The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-02-04
CAN SHE TRUST HIM!


eellps curl SO, Inez?" asked Roy Alton
Withasmile one would almost fancy
|fhe old witch had tried to make you
FEAR some evil"
N"She did" answered the girl scorn-
iully, her dark eyes flashing "falsp-
hood and treachery are evils, are they
not? She said they were about me
~falsehood on the lips | kissed
treachery in the hearts l trusted.
Bah! how foolish it is 10 give ones
hand to such creature and allow her
tqsay such things"
3sOne never does so in faith,"
augh9d pretty golden-haired Beat.
rice Laven, the cousin, who, being
orphaned and penniless. owed ali
thingsto the generous and wealthy
Inez
"And why not, my beautiful lady?
asked theold cr0ne, who had followed
Inez, aid paused near. rs it that
you doubt, because my eyes might
pierce the mask you wear, and my
lips NIGH speak of the arts you use,
by whichYou make man false to
his plightel word, and plunge into
the heart OF one who has been kind
to you a dagger keen enough to slay
her? Your Nir face is false, lady,
and your blue eyes are full Of fear;
yet you Daled not when you stole out
to meet anOthefs affianced husband.
and you feared not that he who was
won in falsehood would be as false
some day to yourself. All, blue-eyed
beauty with the traitorous heart, will
you let ne read the lines of your
hand and warn you?"
Beatrice shrank under the eyes OF
the sorceress, and cluug to Roy's arm,
her fair face deathly in its whiteness.
"She is horrible! Let US CO." faI.
tered the r0se-leaf lips.
And the crone laughed as they
went slowly away for her through
the sunlight.
"Pride. and love and treachery and
falseh0odW muttered the gypsy.
"Of such things can l prophesy to
all, and never speak amiss. But for
this fair beauty, and the man beside
her-I was abroad last night, and
they4dd not see me, as they talked
of love which must ne kept secret.
Bah such love must die. as die the
roses. l read all human hearts, and
they give me gold, thinking L read
| the stars"
Meanwhile, through the scents OF
| the May time went the three, and
Roy whispered low word to Beat
rice, which Inez did not hear.
Untrouhled by the Crone'S predic.
tions, with faith as strong as the love
in her proud true heart, Inez never
dreamed of suspecting that her lovers
whispers could be "but stricken air.
or that the hearts she leaned on and
fully trusted planned their treachery
at her very side.
Roy fingered at the stately home
of Inez until the moon was high, and
she accompanied him down the steps
and part of the way to the gate that
divided their fathers lands.
There, in the clear light of the full
May moon, they said good night and
she stood watching him as he went
until the shadows hid him from her
my love-my kingly loyal love y
| she murmured.
Then sudden thought came-sht
had not told him of a certain plan fol
the morrow, formed by herself anC
Beatrice.
She would f1irt after him, glide vi
to him ere he reached the gate. sill
her hand in his, and laugh at his glaC
surprise.
With light feet she hurried after
reached the shadows which had en-
folded him, passed through them ant
paused, like startled doe, on thei
edge, fierce incredulous scorn grow
ing in her eyes, her proud face blanch
ing, swiftly, sharply, as Dlanch tn
faces of those smitten suddenly to tn
heart.
He stood before her, only a fey
feet away-her lover, her promise
husband-with a slight white-cla
figure in his arms, dainty golde
head, uncovered to the moon beams
nesting close to his heart, while he
cousins red lips laughed merrily u
| at him, and her Cousins white han
: held back his face from hers.
; may" Inez heard the girls
voice say, with the laugh in it. "yo
shall not kiss me. The gypsy sal
you would be false to me, some da.
as YOU are now to Inez."
"And you doubt me-you, WI
have made me chafe against my bol
dage until am willing TO free m
self in any way, at any cost, for yoI
L. Oy1