Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1893-05-25
She tried to speak coldly and with

strange. new feeling which was stirring
in her heart She was angry with her
self for the conscious blush which
scorched her cheeks.
Why should this man-thiS stranger,
whose very name was unknown to her!
why should he have the power to
quicken the pulsations Of her heart un-
til every throb was ecstacy?
Why should she fancy that her own
agitation was but responsive to some
emotion which he himself was expe-
riencing?
Was 1t the first meeting of two peo-
pie created and preordained for each
other?
Was it something sweerer and dearer
than gratitude which caused his musi-
cal voice to vibrate and his handsome
eye to kindle whenever he glanced at
her or addressed her?
What words were uttered when they
parted-what regrets or hopes he might
have expressed, what she answered or
failed to answer-Elita Keith never
knew
But when he had put his little child
in his carriage beside himself and
finally driven away, it seemed to her
that the brightness of the closing day
had gone with him, that the earth had
suddenly become dim and dull and
| cold.
She went her own way slowly and
hardly conscious whittier.
1t was Cyrenc Lorimor'S thin. sharp
tones which aroused her from her alb
straction.
We'll, really, Elita, Is it possible that
| you have been sentimentalizing over a
miserable little vagrant all this time?"
sneered the older girl. Il did think
you would be obliging enough to try
and hurry! 1 have positively crept so
you could overtake me if you chose.
You know I am no Judge Of material,
and depended on you to select the
silk for my May-walk dress"
Il thiaS we have plenty Of time"
Elita replied quietly.
PLENTY of time!" Cyrene repeated
with a short, insolent laugh, land the
stores closed, and we going home!
Where on earth are your eyes,"
oh" exclaimed Eliza, looking rath-
err embarrassed, while that conscious
blush again burned scorchingly on her
rounded cheeks. rs it SO late? Did
you buy your dress"
you care so vastly whether did or
not" shifted the other. ''Of course I
bought it-a stylish, changeablc, green
and-gold silk, with green velvet en-
broidered with gold, for the cuffs and
collar and shoulder-cape! It's the most
ravishins thing and so deliciously be-
coming"
Wont it be just a trifle too-toO
splendid for May waikiki asked Elita.
Really, Elita. you have the queerest
taste!' sneered the elder young lady.
How can anything possibly be too
splendid? OF course, l want my class
to be an honor to the occasion; and
then, besides, Cover Dmalyn will be
present, and I want his dear little girl
to be put in my charge"
II this weighty logic failed to i'm
press Elita, she. at least, was generous
enough to feign polite attention.
"Who is Cover Dunalyn?' she
asked
well, really, Elita, you are the most
stupidity forgetful person l ever knew!
Cyrene declared with lofty scorn. HE
is the owner Of that aristocratic old
place on Riverview Terrace He has
only one child-a precious, darling little
girl l am quite prepared to love he1
the poor, motherless little pet. Dun
allyn has been home from Europe only
a few months; Of course he must fee
very lonely here after so many years OF
absence. 1t is really the duty of some
body to make things nice and cheerful
for him.
And at this juncture they arrived al
their own door.
The two girls We're usually described
as step-sisters although there was
really no relationship between them, ex.
cept that Elita's mother was the wife
of Cyrene's father.
Cyrene had always hated the girl
with whom she had been reared as a
sister, but her hate, as in most cases.
was rooted in envy.
Elita's mother possessed all the
wealth Of the little family. And then
Elita, with her dreamy, gray eyes and
silky, dark hair, her lips like a cleft
pomegranate, and her skin like flame
and snow, was rarely and wondrously
beautiful
Cyrene had no fortune. And what
little personal attraction she might
have claimed was married by her I'm.
lovely disposition. She had a CALLING
consciousness Of being inferior to Elita
in everything-and it is so much easier
to hate our SuperiOrS than it is to try
emulating them.
''Elita makes herself so 1isagreeaDle
to me just because she has got little
money" Cyrene said to herself; but
LII triumph over her yet. If everything
turns out as I've planned, shall be
mistress Of Dunalyn wealth. A man
!! is so easily influenced if one knows
how to fatter and humor him, and has
half chance; and I shall have the best
kind of chance at the May Walk"
The important day dawned with
cloudless skies and with the promise OF
continued Sunshine.
The pretty chapel was fast filling
with people, when Miss Lorimore swept
haughtily to her usual place in all the
splendor Of her new greenland gold cos
tune.
will you send Mr.. Dunalyn's little
daughter to me when they arrive:
The dear child is to go with my GLASS;
Cyrene said, with a peculiarly conse
quential air, to one Of her associates.
'"They are already here" was the re-
ply. "They are in the classroom yon.
der, chatting with your sister. They
are old friends, are they not? He
| seems tO he noSitiyalv fasninarad Will,