The Grenada sentinel., 1888-08-18

There, Matte; don't get riled. OF
course it's nobody's business il you're
going to leave yourself an old maid;
but take my advice and don't spend
your time fretting and worrying over
Bob Preston, for he amt worth it, no
how"
She shook her head wisely and was
off before l had time to recover from
the cruel thrust that had opened the
old wound-Robert Preston and the
past.
| l had tried to guard my heart, to
trarnple under foot the old love.
could have laughed at my girlish folly
as if it were dream until a athoughtless
word had brought back the past, like
the dead risen to life again, or a
smouldering fire that needed but a
gentle breeze to make it burning
flame. One by one the roses dropped
from my hands. One by one the blind
ing tears fell. was only weak wo-
man, after all, as, covering my face
with my hands, I sobbed:
Robert, oh, Robert! Why were
you false?"
1t all came back to me-that visit to
Aunt Martha, where first met Robert
Preston, young student just returned
from college. l can not tell you all
those bright, happy day dreams; how
| loved him and waited for the happy
day when he would ask me for that
love. He read my answer in my tell
tell face before my lips uttered it,
So engrossed with Roberts society, I
took little heed of other matters,
scarcely giving thought to the fact that
young lady, the daughter of deceas-
ed friend of my aunt's, was going to
make her home with us. She came.
From the moment l looked upon her
lovely face my happiness was gone. /
was pretty girl, fair and fragile, yet
one might as well compare simple lit
tie daisy to a full-blown poppy orrich
red rose as my frail beauty to this girls
exquisite loveliness.
For a time his love was unchanged. |
laughed in my foolish heart at my
doubts and fears. At times l would find
his serious eyes wandering from me
and resting admirably on the beautiful
face of Kathleen Lee. No man could
resist that wondrous, fascinating face.
She never encouraged him, but the
dropping lids, the faint flush, the trem-
bling of the little hands, all told plainly
that she, too, loved him.
How I suffered! In my mad jealousy
I grew almost to hate the child. He
loved me before she came, with her
beautiful flower-like face, to rob me of
that love. Was she blind that she did
not see that we were betrothed? |
prayed that she might go away and
leave us to ourselves once more, and
Robert would go back to his old fond
ways. His caresses were growing cold
er, his kisses lighter. spoke of his
seeming neglect. He answered lightly,
taking both my hands in his and look
ing fondly at me.
"Nonsense, Matte! Do you know,
my little girl, that you are growing
nearer and dearer to me every day?'
For a time I was satisfied, trying
to be content with but a share of his
love.
We were seated in the garden, one
afternoon in the early autumn, Robert,
Kathleen and l. She was looking un-
usually handsome in dress of soft In
dian null. My lover had just paid her
well-merited compliment, for which
she was about to make gracious reply
when Aunt Martha came to us.
Robert" she said, placing her hand
fondly on his shoulder as she spoke,
"will you gather some grapes for me?
find that some of the punches hang too
high. The girls will 60 with you and
hold the basket"
He rose to comply with her request.
Kathleen was at his side in moment,
while refused to join them, feigning
severe headache.
"They do not want me-" reasoned
within myself.
l watched them as they wal ked away
together, he carrying the little wicker
basket and she tossing her bright curls
with that coquettish air that came so
natural to her.
I can not tell you what tempted me to
follow them. 1t must have been some
evil genius. Slowly l followed down
the pathway, taking every precaution,
however, not to be observed Seated
upon little rustic bench, | could see
every movement of my lover and Kath-
| leen.
How lovely she looked standing in the
orchard, the sunlight falling athwart
the lovely upturned face, on which a
smile rested! Never was seen fairer
vision. Her sleeve Of soft texture fall
ing back showed the shapely out
stretched arm.
Sometimes peal of merry laughter
would fall upon my ear. They did not
miss me-not even Robert, he was con-
| tent with Kathleen.