The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1867-02-08
so blinded by her grace and beauty ,la, he

~ 'Ss 6soSS e"e cSeesy ''"N Nv
could not see me, and whether was near
or afir, it was NIL the same to him while
Ednah, in his presence, seemed to forget
that all of lifo and Of the world did not
dwell with him.
i must have remained two hours in the
garden. tor heard the clock strike twelve
rs went mp to my chamber. As pass
ed the piazza. ! heard the murmur OF
voices in the parlor, and by the window
saw the skirt Of Ednah tossing about in
the night.breeze. How wrctched and
weary ] was. had never dreamed ofsuclI
a trial rs this. ! had trusted the love Of
Willis Horton rs implicitly as that of my
Father in Heaven. That It would ever
fail me, had not for single moment
dreamed.
The night that followed was n wakefnl
one, and the morning found me nearly
blind with weeping. did not SO down to
breakfast. excused myself on the plea Of
a very severe headache, which, indeed,
was no untruth. But was not so blinded
that could not see Willis and Ednnh as
they rode of at an early hour. Looking nt
them my tears came faster than ever. Still,
at that moment, ] was glad that l was not
beautiful. For worlds ! would not have
had my face rs fair as Ednahs. was
glad that was plain, und that she, to Use
Willis's words, was transcenden'ly lovely.
Willie sat in my room with my head
bent upon my hnnds, my brother, an arch,
cunning little fellow Of five summers, came
up the stairs, and raped at my door. II
was trick of his, coming TO my chamber
before was up in tho morning. but this
time he was somewhat disconnected on
finding me up and dressed. Ile nestled
about from one place to another, for full
) five minutes, without speaking, and then
coming up to me, he said, pccring his
rogush eyes into my face, and taking Il
huge mouthfill from the piece Of cake
which he carried in his hand,-
"Ruth, who eats so ?"
Sure cnough.-who did cot so /?
"The greatest pig in tho world, Charlie y
l answered, little spitefully.-"No i
ain't, eilher,- me. Who does cat SO p
be queried, taking mouthiul nNer mouth
fhl, until was really afinid ho would
choke.
"Don't you know who 1t is?"
nodded my head.
"It's Ednah, isn't it?"
shook my head. Perhaps was lit.
tie airuid that Charlie would betrny any in.
discretion Of speech on my part. Ills sc.
cretive organs were very poorly developed
Yes, be il known that my disposition was
, good enough 10 pour liule of my spite
upon Ednah's head, even before the child
I Charlie. -". .H'
r al wish Willis could SEQ her eat once,
said to myself rs Charlie lctt the room
81 don't believe ho would care much fol
her after that" u.- ...
And II was just then ,hnt very happy
idea flashed through my mind. Why
couldn't he see her satisfy her appetite
once2 knew that to invite him to din
ner or ten would not he the thing, for Ed
nah could be as dainty as the daintiest in
his presence for single meal, but if he
could only be our guest for week, awl'olt
week. he would have n fine opportunity o'
seeing how her rosy mouth took in the
good things Of life. And here, let me M
peut it. that Cousin Ednah was u most 70
rocious enter. A plough boy, or a strong
man who worked a, hnying, couldn't "hold
a candle" to her in her most vorncious
moods, so, thinking Of this idea, second
blundcred through my head.
!, Willis's friends were going away for a
fortnight The had told me so The day bc
J fore), aud he was to be leit alone witt, the
servants. Why couldn't he be my father 8
} guest for that time' If father would only
invite him. ran down to the library to
ask him, and found him in most umial'le
mood. $50 you wan, your lover with y"'
more of the time, little puss? ?" he said,
stroking my hair. But, child, what red
: eyes you have this morning. Headache
oh, yes. Well, mover mind, you needn
blush so about il. Run back tn your room,
IN manage Willis" .... ..r
"Oh, I thank you !" said, turning ia
leave the room.
"But wait moment, dear, and tell me
what you think about Cousin Ednah. Du
you love her very much 2" %. .| . r
" She is very beautiful" ] answered eva.
sively.
"oh, yes! You can go,-silly thing. =
And so Willis came up to our house to
remain fortnight In the meantime, I
gave him up wholly to Ednah. lie walked
with her, rode with her, and sang with
her, and l did not intrlde myself upon
them at all Whether he noticed the
change or not am sure cannot tell. ]
know that found him watching me mar
rowly several times, while he was playing
so perfectly the gallant. bu, that was all.
Poor Cousin Ednah If she could only
have seen the trap that wus lying ready for
her unsuspecting feet, or ] might say as
well, stomach. But she did not, and 90 Il
was that she was caught NO
We were to have, one day TO speak in
plain. country psrlanco), :" a boiled dish =
lsuperintendod tho cooking Of Il. my
sclI and when Il was ready for the table,
nothing could have looked more tempting.
A. Ednah camo into the dining. room, and
her olfactorics took In tho savory smell, n
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