The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1895-07-06


cultivated her society assiduously. to the
great delight of the fair girl, who had al
ways longed to be more intimate with
"clever Miss Sada."
One day Hendrick and Alice were dis
covered rehearsing vocal duet from a
piece of sheet music belonging to saba.
For awhile saba felt moved to do Alice
some serious injury. but instead she simply
burned the printed score when next she
could lay hands on it.
Il wonder If | could wound Hendrck
us he wounds me?' saba unused one even
ing, and then and there resolved to put the
matter to the test with the first attractive
newcomer at the Springs. The necessary
victim arrived in the person of Frederic
West, one of Hendricks old and tried
friends.
West was an Adonis, and admiration
was lavished on him everywhere, but he
fell into the trap saba laid for him, and no
wonder. saba was noted for her powers
of fascination. The Springs saw the other
side of it, The gossps said that Miss
B,nks was caught at last
Hendrick looked OH for some time in
silence Then he gave his one sign.
With his eyes calmly fixed on sada's he
sail:
You are only playing with Fred, but
he is in earnest" And Sada's heart grew
heavy and helpless. West was no longer
encouraged. Stung by the change in her
manner, he loved her more wildly than
ever.
One evening saba slipped quietly into
the music hall. 1t was apart rom the
hotel and cottages-a place Hendrick
frequented of late when the rest of the
company were busy with their own amuse-
ments elsewhere. He loved to seat him.
self at the plan, and let his fingers wander
over the keys as they would in tn gathering
darkness. 81 must hear him play when
he fancies he is all alone. Perhaps | may
find out something he is hiding from me, /"
she whispered as she stole into the rom
and concealed herself in dark corner
Soon Hendrick came in. All, how he
played. And as saba listened and listened
ncr soul thrilled in response to the music.
l'he small cares Of life fell from her
shoulders. Every lofty ambition she had
ever cherished came back and pos .essed
her. She was filled with beautiful new
Joy. She longed to 90 to Hendlick, to put
her arms around his neck, to say, II know
| know
Some one came into the hall, and saba
shrank farther back into her dark corner
The intruder was Frederic West.
"Old fellow, want to ask you some
thing" West said to his friend. You
know how love saba Banks. Why hi,
she changed so suddenly: What make
her hold me at such distance now?'
At the sound of his voice saba was
stirred with a deep shame for what she had
done. 1t had been so cruelty unnecessary,
81 ulNOltlN vi llCl bClItl Scll. lHCh Silt
listened, with every nerve on edge. What
would Hendrick say? Was this to be the
hour of her triumph? Would Hendrick
frankly explain that he was hers, and she
was his?
Erred" Hendrick answered gently,
for give me for what | am about to tell
you. | cannot say the same things to any
other man, but you will understand me.
saba Banks has led you on, thinking to
avenge herself upon me. She would do
anything to make me suffer. She loves
me. She will wreck her whole life one
day because she loves mew
A fierce anger took the place of shame in
Sada's heart. Oh what would she not
give if she could strike down this man who
had laid bare the weakness of her soul to
another. As West left the hall she went
quickly to Hendrick.
81 heard all that you told that man
about me, y she said in voice so frigid
that she shivered as she spoke. ''It may
be just as well for yourself love to tell you
now that you are in error; that | do not
care for you in the least. | never did. |
have only amused myself playing at friends
with you, just as l have amused myself
making your friend love me! Why" and
she forced a laugh, with only mockery of
merrment in it, ~ have BEEN for years
the promised wife of my cousin, good
man, a man of honor. The day for our
wedding is already fixed'
Perhaps it was her laugh that betrayed
her, or perhaps il vas the better view of
her face which the first beams of the rising
moon gave him at that moment but
Hendrick knew that she had lied
The next day she stood before him to say
farewell. He looked intently into her face
as though reading it. She carried his look
with her until she died.
"What did he mean to say to me?' she
sobbed as the train hurried her away from
him. ''What did he mean?" she asked
herself again when, two days later, she
stood beside Tom and called heaven to
witness that she would love, honor and
obey him till death should part them one
from another.
Foolish, happy Tom! She said to him