The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1869-11-26

my s1ater-1n-laW persuaded me TO come
here to try the benefit of the fresl
lconntfY air.
We drove out often together, and
once we came upon one OF those fresh
green lanes where the incident I have
described took place.
That, said my eister-in-law, us
looked out ut the cottage, is tho resi-.
dence Of Mr.. Lcayitt. Quite II roman.
tic history is connected with his second
marriage oh, / forgotP
She stopped in confusion.
The late Mr.. Vincent was your cous.
imp
But how, said ], wondcringly, did
Mr.. Leayitt purchase this farm?
understood he was poor clerk. ]
Isappoaed he remained ia Chat position
lnlwaysY
No; his uncle died about the time
OF his first marriage and left him thia
place. Hc was hard, avaricious man,
/ believe, and had never taken any no.
tice OF lis relatives in his lifetime
ii Rachel had only waited ! thought.
| felt curious to see her; bat did not
know how to crafty my interest. An
odd chance helped me. / chose this
direction for our drives often. This
was not singular, for, as / have told
You, the landscapes about there were
very beautiful. One day an accident
happened to our carriage IN this very
spot-ono OF the wheels gavo way; the
fastening, | think, had got loosened, /,
and VIC were compelled to alight.
Fortunately, VIC were ut TINT mo
Inent walking our horses, and they did
not take fright / light spring show
cr vas beginning to fall, aud cur con-
.dltlon was not very agreeable.
Mrs. Icayitt came out of her cot
tage, and with grateful hospitality IN
vited me 10 enter. She did not Deem
to remember me perhaps tiiaa and
sorrow had changed my face, or, most
likely, she did not desire to renew orr
old acquaintance.
It was a homely farmhouse, but
could not but notice the exquisite or
der and symmetry which peryaded It's
humble appointments. 4 vase of
white and red roses OF the table, cyi-
IDENTIFY fresh cullcd from the little gar
den beneath the windows, brought up
the strange morning Of the discovery
Of her fret marriage with startling dis
tincines8.
I looked at her rs she sat entertain
ing her guests. with very nluch OF her
old ease. Hee dark hair now tllickly
threaded with gray vas parted smooth
IS back, and her eyes wore n look OF
serene content, such as ! lad never
seen IN them in the old days. 4 slight,
pretty girl, evidently step-daughter,
came IN her face, too, wore a cheer
ful look.
Very plainly Rachers declining years
were batter, much truer, happier, than
any other part Of her life had been. ~
looked back Of her when so lad
parted from her. mud saw her standing
IN the door, where she had received
our thankful adieus.
COULD her portrait have been taken
at that moment 10 stand side 10y side
with this, you would see the fruit Of
the lesson she Was only learning when
the painter made it. /"
"And she never lad any REGRETS for
her old fortunes 2" said Jane. ''Wcu.
/ am glad she was happy at last. Now
cofne to look clearer ut this painting,
/ think it is not On everyday face the
eyes have II world OF thought. Poor
Rachel how much she must have suf-
fered but how fortunate to be able to
retrieve her mistake ut last.
"Yes, said Mrs. Burgess, cit was
n good fortune, which falls to very few
in this world. We generally have to
bear the penalties OF so great mis-
take Us this through the rest of our
lives"
The sun broke suddenly from the
clouds, still dripping with rain, and
shone in tho chamber, finging .
mournful glory around the portrait.
The dark eyes seemed to kindle, the
sorrowful lips to curve into q smile un-
der its rays The little group gazed
upon it with deep interest, the same
thought stirring silently in the hearts
of each Every human life has q his
tory"