The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-05-09

who is to exhibit bicycle riding on a
rope across the Bend, Tomorrow
(Which exhibition will be POSTPONED
till month from tomorrow. he re-
turned, rather grimly; "but we will
take good care of you at Cliffside,
which is my home. Elizabeth is n
po werful nurse and clipper TO read
poetry and stories to sick folks; and as
for myself, Will Churchill isn't n bad
fellow to be tied up with"
This generous hospitality stimulated
my courage, but the roughness of the
road brought out more than one moan
of pain as we toilcd on, and | was
thankful when we arrived at the house.
which was one Of the most spacious and
handsome of the suburban villas about
WCndovcr.
was transferred to an easy couch in
Il large, commodious room, and an hour
later doctor had set my broken limb,
and was feeling much more comforta-
bic. Then took 4 long look at Eliza
beth Churchill. She was actually beau
tiful, with the kind expression of SYM
pathy lighting up her face, and fell
asleep to dream about her.
Days followed, in which l received
such tender care that began to wish
l could break the other leg when this
one was healed, SO that could stay
longer ut Clitfsidc. AS Mr. Churchill
had asserted, she was fine reader,
and amused me for.hours, with poems
and stories from her favoritc maya
zines, often pausing to get my opinion
OF the hero and to ask me if I would
have fallen in love with the heroine
had been in his place.
1petted my crippled ankle as long as
dared, for MIR. Churchill and Eliza
beth seemed to enjoy my society; and
the only drawback to my happiness,
was the frequent visits of swarthv
Spanish artist Carlos Levangez. who
always scowled at me, and sat devour-
ing Elizabcth's beauty with his great
burning eyes, TO her evident uneasi-
ness.
One afternoon 1 vcnturcd to ask
Elizabeth why he came SO often to
Clitfside, and she blushed and replied
that he was trying to persuade her
father to allow him to paint her picture
from life.
1 grew hot and cold alternately at
the idea OF such 4 thing and changed
the conversation by remarking that 1
must go back so my profession next
month, and my first appearance must
be at the Bend, according to nv old
adver tisement. Elizabeth clasped her
hands together suddenly.
''Oh, no." she exclaimed. DO not
attempt such feat! Your ankle is
not entirely strong. and you have not
the nerve. You will surely fall and be
killed"
She broke off abruptly and left the
room, but her unfinished sentence
made my heart beat like u trip-hain-
NOR. Could it be that she really cared
for me? determined to win her at all
events, and looked forward to u trip
we had planned to a picturesque spot
down the river that evening, for n
mutual explanation OF our true feel
ings.
shall never forget that night The
sun in going down had left a golden
line that lay like II ribbon along the
western sky, few stars that the moon
light could not obscure were shining.
and the summer dew brought out the
sweetest fragrance OF shrubs and flow
crs, while Il soft breeze kept their leaves
murmuring gently.
The moon looked calmly down on US
and was Il silent witness to orr be-
trothal. for Eliza beth made me the
happicat man on earth by promising to
marry me, and l in turn promised to
give up my profession after the Wcndo-
yer display of skill, which was not to
come of until was perfectly strong
again.
The next day Carlos Levangcz got
his final answer about Elizabeths
picture, and in the heat of disappoint-
incnt he poured out such a torrent of
Spanish lovc-talli that she put a cooler
on him by ordering him from Cliffside
immediately But when he left, with
bitter imprccations on his lips, she
grew timid, and cautioned me to keep
out of his way lest he should wreals his
on the man he believed to be
his rival. l laughed lightly at her
fears and went on my way, too thor
oughly happy to care for anything but
the present, ard Lcvangcz did not come
near rs again
My recovery was rapid polished
up my machine and began to ride again,
soon feeling equal to trial of the
rope. Three days before the date Of
my performance went to the Bend
and superintendent the stretching of
the rope [ came back quite tired and,
as Elizabeth was suffering with head
ache and did not come down to the
drawing-room that evening, 1 went to
my own room at an early hour.
There was storm brewing, and I
opened the window to relieve the close
ness of the air. Now and then there
was low muttcring OF thunder, and