The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-04-23


She was looking most brilliant in a law
cut dress of coral pink, her raven-black hair
smoothly coiled about her Queenly head her
Whlte throat cleaning in the rosy glow of
the lamplight and with a smile Sir Oscar
said:
MY wife will be a dazzling creature, and
she must know how to be gracious-kind
and not make people vince as YOU have
twice this evening caused your little cousin
TO shrink as though you had stung her.
Selnsh vanity and jealousy ruled Miss
Vansdlyt's heart
she glanced fercely towards the other side
or the ROOM where, clad in lily-white Elya
sat, her golden head bent over Bruno. who
coed in a silky bundle on her lap watched
her adoringly :
Inc girl was pretty as fragile flower and
still retained the sweet innocence of q child
in her delcately-tinted face
Jealousy and suspicion are kindred traits
ana qulver1ng with scorn, Clornda told her
sell that she would not share admiration
with ElVa-that she would arrange To keen
Slr oscar entirely to herself in future
MY little cousin is simple as a lamb, is
sne not! was her sarcastic comment Even
TOT sixteen she is rather too babysh think"
Are you not fond of her?' Sir Oscar asked
in surprise. -
No; and shall like her less if I am to he
lectured on her behalf"
MY oearest!" he rebuked
But, with regal hateur. Clorinda rose.
crossed to the open windoW-doors and sten'
ped out into the moonlit grounds.
he Followed her, grave and dignified
- me same instant Bernard entered the
room. and swiftly joined Elva
Why are you alone?' he Questioned &C he
sank on to the divan by her side: and before
she couio respond, he went on: II am glad
NOBODY is with you Put that pampered ami
NAL down and listen % me-"
Something in his tone startled ber
she kept her arm round Bruno sav;ne
80. can nsten as it u.s. So you mean to
Insist about the violin and drawing lessons9
she quered. ie'Soiis'
NO sweetest" he replied: and the tender
Gepth OF his tone did not tend to reass,1ra
Iei. II was not my wish that YOU should
Erlna at lessons. little butterfly Tell me
- 80, are you netting about Jim? You never
les" 'oi HieilS oiInp-
mere IS no one to laugh with me-" she
rephed, and her voice was sad. II am afraid
OF vexlns you or Clor. now that 1 know YOU
both WE'LL"
1t was not dattering statement, given as
II was, with naive candor, and Bernard's
face darkered
is Clori so alarm ing, and such a terror
to your" he said; and Suddenly his manner
changed, he looked at her with his duslsv
eyes kindling, adding: Can you not see that
love you, little one?''
EIva shrank yoicelesslv bao,, +;,.
clasping Bruno.
Put that dog down and give me vour
nand, he demanded. Il have airing in INV,
pocket, winch l mean you to wear OIL do
not imagine that am jesting do YOU? This
VIII gieam on your finger in token of orr he
trothal" - W We
on no, Bernard" Ega> gasped. I could
never wear it! 1 do not love you"
ou snail!' he said, furiously Come give
me your hand" So
Il will not Oh Won have hr,+
bfuno! as, with cry of pain. the spaniel
crept under a chair having been seized and
hurled to the floor You are cruel-brutal
ana 1t would paralyze my hand TO wear vour
ring for single Instant"
ohe was standing now. sparkle in her
Vloet eyes that fear could not ouench
You shail!" he reiterated hissingly. and
ne made a savage clutch at her arm
But, with wild bound, Elya evaded him
rushing out into the night ----''
BY the time she had reached the natb
leading down the cliff. Elva was GREATNESS.
and forced to end her flight
She stood facing the Sea, a small ghost1v
ngure, with wild tangle of curls shining on
her brow.
How softly the waves murmured in tho
summer fragrance of the western breeze.
Sne looked down at the silvery tide, and
tnought OF her missing comrade Jim
was 1t as people surmiSed and had he
fallen that day, during the storm, from the
precipice into the raging pillows?
II SO, why had no trace of him been found?
Unable to CLEAN any solution to this oft
repeated query, she let her mind drift in
another direction.
How, she pondered, could she endure much
longer her disquieting life at the Priory?
1t was like existing between two fires. the
flames of which kept her in perpetual heat
and dread.
Either Clorinda Bernard made each dav
that passed torment with the force of their
uncertain tempers, and, with the harsh voice
OF the latter still ringing in her ears if
seemed to her that she could not continue to
remain with her cousins.
A pattering and scraping at her feet drew