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upon her. pT a oo,
‘He did not speak for a moment, so beautiful she looked
standing still and pale as a statue beneath a tall rose-tree | .
that showered its scented petals down, upon her night-black
hair with its crown of orange blossoms.» _ Say
No subtle instinct warned her of his presence as it had \.
when that other came.
. She stood silent and pale, the .dark lashes shading her)
rounded cheek, her white hands loosely clasped before her |
until he spoke: -
‘*Xenie, my darling!” a Le
She started and shivered as she looked up... 2 =)
_- Mr. St. John came slowly to her side and drew her hand
aoe ie
pots
through his arm.
ig announced,” hesaid. -
- “My dear, I have been seeking you everywhere. ‘Supper _
‘*T only came here just a little while ago for a quiet min- .
ute to myself,” she said, apologetically. .
‘Ah! then, you like quietand repose sometimes,” he said ;
‘Tam glad of that, for lam not fond of gayety myself, at
4 DREADFUL TEMPTATION. =< 1
noiselessly again and her lawful lord and master looked in’
least not too much of it. [ suppose I am getting too far into. -
the sere and yellow leaf to enjoy it, eh, my dear?” .._
‘‘Thope not; sir,” she said, making an effort to throw off —
her preoccupation and enter into the conversation with in-
terest. . ta eas
_After the splendid banquet had been served, he led her to oe
a quiet seat and begged her not to dance again that even-
‘ Ing. /
g oy ag ee
“Tam too old to dance myself,” he said, ‘‘but Iam so.
selfish I want to keep you by my side that I may feast my. >
eyes upon your peerless beauty. Can you be contented
with my society, love?” he inquired, giving her a curious |.
look. ©
‘*T will do whatever pleases you best, sir,” she said, with
an inward shudder of disgust. BP NL
_ “Very well; we willsit here hand in hand like a veritable
_ Darby and Joan, and enjoy each other’s company,” he said,
. giving her an affectionate smile. CONE a Te re es
- The bride looked at her lord in ‘surprise. She had’not | .
- known him long, for their marriage had followed upon a
brief acquaintance and hurried courtship. |
Xenie had never thought him very brilliant, and, indeed,
she had heard people say maliciously that the old man was »
etting weak-minded, but after all, the proposition to hold |
er hand before all that brilliant array of wedding-guests
nearly staggered her. © stay
é
She made some plausible excuse for keeping her handsin ..—
her own possession, and sat quietly by his side, watching
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