Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-09-12

her tears, andno one, not even a thoroughly
spoiled beauty, could be g. wayward as she
| if there were not some bitter arrow rank
| ling in her heart. She was riding down
the street on pillion behind her father,
and Colonel Schuyler, who had been lean
| ing on the gate in front of the house,
turned his back upon her and went inside
| when he saw her coming. Was this what
made her SO white and reckless when she
| came up to where I was standing with
Orrin Day, and was it her chagrin at the
great mans apparent Indifference which
gave that sharp edge to the good morning
it was, I can forgive you, my lady-bird,
for there is reasoa for your folly If l am
any Judge of my fellow men. Colonel
SCHUYLER is not Indifferent but circumspect,
and circumspectior in a lover is an insult to
his lady's charms.
She knows now what knew a week ago.
Colonel Schuyler is in love with her and
will marry her if she does not play the
coquette with him. He has been to her
house and her father already holds his head
higher as he PAGES up and down the street.
1 am left in the lurch, and if had not fore
seen this end to nv hopes, might have been
a very miserable man tonight. For was
near obtaining the object of my heart, as
know from her own lips, though the words
were not intended for my ears. You see l
was the one who surprised him talking with
her in the garden. / had been walking
around the place on the outer side of the
wall as L often did from pure love for her,
and not knowing she was on the other side
was very much startled when 1 heard her
voice speaking nv name; so much startled
that I stood still in my establishment and
thus heard her say:
Law, has Ia o. 1c
own and can be mistress of it any day
or so he tells me- had rather go into that
little cottage where every board I trod on
would be my own, than live in the grandest
room you could give me in a house OF which
1 would not be the mistress"
"But if 1 make a home for you" he
pleaded, "grand as my fathers, but built
entirely for you"
"Ahl" was her soft reply, 'that might
make me listen to you, for should then
think you loved me-.
The wall was between us, but could see
her face as she said this as plainly as if 1
had been the fortunate man at her side.
And could see his face too, though it was
only in fancy had ever beheld it soften as
1 knew it must be softening now. Silence
such as followed her words is eloquent, and
I feared my own passions too much to
linger till it should be again broken by vows
had not the courage to hear. So l crept
away conscious of but one thing, which was
that my dream was ended and that my
brave apple tree would never shower its
bridal blossoms upon the head I love, for
whatever threshold she crosses as mistress it
will not now be that of the little cottage
every board of which might have been her
own.
fl had doubted the result of the Colonel's
offer to Juliet, the news which came to me
this morning would have convinced me that
all was well with them and that their mar
riage was simply a matter of time. Ground
had been broken in the pleasant opening on
the verge of the forest, and carts and men
hired to bring stone for the fine new dwell
ing Colonel Schuyler proposes to rear for
himself The whole town Is agog, but
keep the secret surprised, and only Juliet
knows that I am no longer deceived as to
her feelings, for 1 did not go to see her to-
night for the first time since made up my
mind that would have her for my wife. L am
glad restrained myself, for Orrin Day, who
had kept his word valiantly up to this very
day, came riding by my house furiously
half hour ago, and seeing me, called out:
"Why didn't you tell me she had new
adorer? went there tonight and Colonel
Schuyler sat at her side as you and never
sat yet, and-and-" he stammered fran
tically, 81 did not kill him.
"You- Come back" I shouted, for he
was flying by like the wind. But he did not
heed me nor stop, but vanished in the thick
darkness, while the lessening sound of his
horses hoofs rang dismally back from the
growing distance.
So this man has loved her passionately
too, and the house which is destined to rise
in the woods will throw shadow over more
than one hearthstone in this quiet village.
I declare that am sorry that Orrin has
taken it so much to heart, for he has proud
and determined spirit, and will not forget
his wrongs as soon as it would be wise for
him to do. Poor, poor Juliet, are you max
ing enemies against your bridal day? If
so, it behooves me at least to remain your
friend
I saw Orrin again to-day, and he looks
like one haunted. He was riding as usual,
and his cloak flew out behind him as he
sped down the street and away into the
woods. 1 wonder if she too saw him, from
behind her lattice. 1 thought I detected
the curtain move as he thundered by her