Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1894-05-11

home, She could not tear herself away.
What could do then, but tell her to
remain as long as she chose?
Time passed, and Florence and 1
were constantly thrown together.
Daisy pleaded household affairs and
absented herself continually. went
on, unconsciously treading in a dan
gerous path; my feet were upon the
edge of swirling vortex; one swift
movement and would be lost.
1t was certainly very pleasant for
me TO have the beautiful face of our
guest opposite me when sat down ~
read at night-to read aloud; with
Daisy in a corner, quiet and unobtrus-
i've, keeping out of the way, because
she was too proud to interfere. And
I-blind fool-never dreamed the
truth.
One night, Florence sat at the piano,
in the moonlight which flooded th=
room. She had begged that the gas
should not be lighted; and there she
sat, her white fingers touching the
keys, while her sweet, low voice sang,
softly, tenderly, meaningly, the words
of sad old song-A Lies Regret:
Turning the leaves IN an idle way.
OF a book was sklmming the other day,
found q line at the end OF q song
when keeps on haunting me all day long
With its sweet and molrnful melody:
oh. love. my love. had you loved but mei'
Sadder burden could never be-
Than, Love my love, had you loved but mel
uTTavv xyords apd si,onlo. hrt oh hov ,,,ch
The singer had told in that little touchl
How hard story Of chances lost,
Ofbri hit hopes bighted and true love crossed,
Is heard in tho whispered melody:
Oh love- my love, had you loved but mel!
To many a sorrow the key may he:
oh, love, my love, had you loved but met "
Her eyes met mine with a look in
their depths which made my heart
leap. Itwas not love-thank God for
that!-but gratified vanity, which
more than one man has mistaken for
love.
My hand went down upon hers and
imprisoned the velvet fingers.
Florence" 1 murmured, "why did
you jilt me? Why did you cast rie off?"
Her head dropped.
81 will tell you frankly" she said.
az was mercehary, and you were not
rich. Mr.. Cheswicke was a million
aire-and-and 1 madly threw aside
your love for his gold! Oh, Charlie!
Charlie darling, l have regretted it
ever since! Ny heart has wept tears
of blood over my mad mistake"
Now, it happened-or had kind
Providence directed it?-that 1 had
heard different version of this story
that day-had heard it from no less a
person than old Mr.. Cheswiclle him
self. She had engaged herself to him,
but he distrusted the disinterestedness
of her motives, and had come to her
one day and told her that his fortune
was gone-lost in mad venture, and
he was poor man. She had promptly
released him from the engagement.
So, knew just what value to set
upon the fair lady's tale of Woe"
But some devil prompted me and
stopped and kissed her upon the shin
ing, dark hair, which she wore in a
huge lno% at the back of her head.
Poor child" said softly.
There was the rustic of skirts, n
fash of white drapery, and, with a
gasp, realized that my wife, stand
ing unobserved beside the open win
dow, had overheard and witnessed the
scene.
With a muttered imprecation over
my own madness, dashed through
the open window and followed her.
''Daisy" called aloud, swat, dear!
I wish to speak with you!'
But she never stopped, never turned
TO left nor right, and / followed in
mad pursuit. On, on, slight and frail
as'she was, overlook her and caught
her in my arms
"Now tell me, my wife, what were
You going to do?" whispered.
She struggled to get free.
81 am going away" she cried, in
dignantly. "You love that bad
woman, Charlie! will go and leave
you to your own devices"
"You will do nothing of the sort" /
returned, firmly. "Come back to the
house with me, my darling. We will
cast out the evil spirit, and henceforth
only love and peace shall reign within
| our home"
With Daisy on my arm, re-entered
the house, and there told Miss War
dour in a few well-chosen words, thai
had fathomed her scheme to bring
discord and ruin into happy home.
She listened in suilen silence; ther
she arose and coldly withdrew.
The next morning she entered my
waiting carriage and was driven Il
the nearest station. She has gone t.
Canada to live, and nobody here
misses her. But, remembering her
subtle fascination-the fascination o.
the serpent, feel very grateful tina
old Mr.. Cheswicke had appeared il
time to keep me from falling into hel
wicked net For even the stronges
man is not always proof against {
| wicked vyoman's wileS