The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1871-12-06

: waited mental resources, and depende
less upon the companionship and al
proval of others.
"Dear mel" sighed kind Aunt ETH
erington, 81 only hope our Barbar
isn't growing strong minded. If sh
should turn public lecturer or artis
or authoress, I really don't know hoy
1 could stand il"
"Let her alone, mother" said Earn
est. Gail girls have to undergo
transition state, and always though
there was more than common in littl
Barbara. If she wasn't so ugly,
really should get interested in her.
always did like to study character"
"Well," said Mrs. Etherington du
biously, "she isn't handsome, but fo
all that 1 don't know how I coult
spare Barbara"
81 don't love him." said Barbar.
Moyle Immediately to herself, '.but
shall accept him. L want to prove t.
Earnest that there is some one wht
thinks me not absolutely frightful."
A dangerous experiment, Barbara
and thus many woman wiser thar
you has lived to repent. Marriages
from pique are the marriages which
supply divorce courts with sorrowful
tales and blighted hearts.
But Barbara confided her secret
sentiment to no one, and Mrs. Ether
ington wrote long account to Earn
est, now lounging among the ruins ot
Pompeii and Herculaneum, of what a
brilliant match Barbara was about to
make. Earnest wrote back con-
gratulatory letter, and sent lovely
set of pink Neapolitan coral, which
Barbara never once put on. Colonel
Aliston made an "old mans darling
cf her, and she had no lack of brilliant
jewels to wear.
Aud yet Barbara was miserable
"Child," said Mrs. Etherington one
evening, as she sat IN the room which
Mrs. AIlston had just entered, dressed
for a party, in cream coiored silk and
diamonds, "do you know how you
have changed during the past year? 1
never in my life saw such an altera-
ton in any one
"Have II" said Barbara, indilfer
emily. Yet, as she looked in the glass.
she could not help but sec it herself. l."
81 wonder if Earnest would think
me ugly now?" she said, striving to
speak lightly, but with u concealed
tremor in her voice.
"Uglv!'' echoed Mrs. Etherington,
"why, Barbara. you are beautiful!'
She was. The large features were
in harmony now with the rest of the
face, the complexion had cleared to a
creamy softness, with roses blooming
on her cheeks and carnations on her
lips; the nut brown hair drooped in
satin wakes on either side of her head,
and the large wine dark eyes were full
of shadowy, mysterious depths, be,
meath fringed lids. Yes, Barbara saw
that she was fair to look upon, and
her woman heart rejoiced within her.
As she turned, stately and jewel
decke6, like an oriental Sultana, she
saw that stranger had entered the
room announced, and stood as if root
ed to the floor, close to the door way.
eyes, L am Earnest Etherington," 3"
he answered, shading his eyes, as if
dazzled by some over bright vision"
"But pardon me; 1 was told my cous-
in Barbara lived here"
Mrs. Etherington started to her
feet.
Earnest, it is possible that you
don't know cousin -
The dimples came to Barbara's
cheeks, the radient softness to her
eyes; this was a triumph worth hav-
ing She advanced with gracious
Il am Barbara"
And she saw in his eyes the marve
lous changes wrought Ivy the inscruta-
BILE old alchemist, Time.
That night when Barbara came
home and sat before her mirror, un-
diamond, fillet and bracelet,
and loosening the dusky waves of her
superb hair, and saw the peaceful face
and white hairs of old Col. Allston
on the pillow beyond, she put her
hand suddenly to her heart. Was it
a sudden pang? was it remorse? or
was it consciousness, all too, of the
mistake she had made? Did she dis.
cover then, for the first time, that she
owed Earnest Etherington all these
years, and that at last he was her cap
i've?
Rising softly, she crept across the
velvet piled carpet, and knelt silently
beside the pillow. pressing her ripe
ed lips against the scattered iron gray
ocks.
81 never othught of this she pom
Tered. "No; L never dreamed what
night come to me when l beheld him
,nce more. But oh my husband,
manly and tender, from whose lips l
lever yet heard an unkind word my
loble, loving guardian and protector,
will be true to theep
And Barbara's vow was registered
n the high heaven above.
When she walked the next morning,
he servants were tapping at her door |
nth confused utterance and white
rightened faces ,
"Master had fallen in fit or some
hing"
He had not begun to drink his cof- !
ee at the solitary breakfast, which j
7as his usual habit, when his features a
Few rigid, and he fell from his chair, /
cad.
And before the sunset of the short ;
inter day redeemed the West, Bar v
ara was free.
n year afterward. when she stood q
the altar 3 second time, her hand r
| that Of Earnest Etheringtop, it c
'emed as if her past life had been h
ut a dream-as if she were now be- '
nning to exist for the first time in h
ality. n