Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1888-11-24
FRUSTRATED.

Tier lace lHHn tiiHt ot NWIi HotHcE sfSt'
OF what are you reminded rs you look on
her dark, rich lewildrring beauty"
"Ofa topical sun: of host Of lusky-
bruwcd servants. clustering 10 do her bid.
ding. of Cleopatra and her spell; of the
splcndor of the East; of all things brilliant,
from the wings Of n tropical bird TO the
glowing coils of the coppcrlcads. Yes.
llilda. my mothers guest is marvclonsly
beautiful"
Grant Lara stood with his fathers ward.
Ililia liraamc. near one Of the wide. old.
fashioned windows Of the room. and look.
ed across the width of light between them
To where the newly arrived CUES, sat; and
IIilda with n soft CLEAN in her gentle eyes.
looked up at him.
"Marvclously beautiful" he said again
watching n smile flash over the rich bru'
nci,c face Of Incz Dalgrcen, which was
truly ~ vivid and glowing ms IN eastern
sun.
II was such face as one rarely secs,
save in u country where the sun brings
all things 10 early nnl transient splcndors;
il was face which had won the hearts
from many breasts hut lost none of lis
bloom or its beauty because II scattered
pain and hcariachc.
The dark eyes. with rich fringcs. smiled
ar grew languid, hut never became dim;
the rel lips. dcwy, and potent rs lips Of u
sovereign. were too beautiful 10 have ever
known curve Of pain. IL the low brow
had slight lack in il. who Int plysios.
onomist would know: for il was polish.
masscd The richest trcsscs ofhair, 81 black
n 10 almost look blue in the lamplish,.
From simple dress Of amber arose II
throat n perfect n ever WIS copied by
sculptor. and idly toying with fan were
hands as iair and delicate rs any on earth.
i.uoking II, her from where he >tuod.
Gran, could find no law in her, from the
coils ofbluc.hlack hair 10 the toe of the
dainty amber slipper, tl'a, pccpcl from
the hem Of her dress.
The dark, diamond like eyes lifted and
for an instant mel his own acres, the
width Of the vast room The red lips
smiled him summons. which drew him
like spell
~ he moved from his place beside her
II sudden cold feeling went over lllda,
and she >hrank 10 the shadow OF The cur.
tain near, and watched him join those
about Miss Dalrrccn's chair.
=, smile from her eyes, and he fnrgr,s
my very existence" she said, bitterly, Ia
herself; for pain makes the .cn,lcst Of rs
bitter sometimes
She was voting, shy. tender girl, with
no especial beauty. savctllat which nature
had given 10 her soft. gray eyes. But she
had heart Of gold under the white sheen
Of her bodice and il had never achr,l he.
fore in all her ~ years.
Now. rs she watched the tall form of
her guardians son bend over the stranger,
"a pain which startled her ihrohlicd with
every throh Of her pulses. and She ellcd
out to the quic, Of the moonlight, that She
might be- alone with and learn la under
stand. il.
She wouldn be- missed by those with
in. >hc knew, for even Mrs. Lara, her al
mos, mother, had No eyes for any face
save that Of the girl who had come ON a
visit 10 one who had known her mother
years before
.As il was on that nrSt evening al Miss
Dalgrecn's coming. so il was on many
that followed : lIilda. shy, silent, with u
vague, jealous pain in her breast, was al
lowed 10 steal away when she liked, never
missed, never recalled or sought for. while
Gran, and lncz played the parts Of lovers,
too cngrossrd hy their affection To realize
that any save themselves were in the
world
Yct lIilda now and then caught III,
dark eyes of lnel watching her, with 4
CLEAN ui eonicmptuous amusement, IN
them; and She was very glad that Mis-,
DaIgrccn seemed To wish NO friendship
To exist between them.
Summer was nearly over when. one
evening, a man with pale. delicate face
and compressed lips, asked for Miss Dial
green.
Being told that she had taken n certain
path, aud was walking dawn near ih,
river alone, he turned on his heel and
went through the shadows hy the way
they said She would return.
Half an hour later, ~ Grant was step
ping light, over the grasses, Fastening
back To The presence Of one whose beauty
had bound him like u spell h. sudlcnl,
heard her low, silvcry laugh, aud il cam,
from the shadow of heavy branches
which dropped low abnvc the path thai
led mp from the river
Something Ikea smnthcrc,l mair,liciior
followed ON the musical peal; and then h,
caught the full richness of luch Dalsreen'
voice. still with ripple Of mirlh in il
"You are quiet Iragical over it, N,
dear Rex; but don't see why you shnul,
be-. when YOU know how ponr YOU are
AMI how absurd It would he Ia think q
my ever marrying you. Now, this Gran
Lara is mn only child did you notice how
broad the acres are that will be- his in
few years. BE reasonable, Rex, and lc
~ part friends"
Friends /" Grant heard huarsc ynie'
cry-"fricuds. when you have taken ~,
life into your hands and brnkcn it n yo'
would rotten iwig: IIu, tell me this
hnN,. vnm any lnNN In Your henri for Ihi