Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-01-03
Untrue To Both

y
lip curls So Inez?" asked Roy Alton,
with smile. Zone would almost
fancy the old witch had tried to make
you fear some evil"
'She ddr' answered the girl, scorn-
fully, her dark eyes flashing. False
hood and treachery are evils, are they
not? She said they were about me
falsehood on the lips kissed. treachery
in the hearts / trusted. Bah! How
foolish it is to give ones hand to such
creature, and allow her to say such
thingsn'
"One never does so in faith!' laugh
ed pretty goIden-haired Beatrice Laven,
the cousin, who, being orphaned and
penniless, owed all things to the
wealthy and generous Inez.
''And why not, my beautiful lady?"
asked the old crone, who had followed
lnez, and paused near. as it that
you doubt, because my eyes might
pierce the mask you wear, and my lips
might speak of the arts you use, by
which YOU make man false to his
plighted word, and plunge into the
heart of one who has been kind TO YOU
a dagger keen enough to Stay her?
Your fair face is pale, lady, and your
blue eyes are full of fear; yet you paled
not so when you stole out to NEE t
anolher's aflianced husband, and you
feared not that he who was won in
falsehood would be as false some day
to yourself. All. blue-cyed beauty,
with the traitorous heart. will you let
me read the lines of your hand anu
warn you?"
Beatrice shrank under the eyes of
the seeress. and cluug to Rog's arm,
hcr far face deathly in its whiteness.
'She is horrible! Let us go, - faller-
tered the roseleaf lips.
J And the crone laughed as they went
slowly away frow her through the sun
light.
'Pr de, and love. and treacherS,
and falsehoodn muttered the gypsy.
OF such things can prophesy to MI
and never speak amiss. But for this
fair beauty and the man beside her-I
was abroad last night AMI they did not
see me, rs they talked Of love which
must be kept Il secret. Bah! such love
must ''c, rs die the roses. | read all
huma" hearts, and they give M gold,
ti,ini. ,,fy I ,.noI tho Si,,.. -
Meanwhile, through the scents of
Mayume went three, and Roy whisper
ed low word 10 Beatrice VIII Oh Inez
did not hear.
Untroublcd by the cronc's predic-
tions. with faith rs strong us the love
IN her proud, true heart, Inez never
dreamed of suspecting that her lovers
whispers could be ''but stricken air.
or that the heart she leaned on and
tully trusted planned the treachcry at
ncr very side.
Roy fingered at the stately home of
Inez until the moon was high. and she
accompanied him down the steps and
part way to the gate that divided their
father lands.
There in the clear light of the full
May moon they sad goodnight. and
she stood watching him rs he went, UNI
I'll the shadows hid m from her.
MY love-my kingly, loyal love!
she murmered.
Then a sudden thought came-she
had Lot told him Of II certain plan for
the morrow. formed by herself and
Beatrice.
She would fit after him. slide up to
him ere he would reach the gate-slip
her hand in his, and laugh at his glad
surpr Sc.
With light feet she buried after,
reached the shadows which had enfold-
ed him, passed through them. and
paused like startled doe on their edge,
Il fierce, incredulous scorn growing in
her eyes. her proud face blanching,
swiftly, sharply as blanch the faces OF
those smitten suddenly to the heart.
He stood before her, only few feet
away--her lover. her promised hus-
.band--with a slight white clad figure
in his arms. a dainty, golden head. I'M
covered 10 the moonbeams, nesting
close to his heart, while her cousin
red lips laughed merrily up to him, and
her Cousins white hand held back his
face from hers.
May" Inez heard the girlish voice
say, with the laugh in ii, you shall
not kiss me. The gypsy said you
would be as false to me. some day, as
you are now to Inez."
''And you doubt me-you, who have
made me chafe against my bondage
until | am willing to free myself in any
way. at any cost, for yonr salie?'
The girl in the shadow heard it all
heard. and made no sigu. The love
of long years of her youth was dying,
but dying rs the strong die, in silence.
The faith that had we'd in her heart
for this man was breaking rs break the
gossamers of the spiders weaving in
l,,t liz Il,