The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1898-02-19
At last a low, murmuring voice at

At last low, murmuring voice at
tracted his attention. A young girl
stood by Lady Dunraven-a slender,
snow-white creature, with delicately
modelled form and pae. poetic face
She never was daughter of the bleak
Northland, this Splendid, dark-eyed
beauty? Not for her the brief summer,
and the long, moaning winter Of the
North, with the swollen seas and the
winds that mourn forever. Who could
behold her lustrous, darkling loneliness
without dreaming OF the hot, sweet,
lavish summer eternal of the Orient?
And yet he knew well that her mother
had been of noble Scotch house, and
that her name had been favorite one
in the records of Rothage.
Then from what long-ag foreigner
had Viva inherited her sumptuous
Southern beauty?
She spoke in dainty murmur, with
many cautious glance toward Edgar;
and the distant door ajar so that she
might fly upon his faintest movement
"But why are you here yet and alone,
Enge.Onde?" she said, chidingiy, with
her arms round the lady's neck; Il
thought Mr.. Sircombe was to relieve you
whenever Kenmore slept; he promised
me that he would"
"He was not required here; my patient
sleeps sweetly," returned Lady Dun
raven, in the same low tone.
"And now it is dawn" continued Ul-
va, holding up her pretty finger re-
ell night Imprudent, hayward Mamma
Engelonde. And if had not come
down sta rs to peep at Kenmore l should
never have found you out. All, you bad
child!"
With what passionate delight the half
delrious Edgar watched the arch,
laughing girl as she menaced the lady
with her lifted finger, str OF mischief
in each dancing eye!
Lady Dunraven drew the slender
white creature to her, and framing the
| lonesome young face between her two
hands, kissed it ferventIy
@Now, go back to your pretty sleep,
my own GIRL" said she, "you know 1t
p leases me best to watch the night away
| And the servants are weary, they might
sleep at their post And this stranger,
whom the sea has cast into our care,
needs vigilant watching, for he is much
| hurt. No doubt some mothers heart
would break should he die"
While speaking, Lady Dunraven drew
Ulva away with her to the great yawn-
| ing fireplace where bank Of scented
petal-embers glowed ruby red; yet,
though the length of the magnificent
room was now between them and Edgar,
| and they maintained low murmuring
tone lest they should awake him, he
could hear every syllable, so prefer
naturally sharpened had his hearing be-
come in the nervous straining OF his
| fevered faculties. 1t seemed to him that
| his heart would break were he to lose
| one word or one glance OF Ulva's, al
| ready she was standing within the weird
| land Of delirium, and 1t confused him to
associate her from the haunting Oo'ava
! of the cliff. He watched her from afar
| with solemn fervor.
Dear mamma, how bright your eyes
are!" were Ulva's next words, @and how
hot your handsl And your heart beats
so fast, so very fast! Oh, am afraid
when you look like that. Let me stay
with the poor invalid / shall not wake
him, / promise-and do you rest Do.
Engelonde! Dol"
She hung about the lady with sweet
insistence, her mood was changed, sud-
den anxiety sobered her manner.
| Lady Dunraven laid her slight hand
on her daughters lips, with faint
smile. "Foolish child, what would the
young man think to find such an attend
ant by his side?"
"But he is fast asleep, mamma, am
quite sure of that" entreated Viva; 81
stood ever so long by the door watching
him before l ventured in, and he never
once moved. And, mamma, l watched
you, too, and oh, how sorrowful you
looked! Tell me why?"
! "Do not ask, my Consolation" faltered
Lady Dunraven. "Be happy while you
may!"
/ What anguish thrilled beneath the
| low pathetic tones! Viva looked at her
wonderingly and then kissed her with
passionate sympathy many times.
Mamma" whispered she, holding her
| off to gaze at her worn face with dark,
frightened eyes; "Sweet Engelonde,
begin to think that you are always suf-
fering pain or grief! You put on a
cheerful manner whenever l am with
you, but 1t is only for my sake; mean
while your eyes are growing larger and
brighter every day, and your beautiful
face more worn and pale. And you cal
me your Consolation-your only one
Oh, my own kind mammals there ne
deliverance for your" She spoke in ar
agitated murmur, growing pale from
feeling, and tears standing in her eyes
But Lady Dunraven turned away with &
movement of despair, concealing her too
eloquent face.
@Child!" said she, wildly - "whC
has dared to open your eyes
Do not believe him - shut YOU
ears from every treacherous whis-
per. Oh, child, be happy while you
may!" 1t was cry from her yer,
heart.
@No one has spoken one word to me
mamma" said Viva; "who woud?'
Have we traitor among US? Mamma
am afraid" She nestled more closet!
to Lady Dunraven, trembling and un
strung. Already the shadow Of the fu
ture was darkening over her, she fel
the daunting influence OF an unknown
sorrow which was coming nearer her
81 am afraid" she whispered again; :"
have been so happy here; had forgot
ten that there is sin and sorrow in tn
world. You have hidden your suffering
so we'll that /, selfish and unthinkinl
egotist, believed you as happy as yol
made me. But | am awake at last, yo'
are pining away before my very eyes
and you will not let me share you
trouble. Oh, Engelonde, l am afrai
for you'll"
LADY Dunraven's caressing hand sud
denly closed upon Ulva's with warnin
Sho had met the ewes of their strange