The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-12-21
CELESTE'S BETROTHAL.
By CLYDE RAYMOND.

her white, saundlesS gauze draperies,
she looked like some fair spirit, 'iitting
silently through the winding paths OF
the shadovy grounds.
Not an unhappy spirit, though, for
tn re were few, II any, lovely women in
the brilliant ballroom she had lett who
could surpaSs her either in beauty or
wealth. And she was the betrothed
bride OF the hsndsomest man present
the man she loved-so she was not un-
happy not untIl 4 sudden curve in her
path brought her within sound OF two
faIIl ar voices.
zone would think that a fellow lucky
enough to capture an heIress-and a
handsome on ut that wouldn't have
much cause for looking glum. Yet here
you've been as glo my as an owl all
evening, and that explains it, eh ? Pret-
", darS-eyed, little Ora ColDurn is 60
ing away
Miss Madison knew the voice-it was
that Of Jack Godfrey, n luckless sin
eligible" OF society, and 4 confidential
lriend of her lover sand halting where
she Was al those last words, she waited,
with her hand involuntarily pressed
against her heart for the answer.
"pon laugh, Jack, for Heavens sakei"
her lovers voice replied impatiently.
Money can't buy happiness, aud L feel
like a villain when look Il Orra's sweet
she IS going to-the lonely, toilsone lie
OF . governess. For my miserable sake
too, / know, though she says her reason
Tor going IS because SLe Is unwilling to
be dep ndent upon her relatives, kind
as they are. But she never talked in
that way, Jack, before my engagement.
IoOr little Orra'
And heavy sigh followed the tender
ly spoken words.
Then If the parting is going to make
you both so unhappy, why don't you
break OF with the heir, sS and marry
her. COnfound me II l wouldn't, much
as III like to wed n snug little fortune
myself 'Iisn't likely Miss Madison
would care TO marry man who doesn't
love her, and she has plenty OF suitors
who would console her Tor your loss.
There's Colonel Harry Milford, Tor one,
just dying 10 win her, and he has twice
her wealth. Nothing mercynary about
his wooing.'
Il havn't the moral courage, Jack"
said Ben Vernon, desperately. And
anyhow, If / were free 1 couldn't afford
10 marry little Urra. So things must take
its course, let the eRI be what L may.
Ecmember, this is Detw, en- Ourselves,
old fellow" he added suddenly, IN q
warning tone. In justice to Celeste, !
would not have the world suspect the
real truth even Ora does not ..sI. guess
il"
And with these words ringing in her
ears, Celeste Madison turned and lifted
silently away.
She hat heard enorgh, and two min
ut later she reentered The brilliant ball
rpom with, not only an aching head, but
~ aching heart rs well.
At the door COioacl Milford met her.
and the next moment she was gliIi 2
down the long, Respondent r ON in his
arms, one Of the ialrest an gayes- o. the
walters.
She glanced coveItly at Ora Colburn
IS they passed each otueT in the dance,
and noted, tor the first time, the re-
pressed sorrow IN the pIIc, bea u nj
olive face, and IN the hal dropping, pas
sionate, dark eyes. IN the lIuh- oi what
she had Just heard, Celeste understood
that look but too well.
"=he suffers but no matter" She
breathed 10 herself, her blue eyes glitter
Ing, her .Inty rosered lips COMPRESSED,
rs she whirl-d lightly by. ''She does not
know how he loves her-so he says
and ii she did, she should not have hun.
No, no. l would not give HIM up 10
her"
1t was not new to Celeste Madison
the suspicion that she was being wooei
AMI Won Tor her fortune, more than any
thing else, by handsome Ben Vernon
but 50 well he had played the part OF 4
lover that il hal been nothing more than
suspi cIOn until 10 night
And she knew that she herself was not
bameless. She hai fallen IN love with
his handsome person and hls pleas NJ
ways, and, turning from the attentions
OF many far more eligible suItors, she
had lured him on by every art and las
clnatlUn at her command.
When she had seen him lingering at
the side OF pretty Ora COlbuTn, and
noticed hIs evident admiration Tor tho
lovely brunette face, with Its sweet rel
lips and thrilling, passionate, dark eyts.
Celeste had drawn him away by some
subtle vile OF her own, until at last he
stoo before the world her acknowledged
lover
But she had never dared to question
too closely the reality oi the love win, n
hadi brought hInl 10 her feet Ii was
enough that she had won him, that no
one could dispute her ownership.
Now that the hali-drcaded, bitter truth
was forced upon her she did not mean
TO let 1t chansc her lie.
Pride and conscience too. perhaps.
would have bidden her 10 give up AT
once all claim upon man who did not
love her, and who, she wei knew, did
love another. But her selfish heart sad
no. So only the s;eciy Il. sh in her blue
ewes, and the deep, burning flush on her
far checks told how her pride WAS
woun led. But nothing either IN her
woras or manner gave a sgn that any
sha'tow had fallen upon her happiness.
But Vernon was the last one TO sl!spect
1t As lie stood In the room a little later
and waite ed his iair fInec-the charm
ine heiIess whom half the men there
Cnvied i'm Tor having won-dancing and
irting with all her usual graceful gay
ETY., her face as bright and Smiling as a
sul nler moor.
"Aiillori adores her, and how well thoy
look together he thought, without a
p1r'iClc OF n lover jealousy in his breast.
They are both rich, too. AS Jack SAID,
il they We're to marry What il /
should confess the truth, and ask her 10
release me ?'' he whispered TO himself,
an eager light springng TO his handsome
blue eyes as hIs thoughts took sudden
turn. "i ut no. Coniount it, / cant do
that. ! really believe Celeste loves me,
AMI, besides, Ora and i are both too
poor TO think OF such q thing Ilei.ho :"
with a lOrg drawn, Disconnected sigh
''why can't ate distribute her fayors q
little more evenly, Ia like To know -
And he crossed the room TO the spot
where Ora { olhuru had lust sunk into
a seat, with the languid, easy grace that
WAS hall her charm and soon afterw ard,
10 the dreamy strains OF one OF the
sN eetest. saddest creations tfat was ever
plHye they had their last, farewell waltz
together.
celeste locke or - y watchiul, sml.
-ns ey s, and said nothing. She caught
The sound OF Ben's low, tenler tones
once or twice as they swept past each
other, but what they were saying 10 har
rival she never knew, and never sought
to know.
iiut it was an intense relief TO her
when the next day, she waved a smiling
100 i-hye 10 beautiful Ora Colhurn, and
knew that the danger she had dreaded
WIS over.
Weeks passed. and though her rival