The record-union., 1897-12-19
THE LAST HOPE.
An Old-Fashioned Love Story.

l >
out upon a lawn made beautiful by the
lights and shadows from the afternoon
sunshine and the masses of clouds sail
| ing across the sky. She was absorbed
in these exquisite effects of light and
| shade. and she did not hear the light
| step of her sister beside her. Now al
the heightened tone of her voice she
half turned around:
Mrs. CANDLES? Oh, yes; l suppose
So"
You don't speak as though you cared
much for going. / saw Eva Gamble
this morning on Commonwealth ave-
nue.. and she said only lovers Of music
| will be there, and then a few young
people who are to have a lovely little
dance after the musicale is over. But
it's no use talking to you. You're not
listening"
My dear Lillian. I am But why
cannot 1 catch a glimpse of beauty al
the same time? / don't believe you
have even noticed what a glorious day
it is, but are thinking more Of the cos
tune you and Elsie have been con-
| cocting for tonight. Confess now,
and Dora turned a smiling face around
to her sister.
We'll, 1 really think you ought tc
tell Elsie what gown you intend to
wear. The poor thing will probably
find something awry at the last mo-
ment," answered Lillian, With trace
of petulance. IF you showed a little
more interest in these commonplace de-
tails you would often be more agree
able companion. People wouldn't think
you so cold and unenthusiastic as they
| often do
do they think that?" asked Dora
with almost an accent of pain in hel
voice. 1T is a cause of regret, surely
that people are not satisfied with me
notably my gay, pleasure-loving little
sister. Well, dear, We'll have to hunt
for some conventional mold to fashion
me all over"
I'm sure you didn't use to be so in
different to these lovely little parties
that Mrs. Gamble gives. Why cant
you forget that disa greeable affair, anC
let us both be happy as we once We're"
This time Dora's dark eyes left the
clouds to themselves, and were fastened
on her sisters face with an expression
of unmistaka BILE reproof.
do you know Lii / often regret that
ever yielded to your entreaties anc
told you about that unfortunate letter
You keep it in memory constantly. Il
I am ever moody you speak Of it as g
direct outcome of that letter. If
bury myself in book, you infer thai
I am eating my heart out with grief
I wish to assure you that despised let
ter has been forgotten-and I wish yot
also to understand, dear. that you are
never again to allude to the subject"
The rich voice began to tremble, anf
Dora's eyes went back to book sht
had been holding. The next moment
however, she threw it impatiently on z
chair and abruptly left the room.
Mr. CANDLES rooms We're well filled
by the time the Winfords entered.
What a striking-looking girl Mis-:
Winford is" remarked Miss Curtis t.
Mrs Mortimer Brown, as Dora passed
on her fathers arm.
"Yes; she has a fine face. Beautiful
in my opinion, except for its sad ex
preston when she is not talking"
What do you suppose is the cause?'
"An unfortunate love affair, people
say She bore it well, but. I'll tel
you all about It after while. We'r'
so near the piano we shall have t
stop talking now. We are to hear Pro
fessor De Lizst, you know"
Mrs CANDLES rooms were we'll filled
Gale. but some of her guests We're hope
Ilessly insensitive to the finer, more sub
tie creations of musical genius. II
order that they might not be bored be
yond the limits of their endurance, Mrs
Gamble had lit up her extensive
|
rooms behind the drawing room lead
ing to the conservatory, so that al
who chose to talk instead of lister
might indulge their propensities with
out disturbing the true lovers Of musi'
who remained behind in the drawing
room.
1t was not long before Lillian ant
Dora, the latter in spite of her owl
wishes, found themselves in the mids
of group of merry young people. l
was from no Indifference to music tina
Dora responded to a gentleman's offe
of his arm for a stroll among the trees
He was an intelligent, agreeable fellow
with few ellthought-out ideas ant
an original way of giving them ex
, preston. But even while attentive t.
,, him Dora's ears were half for the beau
tiful sounds which foated out through
, the open windows And soon she stop
, ped her companions voice by an alb
, rupt command: "Oh, please listen
He did listen for few minutes
Very pretty is it not? But we are to-
!, far away. Shall we go nearer the win
dows?"
When intensely interested in book
a landscape, or anything which minis
tered to her love of beauty, Dora hat
!, the bad habit of not interrupting he
enjoyment by answering trivial ques
tions. This was one of Lillian's great
, est trials with her sister.
Suppose / take you back to TIL
drawing-room. continued Mr. Brooke
You can hear there"
Thank you"
But at that moment the music cease
amid storm of applause. The musi
clan, a diftident, nervous-looking littl
man. had left the piano. evidently witt
no intention of responding to the erie
of encore from different parts of tn
, room, when he heard quick step be
hind him, then a voice say in q low
tone:
: will you not give us The Las
!. Hope once more. Professor de Lizst
: Please. for my sake
For your sake, Mees Winford
!, would play it many more times "a
once" responded the little professor
;. with delighted glance up at the tai
figure before him. The next momen
. he was seated at the piano, with Dor
: near him.
Even in the midst of his playing h
sometimes glanced at her absorbed an