Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1889-08-09

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Rachel to her, but Laura had lived in the
world where engagements are formed and
broken to suit the convenience of the
parties, and she attached no Importance
to the communication. She had only
said
"Why, Aunt Edith engaged to that
old maid 1t is too bad Why, DR..
Moore is one of the most splendid men 1
ever met"
"Laura," said Aunt Edith, severely,
"no man can be too good for Rachel
Heath. She is the noblest and truest
woman ever met"
sob, yes, auntie," returned Laura, 81
know she is perfect saint; but then she
is so grave and old and she wears her hair
in such horrid style! Not puff, nor n
friz, and, I'll venture to say, not thread
of false hair"
"No," said Aunt Edith, ''Rachels
head is too full of good sense to allow her
self to be done up in hair from the scalp
of any lunatic or criminal.
Laura founced out of the room In pet,
and revenged herself by hunting up DR..
Moore and coaxing him to take her out
in his boat. 1t was twilight when they
returned, and Rachel sat on the piazza
and watched them come up the she'll
paved walk with an odd pain in her
heart. She did not understand DR..
Moore. Suddenly something seemed to
have come between them and to have
changed the genial, happy young man
into restless and capricious trifler.
All the brief summer Laura fingered
at Beauview, and DR.. Moore was ever
her most devoted cavalier. Riding,
walking or boating, the two were always
together, and though DR.. Moore used at
first to ask Rachel to come with them she
always declined, and after time he
ceased to ask her.
Laura confded her hopes to Rachel
one night after the girls had gone to their
rooms.
She should marry DR.. Moore, for she
liked him vastly, and then he was rich
and of good family.
II did think he was engaged to you,"
went on the selfish girl, ''but, of course,
that is all over. No man loves and neg
lects woman at the same time. And
you must be ages older than himl"
81 am twenty = DR.. Moore is
thirty" said Rachel, in a cold harsh
voice, which surprised herself, 'and if
he loves you | should advise you to mar
ry him."
"You are such dear, good creature"
cried Laura, kissing her, ''and l am so
glad that you do not care anything about
him. 1t would be SO awkward, you
know, if you did. But hear him com
ing to his room and we must be quiet.
So good night and pleasant dreams"
Pleasant dreams indeed! Poor Rachel
never closed her weary eyes that night,
and the next morning she looked so worn
and i'll that even selfish Laura insisted on
bathing her head and coddling her to
sleep on the sofa.
1t was early autumn now and the even
ings were growing chilly. Rachel had
fire lighted that night on the sitting
room hearth.
Laura, all in diaphanous cloud of
white muslin and azure ribbons, sailed in
Just before it was time for DIR. Moore to
come from his office.
GA fire! wood fire. !" she cried, gayly;
chow charming! Royal and are to prac
tice that new song together, and really,
it would have been chilly here without
the fire. You are very thoughtful, Cousin
Rachel. | wonder if l will be as good
when am as old?'
She weut close to the fire and held her
small, white hands out to the ruddy blaze.
Her sweeping skirts trailed over the
hearth-a breath of air from the open
door as Aunt Edith came in swayed them
little nearer, tongue of flame seized
upon the fimsy fabric, and in an instant
the unfortunate girl was wrapped in a
cloud of fire.
A fearful temptation beset Rachel.
Do not temptations, at times-tempta-
tions dark and evil-beset the best of
us? If Laura perished, Royal Moore
would be hers once more. The thought
went through her brain like lightning,
but she cast it behind her with i'm
patient scorn.
The next moment she had torn up
the hearth-rug and wrapped it around