The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-04-23

% "a AOubS VIVA q WYNN
For a moment Robert stood regarding
his father after lively. There was no pity
in tho Did mans gray eyes. NOT q reienSInE
curve in the thin firm lips.
Father" he said at last. have you any
thing to say against Celsste?"
sharply, Except that she is II mi snd
q beautiful one. too. Aud II l had nv OWE
way, You should not speak to . woman
in the next five years"
Robert turned and walked slowly away,
Meantime. Celeste had finished the skein
and tossing the ball into Luoyss lap, she
turned again to the orisl window.
You're such a darling" purred Lucy II
a kittenish way. II never could have any
patience y it'll II tangled skein. And this
one ran very smoothly at hrst, and Their
suddenly resolved itself into n grand
snarl."
1T Ia like my life" answered Celeste,
with a little desolate shiver. 1T ran
smoothly for n time, but now il is one
grand tanGle. ] wonder if it will always be
SOP" drearily.
No." chirped Lucy. as she rosa to leave
the room. II predict" eagerly. ''some
pretty little romance for you. ending in
sunshine, as all proper tomances do"
She ran up to her room, and while her
footsteps were still upon the stat. case Rob
entered the drawing room. AS he
approached Celests he took in with
glance her wonderful beauty and the har-
mony of her attire. A black dress,
the lace at her throat and coral in her dark
hair; all was in perfect keeping. Reason
told him it would be best for him to give
her up altogether. but his heart cried out
"She must be mine!"
She turned as he drew near. and the sor-
rowful look in her face was too much for
him to bear. 1t was such \ fair. fair face
with a brooding, desolate look upon it; suct
a sweet, womanly face! and. the dearest in
the world to him.. He took il in his hands
and kissed the red srieved lips and the
white dropping eyelids.
"Darlina!' he whispered, softly. And then
the face, atlame with a bright rose tint, was
lost to mortal ken for "a moment as he had
her in his arms.
20 Robv' choking a sob in her throat.
That was all; but it revealed to him all the
trouble and grief in her lonely heart more
eloouently than any lengthy address could
have done.
could he tell her? What can any man who
loves a woman say to her but the truth2 So
he told her all-his love, his fathers COM
mands.
"Bu you are all the void to ms," he
said. in conclusion.
She interrupted him.
mo, not all the world, Rob, or You would
Aop u u dbtilS i all baUlbktl
if I am the larger half of it, as your truth
fulness has proved to me-"
"But | am going to do exactly as you say,
darling" he replied.
do you think l would be a milestone
abont your neck?' she asked.
"lou could never be that, Celeste"
II could. but | never will"
You do not mean that | must give YOU
up, darling? l would renouncs the whole
worlt first
You are TO give up nothing" she an
swered.
celeste, do you love me?'
II will wait for you,' she said.
A few weeks thereafter Celeste was upon
the ocean, bound for Havana. Thanks to
her knowledge of Spanish, she had been
engaged as governess to the daughter of a
wealthy Cuban planter, a widower, WHOSE
wife hal been an American. Her siste-,
middle-aged and ugIv, both in form and
feature. engaged Celeste; and with the
child, Viola, accompanied hcr on the voy
and mild, and the first evening out Celest:
sat upon the deck, almost happy when sh
reflected that she was taking care of he
self while waiting for Rob. There was onl
starlight, and as they moved along see min
to swing lazily in midair. with the SIX
above and below them, Celeste twirled til
diamond UPON her niger ~thouehtfully, 70
it was Rob's last gift to her. A suddel
movement of the vessel, how or why sh,
never could tell, for the sea was smooth
and the ring slipped from her slende
third finger mi wns lost in the water be
low. An almost irresistible impulse I,
plunge into the water and follow it cam
over her, but she shook it off, and going be
low she crept into bed and sobbed hersei
to sleep.
From the first Viola seemed IN interest
ing child. She was accustomed to trave
and so was not shy, vet she was not over
bold. She spoke English with a pure &C
cent, but her aunt usually conversed i
Spanish. She was asLort, dark woman, wit
a forblddlnR expression of countenauce
and as she WAS always bewail,ng her LOT
her name. Dolorite, suited her we'll. He
dress. q shabby and faded silk, she wor
both night and day. but her fat finger
were covered with costly diamonds thin
glittered as unpleasantly upon Celeste
light MS did the owners weird eyes.
They passed stormy Hatteras, and, shoot
ing out to avoid the gulf stream, 500
reached the crystal sea around the Be
hamas, with tha deep blus of the tropica
skies above them and the white coral recf
below. All this was new TO Celeate, an
she would have enjoyed 1t thoroughly onl
for the loss of her ring. This pleyed upo
come It. When they reached Havana an
anchored IN the bay little Viola locke
an1iously about in the little sail boa1
which came to convey the passengers @
shore foi her father. one hand @claspin
Celeste's meanwhile.
II want to introduce you to my papa
she said. because love YOU"
Then turning to look again. she gave
little scream or delight, and threw herse
into the arms of a gentleman whom she al
nounceu to Celeste as her father, Sen
Pedro Laramello. He was a handsou
man. or would have been, only there SCENE
something i'll his bright back eyes so ve
like his sisters. A sinister expression, b,
1t was not there always. and never when
! looked upCn his child.
The custom house safely pa sssd. they Ell
tered two separate volantes and rode to I'll
alIWay Tor senior LntatnellG resided apo
ms plantation, which was situated q fe
} miles distant from Havana.
Celeste gnzed upon the country about b
wondering If she had not by some chan,
: been splilted lnto central Asia, everythl1
3 was 60 strange. Havana, with its mar
coIorod houses, had appeared siugu!
! enough. but the country. with it's state
o palms, some standing singlv. some in &C
J, o~nnndes; alta cocoa tree, bending like
aged man under the weight of years; i
: few sQualid houses, with here and there q
i rum of some ancient wall or dweilin
looked very dreary, yely unlike snythil
u she could ever call home.
When the houFe was reached Coles
u begged to be shown to her room ut ono
Il 1T Wac cool and comfortable with its ms
bic fl0or, Its cane-seated chairs and lounge
u the doors reaching but half way to t
o ceiling to allow d free circulation of a
The building, like all Cuban houses, W
q low and rambling. But it was elepnn,
furnished and willing slaves were alwa
: ready to do the slightest bidding of Celes
c she received one letter from Rob. n