Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1888-07-07
CHAPTER V.
A RUIN By MOONLIGHT.

RUIN BY MOONLIGHT.
Bertha lay back indolently in her favorite
armchair, watching the deepening twilight
from her parlor window. Her eyes were al
most closed, and Philip, affecting to be inter
ested in Mr. Ellingsworth's conversation,
thought he might looll at her os fondly as he
chose without discovery and rebuke. He was
sure he was not noticed, but the girl was
quite enjoying his silent ofTering-so long as
he did not guess she perceived it If girl
must have a lover, Philip did very well. But
her lover was no divinity to her; she saw all
his faults as clearly as anybody; not with
impatience, however; that was not her tenn
perament. For example, he was too short
and his shoulders were too slight. She never
forgot it for an instant But then he always
did what she said, and that was very con-
venient, and yet she was half provoked with
him for it. A man ought to command wo-
mans love, not try to coax it from her He
thought quite too much Of her for what she
returned him; he ought to be stern and cold
to her sometimes, and give her chance to
be something besides an ungrateful recipient.
But perhaps she would not like him at all in
that character She suddenly opened her
there is nothing SO chilling as such look as
that, and Philip WINGED under it.
"Wel, l suppose you two are bursting with
tender confidences,' p smiled Mr.. Ellingsworth,
as he roso to his feet; II really won't stay
minute longer" He moved toward the door,
then he smiled and looked around; he had
thought of something very funny. "Now
Philip, my dear boy, you mustn't be too sure
of har rct ho SN M
That is where young man makes his worst
mistake. AS long as there is another man in
the world, he nlay have hope, that is, the
other man.
His daughter looked coolly after him
"Must you goa Why we shall die of ennui
We shall have to take walk ourselves. Ex-
cuse me, Philip, while get ready"
Left alone, the young man rose and went
to the window and looked out at the evening
sky. There was a little frown on his face
'What an unpleasant way Of talking Bcrtha's
father had. One would think ho believed In
nothing. There was no danger of his feeling
any too sure of her; how for away she seemed
to him. The idea of marriage seemed vague
and dreamlike, and yet he had her promise"
"You may adjust my shawl for me-" His
vexation fed, and no smiled with tho sweet
complacency of possession as he laid tho deli
cate bit of lace about her warm shoulders.
Tonight would be q good time to turn his
idea into reality, and ask ier whel-
"But you must promise me ono thing" she
said standing close to him for one moment.
"What is that, Bertha, dear" he asked
with guilty uneasiness.
She put her soft white hand in his so
charmingly that he was suddenly sure it
could be nothing hard she would require.
81 promise" he assented
"No love making in the ruin, if I let you
take me there"
"Why, Bertha!" he exclaimed so sorrow
fully that he showed his whole plan. The
girl laughed
"You are too cunning by half, Mr. Philip,
but then you know love making in the saw
mill is too common. Why, it is the rendez-
vous of all the factory hands. No, couldn't
think Of it for moment"
"Then 1 won't insist on taking you to the
old saw mill"
"Oh, yesl it is charming by moonlight"
"One would think you hadn't any heart.n
Philip did not confess the peculiar charm
this womans very GOODNESS had for him;
there was some quality in it that was ire
sistibly exciting to his nature. Perhaps it
was the presence of an unconscious reserve
of passion, never yet revealed, that he felt in
her. that kept his heart ever warm, and his
eyes ever tender for its unveiling
The round faced servant girl had come up
from the kitchen, and stood awkwardly at
the door.
eyes, you may light the gas now, Annie;
we are going outn She laid her hand lightly
ON Philips arm as they went down the walk.
81 must really have maid. That Annie is
too clumsy for me to endure in the parlor or
dining room. Oh, yes, probably have got
heart; some time it will frighten you, per-
hapS"
They walked slowly along the street, pass
ing the very spot where Tommie Bowler had
offered his poor little all to Jane Graves only
an hour or two ago Their feet rod care
lessly on the bits Of grass the nervous lover
had scattered along the path.
"But you haven't told me about the meet
ing Did the agitator have auburn curls, as
/ said? That is the clearest idea have got
of hero"
AS he told her his adventure they reached
the ruin and went in. The moonlight poured
through the dismantled roof, and made q
white track for itself over the uneven floor,
leaving the rest of the interior in tho shadow
Such as remained of the fallen rafters made
convenient benches for visitors, who might
easily enough imagine themselves in some
old world ruin. And the young mill owners
son and Bertha, the hem of whose garment
had never touched poverty, seated themselves
where many penniless young fellow ha6
wooed some pretty weaver maid to share his
destitution, all for loye--soon starved out of
both their lives.
Philip felt all his last nights enthusiasm