The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1888-09-08
A MAYNARD GIRL.
BY GUINEvERE.

ElgIJ o CLOCK anu Laure not mere. She
never kept me waiting like this before.'
And handsome Enrol Brant drew his
brows together and pulled at his tawny
mustache impatientls.
1t was picturesque, place that he and
Lanre Ray had chosen for their meetings,
a wooded glen, intersected by tiny brook
and tonight the moonlight, falling bewteen
the interlacing branches, enhanced the
scene, and brought the beauty of each work
of nature into distinctness.
Enrol walked to and fro brief while,
and then paused to glance up the narrow
path.
In the distance he saw what appeared to
be the iutter of light draperies; then it dis
appeared, and after straining his eyes for
a second glimpse, he turned away with a
sigh.
"That is not Laure," he thought. "She
would have been in my arms ere this; her
flying feet would have traversed that space
in an instant"
But, as if in contradiction to his words,
slender, girlsh form now appeared in the
glen, and Enrol turned with glad cry.
why, thought" he began. then
stopped as he saw that the girl held herself
from him with dignified attitude and out
stretched hand.
"Laure, what is the matter ?" he asked
She raised her head, and he saw that her
face was pale, her lips set, her eyes re
proachful.
81 came here tonight because prom
ised,' she said, in low, steady tones, "but
shall never come again"
'What does this mean?" he faltered
"Why, Laure, are you possessed of your
senses, or is this a cruel jest?"
81 am quite sane" she said, with little,
sharp laugh. / was mad before Enrol Brant,
mad when ! promised to meet you here
without the knowledge of my step-mother,
mad when l listened to you and believed
YOU, mad when thought on were doing
aught but amusing yourself at the expense
of a poor, inexperienced girl But ] am
NOT mad now -
Enrol looked bewildered, and it was evi-
dent, even to her, that he did not compre-
hend the meaning of her words.
'Laure, DO not understand you, ] am
stupefied," he said, drawing nearer. 'Let
me look into your eyes"
He placed bis hand under her chin and
raised her face to the moonlight, pretty,
childish face about which the rich aburn
curls clustered in attractive confusion, a
face that was usually radiant and rosy, but
now wore look of haggard care and set
dehance.
The delicate red lips were drawn, the
nostrils dilated, the dark, hazel eyes met
his steadily a moment, and then, pushing
his hand aside, Laurc burst into tears.
II cannot help it," she sobbed, resisting
every effort Enrol made to draw her to him
and soothe her. 'I'm a weak, foolish
creature, but want you to understand
Errol Brant, Pm not crying for your sake"
He smiled despite his anxiety, and she,
seeing the smile, msnterpreted it. Pas
sion dried her tears.
eyes, laugh at me,' she cried, stamping
her tiny foot 'You are like all the rest
they abuse me and slight me, and then
laugh and sneer."
'I-aure," cried Enrol, aghast, "what are
you saying?"
1T is true" she ciied, too angry and
chagrined to realize that she was diyulging
a secret that she had kept through pride
for man months. 1T is true, | am mis-
cradle at home. Ever since papa died l
have been treated like dependent. He
left all his money to her, my step-lnother,
because she made him believe she loved me
as she did ler own daughter, and he trusted
her so. And now l am nobody and Marian
is all in all. wouldn't care if they treated
me kindly, but they don't, oh they don't,
and Pm going to run away"
Enrol held out his hand, while a look of
pity came into his eyes, but Laure dashed
it aside.
"And now you are like all the rest" she
said, passionately. 'You deceive me and
scorn me-"
Il scorn you, Laure ?" he asked won
deringy, "why love you, dear"
"Oh, you tell me that because l am a
child, and you think / viii believe it,
know"
Enrol faced her with look Of resolution
on his dark and handsome face.
"Laure, listen to me-" he said firmly
'Explain your words, your actions, give
me a chance TO elear myself Of these as
tcnishing charges"