The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1898-03-26

lately she had become aware Of Merton
Rae's strange heightened beauty and
fascination when in Auberon's presence.
and with loves jealous quickness, had
guessed her secret.
And to-day, closely watching, she had
seen Auberon's interest seemingly quite
absorbed in her; he and she had been
together so much and had been so bril-
liantiy responsive to each others sallies
-ah, foolish little Loveday, why should
she hope any longer? 1t was relief to
turn to Col Accrington, and hide her
heavy heart by seeming engrossed with
him.
And II Auber0n did not like it-well,
it was far better to vex him little than
to show such slavfsh obedience to his
slightest wish that he must perforce dis
cover her miserable and hopeless love
for him.
On then in the whirling waltz. to the
thrilling music, which spoke to each
bounding heart in its own language; and
now Accrington begins soft murmur-
ing in her ear, delicately impersonal yet
perllously interesting, to which she
listens with innocent admiration. Well
he knows how to please; the guleless
young creature knows so little Of tvil
that she is easily pleased; she has no
bias to suspicion In her sunny nature,
and she is grateful to Colonel Accring-
ton for exerting himself to entertain her.
That he loves her does not dawn on
Loveday yet; this ignorance leaves her
more freedom to observe and enjoy his
manifold graces
He has quite overcome her instructive
mistrust of him before that wonderful
waltz is finished; while he-ah! what
would he not give to fold her to his ador-
ing heart and call her his own!
AS he leads her from the lawn, a couple
are slowly pacing before them, appar
emily too engrossed with each other to
observe their approach.
Loveday's pensive humor flies as she
recognizes Auberon and Merrion Rae,
and she utters some sparkling nonsense,
and laughs aloud with fro,ic arcbness;
and as Aubcron looks back she filings
him a merry glance which tells him
nothing but that she IS we'll pleased.
His face changes, he seems to turn
cold from head to foot; all the dreamy
pleasure with which he has been listen
ing to the clever witcheries of his COM
panion, fades away. He look naughty
young face can look.
But Merton Rae glows and bushes
under Accrington's meaning glances
with helpless self-conscfousness which
convinces Loveday that there has been
some very sweet love making going on
before she and Accrington came in sight.
A wild desire possessed her to prove to
all concerned how little this affects her,
he 10 dro RI
her head to her own level, and whispers
archly,
aThere's nothing half so sweet in life
As Loves Young Dream!"
"What does she say?" asks Auberon,
attempting to catch her hand, while Mer-
rion shakes her finger threateningly at
her, crying, @Hush!" and blushed fu-
riously; and Loveday dances off, hum
ming the music of the words she had just
quoted.
Auberon makes no further effort to de-
tain her; and Accrington carries her off
in triumph.
"These two understand each other, !"
says he grayely, when they are out Of
earshot; "we shall have the Scotch
beauty for resident In Stafford ere long,
/ can see that"
sob, yes. it is very evident!" says Love-
day, airily.
Accrington conveys Miss Dellamere to
her mother, stays long enough beside
her to impress her with the conviction
that he despairs of winning Loveday
and Is much depressed In consequence,
and then discreetly takes his leave.
That night Mrs Deltamere fingers over
her lovely child after she has kissed her
and bade her go to sleep.
She wants to warn her against Colonel
Accrington; and she cannot get the
words out That cowardly taunt Of his
rankles In her mind like poison-what
II Loveday should also suspect that her
mothers opposition meant that she loved
him herself? What If he had prepared
the chflds mind for this doubt by con-
fiding to her that her mother and him
self were old-time lovers?
She could not be In much danger,
surely; does she not love Auberons
Mrs. Dellamere cannot pet one word
out; the memory Of her interview with
Accrington is like blister; to recall it,
singing pain.
She only kisses Loveday again, and
leaves her to sleep
And Love1ay lies all night in the dark
with sweet eyes wide and burning, en-
during the first sorrow of her life as she
may.