The Opelousas courier., 1900-10-27

alli@tESslN English girl, with the
blue blood Of a noble old family In her
teins, and she had inherited the beauty
II the Vanes-the clear, pale, oval
shaped face, the proud lips, and the
salm, sweet, violet-gray eyes.
She was a visitor at A~nstruthers
Hall for the first time since childhood.
Lady Anstrutners was a dear friend
# her mothers. and it had been the
desire of both families that a matri-
u1onlal alliance should be formed be-
tween Barbara and the elder son Of the
Anstruthers. But when the girl was
about fourteen years old a terrible
disgrace fell upon the Hall.
Lord Anstruther's name had been
forged to the amount Of several hun
ared pou. dis, and circumstances pointed
to the elder son, Clifford, as the guilty
one.
The thought that a son Of his house,
which had hitherto been free from
stain, should 90 SO shameful a deed,
nearly killed the old man at first, but
time deadened the force Of the shock
the affair vas hushed up.
Cliford's place as heir was usurped
BY the second son, and only one chung
to the belief OF the young man inno-
cence, which he had firmly declared
that n his mother.
Z Barbara had been at the Hall nearly
q month, and CASTOR Anstruthers was
her devoted slave. She was growing
weary Of him. Her womanly instinct
had sounded the depth of his shallow
nature, and found nothing there to sat
isfy her.
. Clifford was coming home from
abroad to pay one Of his occasional
visits to his mother; for since that
dark day he had made his home no
more at the Hall.
Barbara had a curiosity to see this
young man, whom she remembered as
O high-spirited, dark-eyed youth; she
paused before his painting In the gal
lery to study 1t for perhaps the fiftieth
time In the past two or three weeks.
The painting had been executed just
before the discovery of the forged
note, when the original was about
three-and-twenty.
IL represented O young man, radiant
with youth and conscious strength and
The pose of the handsome
head was king-like, the dark hair was
thrown back from a broad brow, and
the large, dark eyes held a faint smile
which the grave, sweet dignity of the
lips denied.
There was a fascination about this
which Barbara could not resist,
even while she rebelled against it.
"How deep and base a heart he must
have had" she thought, ito wear a
look like that while he was contem-
so contemplate q deedr"
For Barbara had listened to the
whole shameful story many times, and
had decided against the young man.
And how her naughty lips had curled,
ind how cold and proud the sweet
eyes had grown at the bare thought
of the old-time-planned alliance.
She. Barbara Vane. to wed with O !
who a free from a prison
cell only because his old father shrunk |
shameful agony from placing
aim there!
Her dainty head crested itself as she
turned away from the painting, but
he faintly-smiling eyes seemed to fol- |
oW her, and she looked back over her /
shoulder.
a door opened and shut ut the lower
OF the room, and directly a gentle
man advanced toward her from the
shadows.
4 sudden thrill made her tremble
head to foot. This was Clifford
but oh, infinitely older
Ind sadderi There was no smile in
he dark eyes which rested upon her
ace. A heavy mustache dropped over
he stern mouth, and o few silver
glittered among the dark
raves of his hair, though he was not
ret thirty.
He bowed coldly, without offering
lis hand.
my mother tells me that you are O
'isitor at the Hall. Miss Vane," he
aid.
Yes said Barbara, q feeling OF
imidity flushing the clear pallor of
Ter cheek, land / find 1t a delightful
Id place-quite fulfilling my childish
remembrance Of it."
THAT is pleasant" be returned in
n distracted manner. pulling the silky
ar Of q large yellow hound which had
ollowed him iuto the room, and now
TODD with wistsful eyes appraised.
A pause, full OF embarrassment to
Barbara, ensued. broken presently by
he entrance OF Gaston Anstrutlers,
yho. in full dinner costume, came
Witty down the room, starting q lit
lie at the sight of Ills elder brother
'eside Barbara.
.Ah, Cliff, you've como, Oh? How
r. you?" he sud, smiling lii n shift
rs. uneasy way. as his gaze wandered
his brothers grave, cold eyes.
As we'll as USUAL" returned tho eld-
7 brother. as. with a slight bow to
Barbara, he walked away, the hound
close beside him.
Dinner Is ready, Barbara. said
saston. gaiiy, giving her his arm. MY
aother selt me to Lring you.,
She allowed hin to LEND. her ,lo.l.
to where 4 brilliant company
gathered s,l,ont the glisterinc
oarsl, but Clifford III. not Iola them. /,
And oil through faat hot;... while
afnfy Jest and brilliant reparie.e went
round with the coffee II: her heart OF