The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1889-01-18


child of hers without misconstruction-
But you, Bertha, you surely have read
my heart more truly.
Il read no love for me there" was the
qui reply, "and if there were any no
echo lives in my heart We could never
be happy together, Mr.. Rosslyn- The
memory of my little cousins wrongs
would prevent that"
He tired to move her by well-acted
psthos but she was firm, AMI he lett her
ut last While his step still rang upon
the walk a little figure glided through
the open window and crept into Bertha 5
arms sobbing, but fearless, a fierce, hot {
an ger burning the whole nature.
Bertha, he did tell me that | was the
only one he ever met who thoroughly
filed his idea of perfect, t-nder woman
hood. He didl lie saId-he said"
tears came now.) "Ohi what has he
not said TO make me love him? And he
loved you all the time"
"He loves no one but himself" said
Bertha. all her gentle nature reused 10
in ignation. HE is not worth one tesr,
Bella"
al know. But let me cry, Bertha, let
Tenderly Bertha held the little figure
in close embrace, now and then press
ing SOFT kisses upon the tear-stained face,
until the passion OF grief has exhausted
u,
more aft to day-rests passive and eX-
hausted in her arms.
The autumn comes, the holidays are
over, and pale, quiet girl goes back To
boarding school, where ncie Erank
pays all the orphans expenses and pro-
poses TO make her 4 teacher. Two years
glide along. three, and once more leila
Hunt y Is her Aunt MAYS guest. In
all these three years she has never been
to the old house but Bertha is married
ami in another part OF the worli, anu her
aunt is lonely. so Bella comes for a
long visit in fact this will be her home
until wedding bells ring for her, too.
for Uncle Frank is dead, and Bella neei
never teach, being helress TO tine large
fortune the bachelor uncle has made IN
twenty years OF trade in China.
The years of absence had changed the
impulSIve child into a woman of rare
beauty, of quiet dignity that suited
well the tall, well-developed figure and
statuesque regularity OF feature. The
clustering nut brown curls had lost none
of their waving luxurience, though the
tresses that, unbound, fell far below
Bella's waist We're gathered away from
the low, broad brow, and made rich
masses OF curls at the back OF the pretty
head.
When Paul Rosslyn accepted Mrs.
NAYS invitation TO a social g,thering 10
welcome ntT niece ne WAS WHOLLY ulDrt-
pared Tor the change in the girl he had
totally forgotten until the note recalled
her name He WAS not man given to
demons, ration of feeling, but he could
not repress the admiration in his ewes
when he bowed in Acknowledgement OF
Bella's greeting. Memory brought him
heeting vision of 4 thin, gawky girl, with
great brown eyes and a frank, brs sht
face, clad in the simplest OF muslin
dresses.
Reality brought him tall, beautiful
woman, with snowy round ar IS and
shoulders, upon which spirkled costly
jewels-a tall, graceful figurc, clad in a
shimmering lace covered silk, with
masses of curis caught by a damon l.
starred comb, and tiny hands with gilt
tering rings.
The frank face, the clear. ringing voice
were gone, too, and yet the low, ex-
quistely modulated tones could leave
no regret for any memory of different
ones
Before he realized the fascination that
held hinl, Paul Rosslyn Was Converting
as he rarely converse to man or woman
The quiet immobilty OF the 4ovely iace
b reused him TO efforts to stir IL 10 anima-
ton that quite destroyed all his haoitual
lansuor, and he dropped the iaint drawl
! to try 10 interest his listener IN himself
amt subjects.
When she smiled strange thrill of
I pleasure stirred his heart, and when sine
seemed ab tracted be experienced throb
OF disappointment that was New SeIISa-
ton in his pelted lie.
For, with the one exception Of Bertha's
refusal, aul had met no reouiis IN his
many fiirtations at home os abroai
With the facility that can only attend
the utterly selI-ahsorbed man, ht. ha
won silly hearts and thrown tuem aside
till he believed his handsome iace and
tender eyes irresistible. He was not sur
prs-d when, alter the first quiet greet
Ing, Bella gave tokens OF pleasure AZ his
approach. entered readily into conversa-
ton with him and chose him often in
crowded assemblages for her escort. 1t
Was "A gay season, and the heiresS was
invited 10 all the meetings for young
people, IN doors or out, ami Paul met her
constantly
he had held his heart bound by its
own selfishness so long that ne did not
realize how il was tipping away from
him tlh II was gone p st recall " ltl a
shock he wakened TO the fact that he
loved Bella Huntley with ali the force of
boyish impulse, ali the fervor OF mature
years loved her utterly, without thought
OF her wealth or pos ton, but for tue
radiant beauty 81 her face, the rare, in
tellect and winning sweetness OF her per
And with the love there came little
fear lie Was wealthy, master OF one of
the I'm 81 estates IN New I ork, hand
some and OF good birth. More than all
in those past summer days, he had won
Bella's love. He was sure OF that now,
taough 1t had troub him little at the
time. VANITY whispered that she had
come TO WIN him now.
% he WAS not despaiTing lover who
on the same balcony where he had
crushed her young heart three years bs-
fore now pleaded Tor its love. Pleaded,
100, as a nian pleads for life. Not IN the
measured words with which ne had
asked Eertha TO be his wife, but in burn
ing, fiery eloquence taught by the hrst
sincere love oil ms hie.
AMI Bella listened, turning upon her
finger 4 circlet OF diamonds that ashed
hre IN the cold moonlight. When ne
ceased to speak, words as ,old as drops
of nail on glass answered him:
Three years ago the love you ask for
Was ali your own, won by your false
w0ris, your lying eyes. The child whose
heart was your toy for a summer days
sport never questioned your sincerity
and put the Treasure of her low, :nto
your careless keeping. never thinking OF
treachery. IL was her first experience
OF pain Shen she tore that love away and
hell il OF with her poor childish might
til IL dropped. faded and died
There was contempt and scorn to
wither 1t, and only few tears TO ke p it
green. 50 IL died utterly. 1t can never
revive ag in L came 10 see ii q new
love IN my heart would pale, if brought
within the influence of old associations,
and j have proved it stronger. truer,
happier, by contrasting it with what you
offer"
Then you have played with me % lie
cried fiercely.
Il amused myself Three years ago
you amused yourself"
With an oath Paul Rosslyn strobe
away IN the moonlight, AMI hot ter
dropped upon Bella's diamonds
ut Is 4 poor revenge, after all )" she
Ell1 NOffINr xxrifI Ii