Activate Javascript or update your browser for the full Digital Library experience.
Previous Page
–
Next Page
OCR
i
;
ai
i!
[i
i.
ti
40 A DREADFUL TEMPTATION.
Sleeping, she dreamed. It seemed to her that Howard
‘fempleton, whom once she loved so madly, whom now she
bitterly hated, came to her side, and looking down upon
her in the sweet spring moonlight, laid’ his hand upon her
aud said, gravely, and alinost imploringly :
‘“Xenie, this is the turning-point in your life. Twopaths
ay before you. Choose the right one and all will go well
with you. Peace and happiness will be yours. But choose
the evil path and the finger of scorn will one day be pointed
at you so that you will not dare to lift your eyes for
shame.”
In her dream Xenie thought that she threw off her en-
emy’s hand with scorn and loathing.
‘then it seemed to her that he gathered her up in his arms
and was about to cast her into the deep, terrible sea, when
she awoke with a great start, and found herself struggling
inthe arms of her mother, who had lifted her out of the
chair, and was saying, impatiently:
‘“‘Xenie, Xenie! child, wakeup. You will get your death
of cold sleeping out here in the damp night air, and the
wind and moisture from the sea blowing over you.”
Xenie shook herself free from her mother’s grasp, and
looked around her for her deadly foe, so real had seemed
her dream.
But she saw no tall, proud, manly form, no handsome,
_ blonde face gazing down upon her as she looked.
There was only the cold, white moonlight lying in silvery
bars on the floor, and her mother still shaking her by the
arm.
‘‘Xenie, Xenie, wake up,” she reiterated. ‘‘ Here I have
been shaking and shaking you, and allin vain. You slept
like the dead.”
‘“Mamma, I was dreaming,” said Mrs. St. John, coming
back to herself with a start. ‘‘ What is the matter? What
is the matter? Is my sister worse?”
Mrs. Carroll took her daughter’s hand and drew her inside
the hallway, then shut and locked the door. .
‘ONo, Xenie,” she said, abruptly, ‘‘ Lora is not worse—
she is better. Are you awake? Do you know what Iain
saying? Lora has a beautiful son.”
‘Oh, mamma, it was but a minute ago thatI went out on
the veranda.”
Mrs. Carroll laughed softly.
‘‘Oh, no, my dear. It was several hours ago. You have
beeniasleep along time, It1s nearly midnight.”
‘* And Lora really has a son, mamma?”
‘Yes, Xenie: the finest little fellow Lever saw.” »
‘You promised to cull me it she became worse and you
needed me,” said Mrs. St. Jolin, reproachfully.