The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1867-03-22


tv. and that seemed to me to be allied
somehow to the creamy dusk of the
complexion which limited her mothers
Hindoo blood.
Not one in the house, but felt this
fascination pleasantly or otherwise. /,
though my child instincts taught me
to shun her, could not resist the silky
touch of her slender palm, the seduc-
tive cadence of her alluring voice.
My mother loved her less than any.
Some intuition of danger made her
maternal or wifely plumes ruffie on
the advent of the stranger; yet she too
succumbed to her magnetism so far,
as to permit her to remain with all the
privileges and immunities of a wei
come guest, long after she became
suspicious how treacherous and des-
perate was the nature concealed under
that lovely exterior.
Ny father and my brother King
were farthest Of all from seeing what a
fend looked out of the soft smiling
eyes Of this encl ntress
"Shc shall so, my mother had said,
stung TO that utterance by seeing my
brother King with his arm about
Zaras waist
Not half an hour before, cara had
kuelt beside my mother, with her dark
thrilling face appraised, and asseverat-
cd solomnly that the sentiment she
and King entertained for each other
was only such as brother and sister
might have. Coming suddenly upon
them, my mother had heard and seen
that which made the solemn asseyera-
ton q lie.
King was her darling and her pride
Besides my mothers nature was so
sincere and truthful, that the girls
falsehood strung her quite as much as
the fact she had denied
was the youngest Of the family,
younger than my years by reason of
my extreme diminutiveness. but really
older than my years by reason of a
certain precocity which the lovely life
we had mostly lived had induced l
was treated quite as a child. l was
little more, but l saw and felt much
that no one imagined me capable Of
We sat there, my mother and l, till
the early twilight had deepened into
night, and lights had been rung for,
but the two i'll the bay window sat
still conversing in low but inaudible
accents.
Ny mothers face grew darker and
darker, but she did not once turn her
head. | could see with only lift Of
my eyelash, and my glance scarcely
wandered from King and cara. They
sat with clasped hands and heads in
cIined to each other From time to
time | could see the furtive glance of
Zara's eyes as she lifted them to her
companions face in emphasis, OF stole
Il look at my mother.
Suddenly, without, a step was heard.
cara arose at once, and sauntered
across to us, where she stood careless
ly humming to herself, when my faith
en- came III.
His face frightened at the sight of
her, and she gave him a radiant smile
of welcome.
My mother had turned her glance
upon cara, from the moment of her
change Of places. She did not remove
it now, and her face flushed slowly as
my father came in.
We sat there rather quiet, till my
brother King growing weary of the
monotony, went out of the room.
Then my mother turned to my faith
err, and said, without glance toward
CARA
wilhelm, cara is thinking of leav-
ing us.
Leaving us ?"
My mother turned sharply toward
the girl Zaras eyes were downcast,
her face impassiye Not muscle be-
trayed that she had heard either ques-
ton or response. My father frowned
angrily.
what piece of nonsense is this,
Margaretta p
Ny mother flushed hotly, but she
spoke calmly enough:
Cara has concluded that it is about
time she visited her fathers friends.
| think so myself
"You think-I should like to know
" he began angrily, and stopped,
gnawing his lip in a manner that al
ways betokened in him extreme pas
sion. Then he crossed to cara and
put hand upon he shoulder.
DO you really want to so to those
friends you have never seen, child p
he said, in a curiously anxious voice.
My mother had risen and stood with
one hand upon the mantle piece. Her
face was white, and l could feel the
tremor in the other hand which clasp
eG mine, rs pressed close to her, hall
frightened at the still storm which
some intuition told me was in the
hearts of these three.
cara stood an instant silent, ther
turned, and with gesture of hal
wild, half childish abandon, caught IN,
fathers hand to her lips with bursI
Of kisses and tears.
81 never wish to leave you, sir, she
said, in her liquid tones.
"Then you never shall, said my
father, eagerly.
"AIargaretta -" But my mother
was already leaving the room. She
had wrenched her hand from mine a