St. Paul daily globe., 1891-01-12
CLARISSA'S RIVAL.

Two Lovers Lifelong Unhappi-
ness.
Nearly all the morning the three girls
had spent in Agnes little parlor, and
Sibyl DagOn was lying on sofa, read
ing.
She had evidently, however. been
istenIng to the conversation of the
3uher two, and she had learned for GER
ain a fact which before she had only
suspected.
"Ciarissa, will you hold this skein of
silk for me? 1t will only take few
minutes,' Agnes had said, ana her little
friend had come forward with both
white hands outstretched to receive the
silken threads.
"Oh. what pretty thimble you have
9nr7 said Clarissa, bending to admire
The bright, golden thimble on Agnes
finger.
"Yes-I was stitching the border of
this purse l am making: 1t is pretty,
and a gift from-somebody!
She gave a soft laugh, and her face
looked as ii it had borrowed some of the
crimson from the silk she was winding.
Had she not been SO occupied she must
nave noticed the almost deathly pallOr
If the face before her, for ClarSSa Yer
non was a simple. innocent, dOve-like
little creature, who had not yet learned
to mask her emotions from observation.
"ru tell the truth," continued Agnes,
it wOuid fit YOUR little hand better than
mine. It's a tiny bit small for my finger,
but think it will wear smooth, and so L
would not trouble Alec to change it,"
'Alec." said ClariSsa, sharply.
"Why, yes! ! told you it was a pres
ent from Alec Thorndyke, didn't I?''
You said from somebody and, Of
course, | thought you meant"
well. he is somebody and everybody
TO me now, you know! | have promised
TO marry him very soon, Clara DEAR"
The skein of silk fell from Clarlssa'S
fingers in a soft mass OH the floor, in
much danger of tangle.
"Oh, excuse mel How awkward l.
am. But | always thought it was"
"WhO, for mercy'S sake?"
"Why, Robert Hayf0rd, Of courscw
"What, Bob? Oh, no, indeed! Bob
dear fellow. and has always been
ike the best of brothers to me, but l
lave no further claim upon him, assure
yOuI' And she gave merry laugh as
She took the last round OF silk from
ClariSSa's hand.
Thus released, the girl turned to re-
sumo her seat III frame OF mind bOr-
dering on ecstacy, her surprise and hap
piness were 50 great.
She had forgotten all about Sibyl
DagOn, and now encountered her gaze
liked upon her with an expression both
peculiar and startling.
II know your hearts secret" it seemed
10 say, land am concerned in this mat
ter. You love Robert HayfOrd-so do L.
Beware how you cross my path!'
She was certainly a more dangerous
rival than the sweet and gentle Agnes,
though Clarissa had never before thought
Of her in that character.
She was beautiful woman, with fine
dark eyes and rich. oriental complexion,
but with sinister. thin-lipped mouth
that had always made ClariSSa mistruSt
her, though she could hardly have eX-
Olained the feeling. She was too true
and imple-hearted Eerself TO under
stand duplicity in others.
As Robert Came Into the Room
Sibyl rose from the sofa and walked
over to the fire. She leaned on the
mantle with her long hand buried IN
black hair, while the soft folds of her
cream-colored morning gown fell around
the tall, slender figure in graceful, un-
dulating lines. OF course, she was
posing for etfect-had she not reason?
Il move that we 90 for a sleigh-ride
after luncheonr she said, suddenly.
cit is a positive sin to waste such a
heavenly day Dy staying in the housed"
IL second the notion" said Robert,
and there was 10 dissenting voice
heard. Carried without opposition"
he laughed. The sleighing is splendid,
and the horses will be proud to carry
such fair fr eight" He looked at Clar-
lssa, and smiled as he spoke.
Sibyl Dagon tapped the fender i'm
pa tiently with her slippered foot, but
she was far 10 wise to show any dis
pleasure.
1.-The horses shall be gratifed," she
said lightly. Suppose we dress be-
fore luncheon. 50 that we may be all
ready to go afterl" and she went to-
wards the door.
A little exclamation from Agnes
stopped her:
II can't find my gold thimble any
placew
"Any place but the right place, which
is not far off, I'll wager" laughed Rob-
ert.
You saucy boy, you know 1 never
mislay my things"
"When did you have it last?'
"But few minutes ago when Clarissa
and | were winding this silk. ! can't
think what did with it after tl.at.'
''Oh. Pm SO sorry! We must find il"
said Clarissa.
'Tve looked into every vase, box, or
basket in the room where might have
dropped it. Where can it be?''
''Oh, it has only rolled into some cor
ner, and will be sure to turn up, dear, -
said ClariSsa, Sympathetically. mo
one was in the room but ourselves"
"Yes. the boy was in to take away the
ashes," cried Agnes. 'and if the thin
BILE rolled under the fender, he would
have taken it up without noticing it,"
Il will 90 at once and have him
search the ashes," said ClarisSa, run
ming from the room.
III Hope She Will Find 1t.
There was no one else in the room, ex-
cept Sibyl and Clarissa"
= And they are above suspicion -
laughed Robert, jokingly.
Sibyl had come back into the room,
but had not spoken. A strange, lurid
light sm0uldered in her dark eyes, but
she waited in silence until Clarissa
should return. In few minutes she
did, looking disappointed, yexed, and
dOWn-caSt.
"The man had just come and emptied
the ash barrels. she said, regretfully.
Robert burst into peal of laughter.
"Aggie, dear, it's going to be one of
those mysterious disappearances that
will never be explained" he said.
You would not joke if you knew how
much valued it, said Agnes. coming
back from frnitlesS search under ia,
bles and chairs. fears were in her eyes,
and she left the room as she spoke.
"Oh, the dear girl! forgot the trihe