The record-union., 1892-02-20

1
ne passed over the ridge. quickly as a
! ieaf whlrled by a breeze. Lone Star sank
behlnd the tree exhausted, as if from
some great and powerful emotion. And
the night came down quickly on forest
and stream. When the stars came ont
me dragged herself YEARLY To the cabin.
Ine men at the Summit of Rest
waited long for her music and dance, but
she never came.
!" nIte-headed Ross was the observed OF
al observers. AS he watched the various
games III billiard room and parlors that
AIgint, slIeLl ana watchful, his keen eyes
unuer the match of snowy hair had an
eXpectant look, as if he was alert and
eager for some new DEVELOPMENT in his
lie of mystery.
The ballroom of the Galveston House.
IN Galveston, Tex, was aglow with
beauty, life and music; flowers filled the
air with perfume; walters pulsed and
throbbed i'll time to the feet of dancers.
Radiant in grace and beauty, Clare
! Vivian, a New Orleans belle, was win
ming all hearts Her hair, like spun
gold, was a crown for the beautiful head.
large dark eyes glowed under the long
laShes, a creamy skin, with a faint tinge
of pink, like the heart of a rose, her figure
perfection. Edgar AthelstOne, the most
eAgible young man in the state, was los
ing his heart. He was a young man, but not
at all handsome. light hair and eyes, and
nne figure but as Clare returned to her
mothers side after the dance her mother
whispered, Glare, don't forget he has
nearly million, and you have only
youtn ana beauty, so you must bring
| nm to your feet tonight"
clare shrugged her round, dimpled.
/ pare shoulders and said naughty word
about TOOL, but nevertheless she was too
well trained not 10 heed her mother, and
| Edgar Athelstone went home an engaged
man, TO dream OF the fair GIRL who had
won ms entire heart and tealty.
The sun was setting in bank Of Grim
son clouds, rejecting a blood-red hue on
/ the windows Of Cedar Bayou Ranch,
owned ana occupied by Edgar Athelstone
and his bride of six months Beautiful
surroundings that wealth and re-
tnement suggested-was conferred i'm this
lovely home. Many capable servants did
the bidding Of the fair mistress. and her
silk embroidery and her music were the
hardest tasks she had TO do. When
Wearled OF these, new novels and a down
cushioned hammock was n resource. Her
husband wearied her with his Worship
and love, which she had no heart to re-
turn. Selfish and vain, she accepted all
he gave. He guarded her tenderly from
every breath, and her existence was a
rose-leaf one for the indolent beauty: vet
at times she sighed for the old life, with
new devOtees at her shrine every day,
Scarcely Is years Old, she seemed too
! much OF child to be mistress OF so much
elegance. AS a child her father, Il wealthy
man, had gratihed every whim, but be-
fore she was 10 he had died, and his
money and property had vanished, and
life 10 the mother and daughter was a
continued struggle to keep up appear
ances. So the marriage with the wealthy
AtheIStOne was hurried up, much to
Clare's disgust, who disliked anything
like responsibility, or even a shadow ofit
One summer day her husband had
letter from his father, a wealthy old
grandee who lived near Galveston, telling
him ''he was going to send Antoine the
youngest son and stepbrOther Of Edgar
to him to learn raTiching; that the la
was i'll, and life and late hours in the CITY
was telling on him."
Edgar had been away from home and
had never even seen this brother, who
was now nearly 20. The stepmother was
Creole of remarkable beauty, but
utterly void OF principle. Edgar told his
wife of the proposed visitor She listened
in langUid indifference, Just opening her
large, soft, brown eyes long enough 10
ask 1.-THE boys age" In reality she was
rather pleased at having new inmate in
her hOme-Some one TO break the mo-
nOtony.
The following week saw Antoine Athel-
stone in his step-bQther's home. He
was a handsome lad, inhcrting all his
mothers points OF beauty. and her beau
titul eyes and brow. His one passion
was music, and next TO that he loved
dancing. So he and his sister in-law
used to sing together, her lovely contralto
and his sweet tenor blending harmoni-
ously. 4 school friend of CIare's, a good
lfa.aY tod on, rf,1
waltZes every evening, and Clare and an
tome would float UP and down the long
dTawing-rOom to the sweet strains. He
taught her number Of fancy steps, too.
Edgar would come tired from his drives
or walks on the ranch, and was contented
TO sit on the broad porch and smoke.
and occasionally watch the dancing or
listen sleepily TO the music or songs, and
life went by as happy dream. Nes, but
a dangerous happiness for the two young
peOple-the wife and step brother, She
was yain-he was inpressible, and soon
outsiders noticed the boys growing in
latuation for his brothers fair wife, and
Clare was never contented now unless
Antoine was near, satisfied to be always
dancing or singing love songs with him,
his eyes and looks feeding her vanity:
and AthleStOne never dreaming Of dam
ger or disgrace, went on his way trust
ing, and contented to know his wife was
happy and his step-brother contented in
his new home.
crushing force. A blow that shattered
every semblance of happiness. A blow
that broke up all the happy home life
A short note found on his table told Ed
gar Athelstone that Antoine and Glare
loved each other, and life apart was inn
possible, and so they had left him, beg
glng for forgiveness. If that was inn
possible, forgetfulness of their unfaith-
fulness and treachery.
Can even the waters of Lethe bring
forgetfulness of love? To a man, some
times yes; to woman never. But Ed
gar Athelstone had the womanly trait of
loving and being constant, and the
double blow made him feel as if, like
Cain, he could seek brothers lie and
slay him for the treachery of his act. an
act that blighted his life forever.
He gave UP his business, sold Cedar
Bayou and the beautiful home passed into
other hands, and life and years went on
regardless of human sorrow, sin or
suffering and loss. For It'll the stars
grow old and the sun grows cold,'' will
love make bliss and bless, or make life
''bitter as the dregs of SIM A strange
true paradox, and ''the light of a whole
life dies when love is DONE"
The Lassen miners struck it rich. and
the place grew with mushroom rapidity.
New families settled here, a church was
built and twice a month a minister came
to convert the heathens. Lodges were
formed and gave anniversary balls. Lone
Star danced and sang her way along.
veritable butterfly. Soulless, but beauti-
full, though it had been noticed for
some time that exertion left her tired. |
and often an ashy hue would dim the
scarlet bloom of her lips.
She never danced or sangsswhen Ross |
was at the Summit of Rest, s., she never |
1fat |