Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1862-11-04
LIVING STORY.
BY ESTHER sERLE KENNETH,

The new boarder has come, man.
I'll GO TO her, mother said Faith Raw,
quickly, as she put down her sewing.
Well, dear, see that Ann has put water
in her ROOM
Faith went across the hall to the parlor.
1t was large, handsomely furnished room.
A young lady in a cloak and bonnet sat by
oue of the windows.
Good morning p said Faith, Miss Es-
Their More?'
The young lady bowed.
Il am Miss Ray. will show you to
your room, if you please
The halls were light and neat. The
apartment which Faith threw open was a
fair. little room. furnished 10 white and
green-haif bedroom, half library,
This was formerly my brn't.,sr's cham
ber,' said Faith. He c..ept here and xent
his books here. Il Is light and Pleasant, /
think
'lt is very pretty
The vo'cs of the new boarder, heard by
rem for the first time, was soft, and low
and even, but with no variatio6 of tone and
no echo. She united her bonnet and laid
it on the bed. As she did so, mass Of
rich auburn hair, with shadows like the
tint Of old mahogany, and a brightness like
sunshine, dropped forward in waves against
her cheeks and temples. Faith caught
half q glimpse Of her face-uot enough to
| tell how she Looked, or whether she wac
pretty or plain.-but she was impressed by
a sense of retience
is there anything you would like 2
Nothing thank YOU
That same gentle monotone.
| Faith went out and shut the door Esther
| More sat down on the side OF the bed, and
glanced slowly about the room. The snow
lily white curtains were Topped back from
the vide windows. and the sunshine stream
ed in and fell golden and bright on every
pretty appointment.
It's as good as any place to stay in,
said she, falling YEARLY down upon the
pillows.
She lay there for long time. The sun
shine crspt softly to the edge of the bed
and commenced slowly mounting the dark
carved foot post. When it had reached
,he white bed. it slipped on to where rested
her slender, gathered foot, and then glide6
along over the folds of her soft, grey dress
1t came to her hand, lying white and ten
der among the grey folds. Why did i
linger thsrei o, there was q slender banC
Of gold on the round, third finger. Th,
finger was like the creamy petal Of water
lily, and the ring like its rich, yellow
heart. But the sunshine left the prett,
6yOu it had found, at last and slid ON owe
the round, slender grey-clad form, until /
came to q narrow, white collar fastened b,
a small, miniature pin. There was child
face in the pin. Above it was fair, slend
er throat, and still higher, lying on tn,
piller, face that the sunshine SHED from
wandering away to the right, and lesv
ing it in shadow. A young fsce, fan
face. but it's stony stiffness was dreadful.
Esther More was not asleep, but tn,
dinner bell made her start nervously. Sh.
arose, shook out her luxuriant Auburn hair
brushed is out, put it into g net, and wen
down to the dining-rOom. She came bach
in twenty minutes-sat down in grea
cushioned chat. by the window and looked
out The green meadow land stretched
far, far swsy-yonder were groves Of pine
beyond rose the blue hills. She could
smell apples ripening in the sunshine, and
the spicy scent of fern. growing rank and
rough by the stone wall On the other side
of the road. The sky was full of dark
steady azure. Not cloud or vapor to in
terceot the fall of sunshine. It seemed a
| day made to warm ones heart to the core
but the heart of Esther More lay cold az
Stone in her bosom.
There were some children at play IN the
green yard under her window. They
were three little girls. happily as miniature
housekeeping with bits Of broken crock
cry. When Esther saw them, q little
change came into her stony face. But ii
was not pleasant change. Her mouth
and forehead remained quiet. but plying
tenderness (is was for herself gathered 10
her dark eyes. She had found life COM
plete, playing at housekeeping with bits