Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1873-05-31

care for me, don't you 2"
"Care for you, my own a thousand |
times better than myselfl" he answ cred |
fervently. But kept my face hidden In
case l might see my sister's bushes as
she let him rain down kisses on her.
" Alice, you will not dirt with Farqu-
har any more, my child Promise you
won't" be implored and any one could
have known how earnest he was by the
way his voice shook when he preferred
his request.
"No, Dick, WON'T. And If do, /
give you permission TO punish me by
leaving me forever" she exclaimed, with
so much more feeling in her tones than
she usually had, that / thoroughly be-
lieved In her assertion.
Then there was more embracing, inter-
mixed with endearing words and sud
denly he remembered that there was q
third party iu the room.
"What must she think Of all this 7''he
whispered audibly enough for me TO hear
him.
Nothing. l believe she Is sound
asleep, and has not heard word"
looked up and smiled trlumphantly,
and Alice fully understood that had
heen witness to her giving-in" to
Dick, a thing which she would never
allow she did but she did not flash out
as was her wont when vexed.
"Never mind II Is only Susan after
all, you know" she remarked lndi1er.
emily, as though | had been table or
chair and reseniing being treated as a
nonentity, rose up, and saying good
might" stalked out Of the room with my
head up In the air, but not before heard
my sister say "She is such a good
little thing, Dick put what a pity she Is
20 plain She will never feel the happi-
ness of being loved, as lido, Dick aud
am sure no one Will ever care to marry
poor Susan"
went slowly up the stairs with Alice's
words ringing In my ears, and dropped
OFF to sleep with heavy heart. Aud then
dreamed that / was Cinderella, and that
beautiful prince, In the disguise Of our
large tabby cat, had come to WOO me.
Christmas day broke In wet and dreary,
but passed off quietly between morning
and evening services and excellent fare (;
and on the following day Alice and were
up with the lark, and busy as bees In
preparation for our guests. There were
holly decorations with sprig Of mistle-
toe peeping out slyly here and there, and
wonderful barley-sugar castles and pas
try ramparts TO erect. Our education In
the domestic arts had not been neglected,
and Alice's dainty hands were as sklllful
as my own In the concoction OF savory
dishes. By the time the evening shadows
had fallen, and the only thing Visible
through the darkness was feathery snow
flakes hanging on to the garden rails and
the lea1ess boughs, the parsonage was a
blaze Of light, and my sister aud l,
| T. l.ae aff y IN
receive the company. Alice looked peer
lessly lovely that night. She wore a
black gauzy dress that aoated around
her in big, dark waves, and showed up
the purity and delicacy of her white neck
and shoulders, and into her bright hair
she had put some vivid scarlet berries,
woven into a wreath with deep-hued
glistening holly leaves. Her cheeks were
flushed, and her lips were red like cher
ries. As for mel plain muslin, whose
chief recommendation was It's freshness,
with some pale snowdrops In my black
hair, presented more comely appear.
anee than usual; and after had danced
once or twice, the color came into my
face, and Dick told me that was look
ing quite pretty. Young Mr.. Craven,
my faiher's new curate, seemed TO think
80 too, for whenever / sat out found
him beside me, and conversiDg of book
and music. The evening was very
/ pleasant one 10 me.
But about my sitter Alice.
Late in the evening Mr.. Farqubar ar
rived. My father had met him In tbl
T town, aud invited him and In all tn
, g.ory.of irreproachable toilette, he walked
/ into our modest room as though he fel
himself to be the graudee Of the party
and hated him more, because somehow
, he seemed to throw both Dick and MI
Craven into the ehade with his airs an
g graces. Still II was hard 10 blame hin
, for making my sister the object OF undis
c guisei attention, for, as said before, he
/ engagement to dick Oswald was Kept
= secret, according TO her expressed desire
| but Alice was certainly TO blame Tor &C
e ceptlng his devotion with sparkling eyes
( proud to display even to the Marshel'
: people her potency over the other SCI
Waltz after waltz, while Dick ashy pal
a and the picture of wretchedness, remain
ed in a distant corner, Alice, with Nj
Il Farquhar's arm enclrcling her waist an
e with his bold gaze upon her beautifr
n face, whirled past where he sat br
!. elated with her evident conquest, and 10:
iu love of admiration, my sister neve
"a as much as recollected the existence
v her afianced hush ind, until, as she wa
# walking past me, l touched her hand, an
re whispered "Dick."
IN where on earth is he 2" she whispere
n back but just at that moment Arthl
n. Farauhar spoke some compliment, an
diverted her attention, and saw DC
leave the room and rush into the gardel
=, and paepinQ out | watched him paein
ia mn and down the walk, Indifferent TO u
cold. Poor fellow, his heart beating ia
" kept him warm and circulated the bloc
p In his veins.
'u Al last the party was over, aud N
DR. Farouhar the last to leave, said Hinge
et Inc good-nigSt to Alice, who, In spite
I'd he 1eather. stood at the door. A pail
face out of the darkness witnessed q
nc leave taking and then, when my sist
ng and found ourselves alone she at Ia
5 HWhere is Dick ?" she asked In langu
co accents, but all the while she kept pu
ey ing on her glove hurriedly without bell
4 aware that pair Of eyes had never l'
pi' sight of her since her whispered adleu
-, the door. -,
IN, 81 am here !" said hard voice, a
oi what looked like a ghost OF Dlek OsWs
rushed quickly into the room, and selzl
Dy her hand, tore of the glove, revealing
it9 all It's beauty and brllliancy the baIe
sd diamond ring. Its lnstre danced oeft
Gu my gaze and slckened me. loaineu
nd cold bright stone, for II reminded me
he Arthur Farquhar's glance.
Ito GAIice. what does this mean 2" 0
ITO Dick. frantic with suspicion and lealea
or, crashed her hand so hard that she cri
'nu out from sheer pain.
Defant and angry at his violence,
9 lost ali self control.
10 nLt means that Mr.. Farqnhar gave
ehis ring, and that until be replaces
me bv one palmer but more binding, q
n.y. shall never leave my finger. ] ~
our horne with your jealousy and temper L
ent enough, Mr.. Oswaldj and the dismis
vou asked for the other day is grant
OBJ and have the honor TO Wish you go
req bye ., And she dropped him low co
! tesv with a mocking smile on her cur
lie lips.
~ ~ Dick dropped her hand and stared "
A'A 10 al her with dllated eyesI tll
49, without answering word, he que
ou nicked no his hat, which he had thro
uld IN the floor, aud walked out Of the hor
toe There was a dead silence Tor SC
ie,s seconds, whilst we could hear MS lr
All en- the garden walk that was crisp v
you spow, Then Alice suAtched the ring
,ve' her fuger and threw y with an ner 'ni
uh- 40 the farther end OF the room, and ~
en- inn herself into chair, buret into
!, ! nt OF Mysteries that would have dlstus
ara Inc neikhborhood II we had not 1--we
'itn rather an uut.oi the way spot. fta
., she w6Hrd rouse DIP my father, WI
health wab far from robust, thre'
ssawI ovef hdr and drew ber into
on 'sdvn, and inc coiq y. sss,.t,