Activate Javascript or update your browser for the full Digital Library experience.
Previous Page
–
Next Page
OCR
d
90 A DREADFUL TEMPTATI ON.
now. Not the expression of | a feature,. not a fold of her .
robe escapes his memory.
She looks like some beautiful, pale statue.
“‘ Gown’d in pure white that fitted to the shape— veg
A single stream of all her soft, dark curls 5
Pour'd on one side.”
The sunshine beams upon her lovingly. A creeping ‘rose-
tree throws out its briery arms as. though it would fain °
draw her into its thorny embrace. The light breeze scat-
ters the scented rose-petals in ashower of sweetness under
her feet.. A happy bird warbles its lay of love. above her
drooping head.
Suddenly she turns to go, thrilled with a bitter pang of an
remembrance.
The movement breaks the spell that binds him. ‘He
springs after her.
‘‘Do not go,” he exclaimed, in a voice of uncons¢ious
pleading.
‘‘ Why should I stay?” sue asks, turning her proud, dark ve
eyes upon him. ‘‘ Why have you intruded your unwel- . oo.
come presence upon me?”
The flush on his fair, handsome face deepens.
‘* Xenie, pardon the "puse by which I have gained admit:
tance to your presence,” he exclaims. ‘I wished to see |
ou and I went to Mrs. Egerton, and stating my y reasons,
egged her to arrange this meeting.”
‘Did you not know that the very sight of you is hateful
inmy eyes?” she demands, spiritedly.
“T feared so,” he answers, with an unconscious , tone of
sadness in his voice. ‘‘ Yet I wished to see you. Thereis
something I have to tell you.”
“You can tell me nothing that I wish to hear,” she re-
torts, haughtily. ‘‘ Let me pass, sir. I refuse to listen!”
But the tall, handsome form blocks her way, and shows
no signs of yielding.
ie Pei of
rn
cea persenernnae eminent er emt
‘‘Stay, one moment, Xenie,” he exclaims, ‘‘ Suppose I.
tell you that your vengeance is secure after all—that Uncle .
John’s missing willis found at last?”
She whirls toward him, her dark eyes blazing with i in-.
credulous surprise.
‘* At last!” she says, with a stifled gasp. At last! And -
who—who——”
‘*T found it;” he answers; not waiting for her to finish the :
incoherent question. “He had hidden it, I cannot imagine
why, in. the most unlikely place in the world. By the
- . merest accident I came upon it yesterday. Take it, Xenie.
It secures your revenge to your now, beyo ond the shadow of
a doubt,’ te
‘4