush passed over Bertha's cold
face. She accepted the name without even a
shade of silent denial on her calm features,
though it was the badge of shame for her
"Oh, no" but he dared not look her in the
| face for fear she should see his anxious pity
for her. "You have been ill., perhaps, but
always thought you the loveliest woman in
the world"
| She smiled as she let him lead her to a seat.
"You always said that" Then she glanced
sadly into the mirror 'But it is more pleas
ant to hear now, for l know 1 am not pretty
any longer
| Could she understand that the change that
had come over her radiant beauty only
changed his love to make it deeper3 Could
she not see the new intensity of yearning in
his ewes as he raised them to her face againl