Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-04-25

in the ringing rich tones. The man
bending over her listened with darken-
cd eyes and set face to the despairing
words.
"Why do you choose songs like
thatP" he asked almost angrily, when
she had finished.
She looked at him as she rose, and
stood, n tall exquisite figure in
trailing robes of apricot silk and
cream lace; her long rounded arms,
bare to the shoulder, hung down before
her, thelittle fingers tightly interlaccd;
her neck, long and slender, rose grace
fully as a swans from the soft lace
yelling the white shoulders. Her face
was most beautiful, perfect in feature,
perfect in coloring, lighted by glori-
Gus eyes, deep and soft and dark;
face that man might live or die for,
and rs Eberhard Leigh gazed into it,
his breath quickened, his eyes deep
ened.
why do you sing such wretched
songs?" he demanded again impera-
lively.
Elvira Beauchamp moved from The
piano ere she replied.
She gained the shadow Of the heavy
curtains at one of the windows, and
then she looked at her companion
again, and said sadly,
"'They suit me best; they are tie
only ones in harmony with my own
life
NONSENSE" from him almost rough
~. Then, with sudden entreaty in his
low rich voice: 1T shall not be Good
bye Elvira. for us, 1t shall not"
ut will break my heart il il is,
Eberhard," the girl said softly, with a
little catch in her breath.
ut need not be unless you so decree
it,
ZIP What am against fate?" She
shrugged her shoulders and her eyes
hardened. 1T is fate that has de-
creed you shall be penniless, and I
at this moment, Eberhard, my debts
are so many and so pressing that l a.
most fear imprisonment.
Il wish that | could sell my worth
less existence and pay them for your
was the mans passionate response.
Would you do so much for me?"
gently. Would you indeed give me
self-sacriice? But, mo- know how
men talk. Words are very different
from actions"
Tell me one thing can do for you
and will do e."
She answered him with look, but
then her eyes wandered away, and
they fell upon a man at the other end
Of the large drawing-room, who was
watching her with scowl upon his
stern, hawk-like face.
She met his glance, and instantly
she glided from Leigh and took seat
in lonely part OF the room; and
then it was Eberhard Leigh
turn to scOwl, for the hawk-face1 man
went promptly across to her, and the
inveterate coquette turned with a
brilliant smile to greet him.
Eberhard Leigh had only one adj
vantage over his rival-that OF person
al appearance.
Leigh was spleudidly handsome
man, every inch n soldier, tall and
broad; magnifcently strong, yet easily
graceful-dark, bronzed, finely mould
ed.
Sir Peter Ruskiu was ugly and OF
thin, cramped figure; but he was a
baronet, and possessed a rent-roi o!
twelve thousand per annum.
Eberhard Leigh had nsthing save
his pay, and a slender allowance from
his uncle, old Lord Lester. The run
ming was scarcely even.
AS Miss Beachamp deliberately de.
serted him for his rival, Leigh crossed
the room, and Needless of the chances
of one or two pairs of bright eyes who
would have welcomed him gladly, he
took scat by the side OF child of l :
years. who was looking at the scene
before her without attempting to mis-
in it.
docs this amuse you, Dorothy
the soldier asked. "Do you like
TO see all those people here
making fools of themselves" he
added bitterly.
The girl turned to him. There were
splendid capacities in her face, {
grand promise of future beauty; bu'
ut present it was pale and thin, and
too old-looking for her eize; the only
beautiful thing about Dorothy Beau
champ was her eyes.
care you one of the latter?" she
asked in her quaint unchildish way.
al verify believe l am. Tell me
Dorothy--you are little witch fol
seeing and reading secrets-do you
think am making fool of MYSELF"
The child's glance travelled over tc
where her cousin Elvira sat listening
with radiant expression to something
the baronet was whispering in her ear
II suppose you can't help IL, Mr.
Leigh" che said.
"You are right, Dorothy. can't
Do you think should be wiser to hell
ftp" he went on in strange persistency
Quite look of womanly pity stole
into the child's eyes as she rested then
upon the handsome troubled face.
"Elvirs meana 70 marry Sir Peter,