Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1896-06-20
LOVE Is BLIND.

strains o. e~Ver-chan27ng music, ali these
90 to make up e-nchantrnent.
81, at least, thought Lord Ronald
dEsterrc.
BE had but just returned from a two
years' soiourn IN the heart Of Africa,
a sojourn filed with dangers and pri-
rstions; his years numbered bur Eve
4. and-twcnty, he was possessed Of a wsll-
knit, springy frame and q keen, clear
eve; and he had come back from his
travels with fame, courage and en-
duranee, but without a penny that he
could cali his own.
What was next to be done2 This
was the problem that flied ali his spare
thoughts. His elder brother had fitted
him ont for MS expedition with the POI
He intination thatthe act was a virtual
washing Of mis- hands Of the superiuous
cadet: his aunts had kissed him go
warmly az parting that he was amazed
to find them not AT home" when he
returned TO London; his godfather had
given him a twenty pound note and
such a hearty farewell, that 1t was be-
~vildering u be cut by him when they
met once more in the club smoking
room. at really seems as II they wish
] had never come 5ack,' said the young
man to himself, with a smile at the in
credible idea, nut az time passed On bis
smiles died away, and he ground his
teeth savagelg as he realized that his
relations had thought it a good invest
ment 10 laY ont & 800 and an nfnity Of
farewell in the hope of getting omit 81
a troublesome in~cumbraDce. The
I thought was a bitter me- and in his first
fury he vowed 10 leave his native shores
by the mex ship, and never return to
them again. But upon the heat Of his
passion there fell a cooling breath, as
If from heaven itself, and the lion was
straightway changed into a lamb. Lord
+ Ronald d'Esterre had been accustomed
70 long to be looked upon AZ a "detri-
mental that at first he scarcely dared
70 show fhe attraction hat lay for linn
in Violet Haryey's appealing gray eyes
and soft, shining hair, 10 hIs amaze
meHt, however, he found that obstacles
melted away miraculously at his up
[ proach. Violet herself was shy and re-
( firing, ii is true. but her mother smiled
s%eeetlg upon MIN and her father shook
him warmly by the hand.
Was ever MAJ 30 blessed before?
True love does run smooth some
times. after ALI" he said 10 himself on
this bright June evening. as he walked
homeward after a meeting with Mrs.
Harvey in the park.
shall YOU be al Lady Chesterford's
party tonight" she had said. violet
and I are going. and we shall be disap-
pointed if W. do not see you."
His honest face had glo~e0 with de-
light as she spoke, and be seemed to be
treading On air as he walked away.
Even Aunt Maria mas taken me back
into favor again he thought, she was
horribly cross when / first came home,
but now she is sugared satin whenever
I come near her. ! dare say il was all
my fault, though. I know that ! was
an ilLconditioned brute until Violet
came 10 soften met"
Lady Maria's Powered headdress was
the first object that met Lord Eonald's
eyes when he entered his hostess
crowded drawing-roorns that evening,
and somewhat TO his surprise it was in
close proximity to Mrs. Haryey's friz-
zled grey head.
II should not have thought that Aunt
Maria would have anything to do with
her, he reflected. "She always says she
can detect the f~aintest tineture OF trade
and she must know perfectly well that
Mr.. Harvey made his money in malt"
At this very moment, however. he
caught signt Of Violet, and forgetting
all else, he elbowed his way eagerly
through the crowd, until he reached
her side.
II might have been only fancy, but at
= atn N seemed to him that her vel
N gaze az 'a".''i' 3ne than she had
'9s. Schools are earnestly ro4. ,s.,t
alr! r">s'"a"etaa liz July 18th, and
come was a warmer I'M -
ever given him before, and his neafN
beat faster as he bent over her.
Twill you not COM into the conserva-
tory?' he said, pleadingly; sit is so hot
here"
She rose without a word, and they
walked away together.
ado you know that it is only six
weeks since l first saw you?" he said
II can hardly believe it myself, for il
seems as if l had known you all m,
life"
He had an idea even as he spoke tina
he had seen the remark in almost every
love story that he had eve read, but h
could not refrain from uttering it, for !
seemed so exact an expression OF hi
feelings. Violet, too, had probabl,
heard it before, but from Ronald's lip
it sounded absolutely new, and her Ion,
eyelashes dropped lower upon her chez
as she listened.
They were walking between banks G
flower and fern, and the silence betwee
them was too sweet to be broken a
once; but Ronald knew that their sol
tude might be disturbed at any momen
and rousing himself from his dreal
he had just opened his lips to speal
when a voice from some hidden speake
came plainly to their ears.
! at is almost certain to come off t,
night. / got him an invitation on pu
pose"
Ronald started; 1t was Lady Maria
voice, but he had not the renotest i'd
to what she was abiding. In anoth'
moment, however, she received her a
\ swer and it was Violet's turn to star
for Il came in her mothers accents:
I'VE shall be only too grateful to "
II it does come on, for her papa and
have always set our hearts on her ms
rying . lord. The very minute tn
Violet tells me he has proposed, I
. check shall be sent to you."
. Ronald drew back a step, his che
!. growing pale beneath its bronze;
. hands clenched inyoluntarily. and fol
moment Violet expected to see him da
out upon the conspirntors; but III
! voices were already receding In the d
lance, and ns BE- looked around be =
q the aneuieh n her ~
MnxnSas woSn@<1W HamH aSfnfrae