Nevada County picayune., 1892-02-25

her to his breast in 4 burst ot
rapture; and after all, it had moi
been Diana, but that little sister oI
hers grown up, He was consciou,
Of slight shrinking from the ides
OF The first meeting, now with the
real Diana
Meantime, net six feet away, out
side the leafy arbor, sitting in the
deep gIistening fragrant grass, 9
book in her lap, showers Of rose.
petals dropping over her golden hair
and pale blue dress, was Diana
DaFenport--a moment ago dreaming
happily OF her coming lover, but now
white as death, her hands clinched,
her lips quiverng. She gave no
token of her nearness, and the two
moving away in search OF her, did
not learn that she had overheard
their little chat.
dolly was slways entirely
selfish" she whispered to herself,
after a time. Il have given up
everything else to her, and now she
will try to win him
She crept carefully out of the
garden into the house.
My dear, Rubert has Gomez"
her mother called out joyfully, as
she was slipping up to her room.
Yes, mamma; | must smooth my
hair"
Once safe in her room she looked
at herself long and sadly in her
mirror.
If ] am pale and grave and
thoughtful, she murmured, Il have
become so waiting and watching for
him. If had loved him less | might
not have pined away my roses.
Yes, Dollyis lovely-soft and tender
and lovely as the roses out there
and as soulless; but he will see only
her girllSh bloom, and she-she will
break my heart. -
II was half an hour and over be-
fore Dolly brought Rubert to the
house in the search for Diana, who
was waiting in the cool, dim jasmine
scented drawing-room, pale and quiet
and cold
y perfect glory of moonlight flood
ed the long yeranda which gave grace
to the plain, roOmy cottage where a
widowed mother had reared her two
lovely daughters-daughters whom
tomorrow she was to lose, as
mothers lose girls whom they give to
men in marriage. Perhaps Mrs.
Davenport felt that she did not so
much lose her daughters as gain two
sons; for she seemed well content
as she tuttered about from room to
room, tired yet smiling, putting the
finishing touche. to preparations
which had kept the quiet old home
busy for many day,
There was a dozen merry young
people promenading the garden,
in the white glory of the night--hrides
maids and best men, as well as the
two pairs of loyers-Dolly clinglng
lightly to the strong arm of Rupert
Leslie, and Diana pacing side by side
with the man she had promised to
marry-a suitor who had fallen IN
love with Dolly first, but, on being
refused by her, had turned to the
elder sister, apparently rs well salts
ied--a widower fifty years of age,
of courtly manners and refined
habits.
He was not bad match for Diana,
her friends said she was so quiet !;
the great difference in their age
would not be 50 observable; and
really, after the way Rupert Leslie
Tilted her for her sister, it must be
quite triumph for her to make such
a match before his eyes.
Oh, yes, it must be great tri-
umph Doubtless Diana felt it SO,
as she walked proudly and calmly by
Mr.. Burleigh's side, her fair face
falrer still in the brooding whiteness
of the moon, her beautiful eyes lifted
to the shining heaven with a strange
look in them.
To many she seemed lovelier than
her more blooming sister-a lily
purer and more gracious than any
rose. AS they passed and repassed
each otherIn the moonlight, Rupert's
eyes were always lifted from the
piquant face of his own partner and
fixed with troubled scrutiny on that
other uuieter face, but his ANXIOUS
look was never returned.
III declare. Rupert" pOuted his