L P Fisher
VOLUME
THE UIPKTt PMPHOT.
BT music
"Do let's resf bore, girls, I can
not go a step farther in this intoler
able heat. Where can the rest of
the party be?" and little Eva
Turner threw herself wearily on the
gram beneath a large oak tree,
while the others, Grace and Marian
Carrington, Est Stanley, and Car
rie Wentworth, proceeded to follow
the example.
" Was there ever such a warm
day before?'' said Esta Stanley,
tanning herself vigorously with her
wide-brimmed hat. "How I wish
ed I'd stayed at home; I'm not cn
joying myself at all."
"Oh !" lisped little Cmie Went
worth, "that's because George is
absent; now if he"
"No such thing, you little prat,
tier; but who is this coming? a
gipsy, as I live. Well, this is good
yes, yes, tell my fortune and pre
dict a sunny fate tor me or I'll give
vou to the authorities as a witch."
"Cross ray hand wi' silver first,
my pretty lady," croaked the old
woman, and Esta at once laid a
shining piece on the old woman's
outstretched palm.
"Now be quick," said Esta. "I'm
going to marry a couut, ain't I ? a
prince in disguise, or some other
equally as grand"
"Ho, there's no count or prince,
but there's a light haired gentleman
who is devoted to you. You love
him," 6he continued, "and it will be
a happy union, but you will outlive
him; he will die the line is indis
tinct. Ah, yes, he will die from a
fall from a horse."
"That is enough; I don't like the
dark side of the future, so predict
something for the rest Here, Mar
ian, Grace, come here, lei's hear
what the tickle goddess has in store
Jbr us."
"Esta, this is foolishness," said
Marian, turning her flashing black
yes full upon the gipsy. "I don't
wish to have my fortune told."
"Oh, pshaw, Marian, you liave
all heard mine, and I don't propose
to be the only one out of pocket, so
just step up here."
"Here, tell mine," said Grace, at
the same time laying a piece of
money in the fortune-teller's hand.
"Yes, my pretty lady-oh ! She
shuddered; and looking around
dropped her eyes on Marian, "She
is your sister !"
"Yes, yes," the girls cried in one
voice.
"You will die from poison given
to you by her brief happiness
for you, and a terrible end."
"Oh, tie, fie," the girls uttered at
the prediction. "Why Marian
poison Grace oh, rt too ridicu
lous," said Esta.
"See there, Esta, how white Grace
is by all this foolishness; itf s a slume
girls;" and Marian tried to look
very indignant.
" Why! of course, it's H folly,
nd we're only doing it to test this
woman's imagination; but now,
Marian, do come and have yours
told, and let's see why you are
going to poison Grace. Come now
do"
"Well, well, ifyou are so anxious
here," she said holding out ber
band and throwing the money on
ihe ground.
"lake it back," said the gipsy,
"1 don't want to tell your fortune;
you are evil yes, wicked I can
not predict anything good, so I'll
remain silent but remember the
gipsy's prophecy! Beware of the
dark-complexioned man you love
him, but, he loses not you but
her, your sister. He will cause you
ail of tour trouble. Shun him;
leave finglud-oh, be warned,
"Oh! nonsense, how many dark
.maptationed gentleman do I know?
Let's see, there is Phil and Ronald,
and "
"But do you love them all lady?"
said Bhe.
"Love them? Well, I hardly
know however, I'll cut all of their
acquaintance and retire to a con
vent." "You jest, lady; beware!"
"There they come now; well,
thank heaven, for I am tired to
death," said Esta Stanley. "Go
away, woman, for you have fright
ened the ladies half out of their
wits now, and we'll be teased till
we're quite dead if you are seen
here; so go off now;" and drawing
her little red cape around her close
ly, the old woman obeyed Esta's
command.
The rest of the party now having
joined the girls under the trees,
preparations were commenced for
lunch. An impromptu table was
constructed by a couple of young
gentlemen and then the eldery
ladies bustled around, soon spread
ing before the always hungry young
people a most delicious luncheon.
Never was there a merrier party of
picnickers. Jokes flew around
from mouth to mouth a' d the joy
ous laughter fairly set the birds to
shame.
"Oh. I sav. Est." said Ronald
Derby, "who was that person yo
were commanding to leave as we
came up? Now, I'll wager let
me see well, a box ot gloves, tnai
vmi crirla have been trying to peep
through the heavy curtaiu which
hides the future; ain't I ngnt r w ere
you not trying to get some nomad
to deduce from the crossing and re
crossing ot the lines of your hand
sorae brilliant fete for yon? Ah,
my fair friend, your blushes convict
you Now 1 am going to mnici
upon you as a penalty a rehearsal
of the facte given you by this sybil."
"Oh, yes, do, do J" chorused in a
halt dozen voices.
"0, dear," replied Est. "Why,
Ronald, it was the wife of that poor
man to whom vou talked so long
this morning, and, as you both stood
directly under my window, wny l
think if I narrate the conversation
you two carried on, our friends
here will fee! highly edified, and,
indeed, much more so than over
our conversation. What say the
company, shall I tell what Ronald
and the stroller were conversing
on?"
"By all means," again said the
"Come, come, Esta, we're quite
now; I'll see you alone."
"Good," said little Eva Turner.
"I am so glad some one can hold
that irrepressible Ronald in check;
Esta, will you let me in the secret?"
"Certainly; till to-night, when
Miss Oh "
"Stop, Esta don't please," and
Ronald's brown eye looked so earn
estly at Esta that she resisted.
"Well, well, Ronald, I'll let you
off this time; but remember, I'm
very revengeful, so uou t provoke
my ire."
"Command me, bd I will obey,"
said he.
"Well, then, do find out what
has come over Marian Cr.rrington,
for ever since we sat down to lunch
she has been so abstracted that she
has not heard rne speak once, and
she tries so hard to get up a smile,
succeeding only so far as to look
like 'Patience on a monument smil
ing at Grief.' I say, Marrie, why
so pensive?"
All eyes turned upon Marian,
but she bore the scrutiny well, and,
shaking back her heavy curls,
seemed at once to be inspired with
new vigor, for she at once began
such an animated discourse as to
surprise even herself.
" Twill not do," the murmured
to herself, "to act so. I must not
show bow the woman's words aflect
ALBANY, OREGON AUGUST 15,
But the eiosv'a wotds annoyed
her, and, even in her gayest mo
ment; "he loves not you, but her,"
seemed to dance before her eyes in
letters of fire. Tbeiuninthe sky
showed that night was fast ap
proaching, and now' that it was
cooler, the gay party began to think
of home.
"Oh, I'll be entirely unfit for to
night's dance," said Eva Turner;
"mv face is all burn'
''Phillip wou't Ioo you, poor
little sunburnt, frecifl faced red-
head !" broke in J tantalizing
Est. "Why, Eva, ft were you,
I'd go right home, and. wrap my
face up in sour milk, lemon or bran
poultices. Seems to me Hanette
has an edition of 'Ladies Toilette
wl.i.-l. m.ntaitiK infallible remedies"
"Yea? I suppose vou can vouch
for the infallibility ot every one of
them ; humph ! You are getting so
that can declare your soul is your
own, ain't you? Well, peace,
peace; give us the olive branch
who's going home? For my part,
I'm off," and, trilling some "away
dull care" song, Est dnced away,
to leave some one who could assert
her rights with more vivacity than
little read-head," as Est saucily
dubbed the auburrrhaired Eva.
The party who had been spend
ing the day in toe woods were the
Summer guests of Lord Carrington,
at his Summer residence the Hem
locks and royally did he amuse
them, so that willingly would any
one of them give up any rare pleas
ure for the sake of accepting his in
vitation to visit the Hemlocks. It
was a marvellously beautiful place,
built of pure white marble and sur
rounded by lawns, hkesand delic
ious little fairy-like retreats. Bal
conies beautifully sculptured, large
enough for two whereon to be in
spired with the most uuposiical
love. Exquisite marbles and
bronzes, brought from Italy, gleam
ed and dazzled amidst the rarest
plants. Miniature boats rocked on
the riplets of the lakes, and lights
gleamed through the colored globes
ot the lamp-posts in the groves.
And to-night all the wondrous
beauty is shown off to the best ad
vantage. Lghte shimmer and
shine through every portion of the
vast garden and in every pane of
heavy plate glass in the mansion.
Delicious strains of music steal
through the massive curtains ot the
windows, and as they waft out on
the air, the wearied dancers resting
on the balconies beat time to its
notes with heart and foot. Through
this gay assemblage Marian Carring
ton slowly wends her way, walking
as a queen, and receiving the hom
age ot one. She leans on the arm
of Malcolm Brooks, and although
her head is turned toward him her
eyes sweep through the brilliant
rooms until they rest on a couple
slowly promenading toward her.
'Tis Grace, her sister, looking too
ethereal for this world. A robe of
the most delicate peachblossom
satin trails far over the rich carpet;
a cob-web lace overskirt, caught up
with sprays of pearls, aud wV same
jewels glistening in her golden hair,
and on her rounded throat and arms
well become her angelic beauty.
Her companion, Marshall lighten,
a dashing Oaptain in the Queen's
service, has bis handsome head bent
low to cateh her soft, low words
Love flashes from hie liquid brown
eyes, and site kuows she is loved,
by tli tenderness of his voice. Ad
miration everywhere meets the
handsome couple, and all smile up
on them. Lord Cariugton gazes
fondly upon them, and wishes that
it may be; tor he loves his child and
knows that she loves Leightoo.
The deux temps is struck up by the
orchestra, ana eh suing bis dainty
one in his ms, Marshal! whirls
ber info the mazy dance. Round
and round thej go, and whe the
1873.
last note is struck be leads her to
little alcove which opens on to a
balcony. Drawing aside the cur
tain, they enter, and sinking on a
divan, Grace at first surprised,
then inexpressibly happy listens to
the outpouring of her admirer's
heart:
"Never was one loved before as
I lore you, my only, my darling
love," cried he. "Surely, such love
must be requited. Am I wrong?
Ah! you are silent; but that gives
me hope it inspires me. Oh ! dare
I hope for such happiness? Do not
droop your eyes. Toll me, love,
will you be mine? Mine how
much in that word! to know that
nothing can wrest you from me; that
your eye lights up at my step, and
that you miss me in my absence.
Gracie, Gracie, answer me before I
sink into appreheusiou."
A soft blush and a tender kiss
were his answers, and when they
left the alcove a new light shone in
their eyes and a new jeweled ring
glistened on Grade's hand. Too
absorbed in each other were they to
i960 the shrinking figure draw closer
to the wall, as Marshall drew aside
the curtain for Gracie to pass out.
The half-broken sob fell not on their
ears as the bent figure tottered from
her place of concealment and tell
prone on the heavy carpet. No
sound penetrated the ears of the
outside guests informing them of the
wretchedness of the boasted beauty
of the Hemlocks.
"Take me, God, oh take me!"
she gasped"! cannot live and see
him wedded to her Grace his
wife? Oh, God, no I love him !
oh so dearly. Why is Fate so cru
el ?" and sob after sob rent the air,
seeming sadly out of place in that
festive scene.
But grief cannot last forever, snd
rising from the place where Bhe lad
fallen, Marian, for it was she, with
weary, trembling hands smoothed
the folds from the lavender satin
dress. Listlessly she put back the
curling waves from her marble-like,
brow, and with an effort only gain
ed by her great self-control, threw
off the heart-pierced look in her
face. None could tell of her suffer
ing save by the pallor ot her face
aud the slight rings beneath her
beautiful eyes. A voice startled
her from her kind of trance, crying
"Ah ! Miss Carrington, here and
alone? All through the rooms
have I been wandering in search of
you. Have you forgotten that this
is our Lancers."
"Oh, pardon me, Mr. Derby, I
had not intended to neglect you; a
momentary pain caused me to seek
refuge here ; but come, or we miss
the dance."
Little did Donald Derby guess
the cause of her "momentary
pain," or perhaps lie never would
have tried to tell Marian how he
loved her. But at the end of the
hall there were at least two bleed
ing hearts, as wretched as there
were two hearts happy, Sleep
did not visit Marian's eyes, and
when Grace came into her sister's
room the next morning sorrow
spread over her face at the sight of
Marion Deathly pale was she,
with heavy black rings around the
full but now dulled eyes; her month
lad lost iis sweetness and the ring
of blue bespoke of intense suffering.
"My sister, my darling Marian,
what is it? sick, aud not send tor
me. Tell me, what is it?"
Nothing," said Marian, aud she
shuddered at the sight of Grace.
"Leave me; I know of your happi
ness, but go away and think of Aim,
for it must make you happy to do
so," and she almost roughly shook
off Grace's band.
"Poor sister,'' said the blushing
girl, "let me stay, and I will be so
quiet. May I?"
No. I said to hare me,"
harshly said Marian, and ndly
NO. 60.
Grace left the room, little thinking
of the cause ot the pain depicted oil
her sister's face.
As the door softly closed, Marian
jumped from her couch, and clinch
ing her hands till the nail cat deep
into the soft flesh, cried out in her
agony: "Oh, I hate her, 1 hate ber,
Anything that comes between me
and the one I love, I hate, and could
crush as I crush these under my
feet !" and she madly trod on a
jeweled necklace that bad fallen to
the floor.
"She shall not marry him ! I love
him; not with the weak and baby
ish love of Grace, but the haughty,
fierce love ot Marian Carrington !
Never will she marry him; I'll kiU
her first!" and having spent part of
her passion, she sank down, weep,
ing passionately.
The sun was setting slowly,
throwing a golden tinge over the
waters of the lake, wherein lily-pads
floated and pebbles gleamed through
the clear waters Near a marble
Sappho stood a drooping figure,
idly picking a red, velvety rose to
pieces, throwing the petals upon the
water watching them listlessly float,
wherever the gentle breeze, wafted
them. "Alone, rna chereV said a
voice, and turning around Marian
beheld her idol, the object of her
vain love.
"Yes; alone, alone," she bitterly
said.
"How sad you are, Marian 1
may call you so? Allow me some
brotherly privileges, can't you? Con
gratulate me; all have done so but
you, and this is what I have been
seeking you for."
"Congratulate you," she slowly
answered, "yes, I congratulate you
upon the misery you have caused
don't speak, listen 1 You have won
my sister's love, but never shall she
wed you. Oh, Marshall, yon asked
her love, you got it you asked not
mine, but you Acres it; not her weak,
childish affection; but the strong,
idolatrous love that but such as I
can give. Love me"-
"Hush, Marian, you mutt, I nay!
I am betrothed to Grace. I love
you as a sister, but otherwise it is
tolly madness. I implore you, for.
get this mere fancy."
"Ob, hush, Marshall Leigh ton,
or you will drive me mad you
must love me. Tell me you will
give her up."
"Marian, Marian, you are mad,
Give Grace up? it is impossible,
I love her, and I shall marry her."
"Never," hissed Marian with a
terrible hate in her eyes. "I say
you never shall; so beware!" and
she turned and left him as the last
ray of the sun vanished behind the
bill.
"I must see her father and urge
the wedding, then forever leave this
terrible place," and he immediately
sought I .on I Carrington in his libra
ry, aud told him as delicately as
possible the unhappy news. With
a startled look upon his face, Lord
Francis heard the story, and with
sorrow thought of useless remedies,
"It shall be as you wish, my boy.
Marry her at once and leave Eng.
land, until she out-grows this infat
uation. "Thanks, my lord, and please say
nothing of this to either, as 'twould
but cause pain."
"Right, my boy; I am deeply
pained. She has tier mother's tern,
per, and if aroused would become
like one of the lion found in her
native place. Tk East Indian
women are demons in their love or
hate."
At that moment a loud shriek
sounded through the corridors, and
rushing to the door, Lord Francis
and Marshall Leighton beheld a
group of awe-stnekeu faces. An
other shriek sounded, and with
lightning-like step Leighton dastat
up the staircase followed by Car
I Concluded m 8th page.