Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-12-26

WheTe MIS- GORDON sat knitting, al uncOusci-
Gus OF the slight put upon her son. / could not
hear her reply-it must have been something
10 the purpose, for her ladyship, rising, left the
room With more dignity than usual; aud that
was Der last call during my mothers life.
Three years passed. we heard regularly from
Hugh, but IN some vague way his letters seemed
70 me more Ike messages from another world.
DE was prospecting, he said-nOt 50 quickly as
be had hoped, but better than most men ont
there.
The three years passed like dream; there
was in them but little change or VariatiOn;
none Of US seemed to alter but my sIstsr Ga
rice, and she grew so fair and lovely, that we
were all IN marvel of wonder. Tnen my
mother died. All mol cannot wrtts of 18th at
pain has never leSsened and never will-Ony
He who reads the secrets of all hearts knows
what lost in losing my mother. Dying, she
gave Clsrice TO my care. was II then, AMI she
had reached her 1ith year.
great CLOUD OF gloom fell over our once hap
py hOmei IL y as SD strange, so unuLterably sad
to see Mrs. Gordon in our mothers place. She
was very kind and gentle; she loved Us, and We
repaid her stfectiOn-but II was 50 different,
My little sister was not SO lonely, for I was as
mother to her. After TINS she asked me to
let her 60 AWsy 20 school, ana 1 Jill 50. l seut
her for fur years TO MG1Sm- Ur,lni's. one OF
the best schools in Eng liant; she was thirteen
when she went, and she was not TO return lat
Sh6-as children sdy-.'C4ne Jla- for gDJ T."
Hugh did not return when the fgur Years were
Ovtr-''he was HOt rich enou IA, - ne sIi an
the dreary tirIe OF waiting ssc.Ic! - besIi
again.
CsAPTEE II.
Three months before tEs timo appointed To-
my sisters recIrE home, the yoIuE l5s.Ua8t ) T
Gerald Maybe, csm5 D. aga. TlcEe va. -rea,
rejoicing at Beech am GJUTt-a series az -9leu-
dld balls, dinners, and other entertainments. I
Wa invited 10 >Jner 5at Il 5Ttr V sat. do could
i ca . flT misc and laughter, when no nhOm /
loved 50 well WIS tar away
ILa whole n=igdbOTdJot seemed 70 rejoice;
and amongst other rum rs c-trt a3S 4uxi,uS
Lady Horton OF Riye-Stlle was . N 4TrV one Of
her daughters to taC young heir OF B5schan.
1nSy were tan, shO ~ looking ;ir.s, with tine
complexion ard dark hair-c1li, ELEGANT eAsy
AID self possessed. They ns7er s5eJnsd t. have
sny natui al impulses, but u DO and say every
tnIrg as their mother dictated . Edcy were con-
sldeTei acCOmp Ished. aud ikc1 WITH I cert Aiu
amount OF bTilliaucy when they met anyone
wgTtn talking to. L am bound TO ssy tn At the
young ladies never wasted many words ia
those days upon me.
saw Sir Gerald u Iyn9 az church, and looked
at bin with some curiosity. HIS lady mother
might well be proud OF him. L never saw
more handsome Or NOBLE looking man, his face
was CleaT-Cut, proud and true, WITH an indie
fnab.e charm for which I can find no words
Truth, honor. and honesty shOne 10 his clear
eyes; his lips were well arChed and sensitiy We.
yet 1t struck me, in boxing at him. tnat he
could be in some things easily led, in others
hTIn and unyielcing "a a rock. How little |
thought then OF ChaL Sir Gerald Mayns would
one day DC 10 me-
Every one spoke OF Lady Mayns's great 1--we
for her son: she lived in his life; sne seemed
TO have 10 hope, Id Tish, no d-s're, lat was
not conferred in him, and ne repaid her by a
chlvaIrOus TeTeTential affection that was bsau-
uful TO witness.
remember asking one day if Lady Mayne
would be pleased II her son married one OF the
Misses Horton; and the friend to whom | was
speaking said that her laiyship would never
oppose her sons wishes, let him marry whom
be would; but at tue same time she did nor
believe that Lady Mayne thought any girl OF
woman in England good enough for her son.
Before the excitement and gsiety had all died
away, Clarice came home. 4 never was SO
startled in my life as when she stood On the
threshold OF the door tn at June evening. She
had been lovely child, but then fair angelic
children sometimes grow up into plain woman.
Her loneliness now was something wonderful /
Slsh 4 could describe her ~ saw her in the
flush OF the golden sunset. Her face was fair as
lily, a faint flush like that in the dssp heart
OF arose-u nged her cheeks, her sweet lips were
{ milling and yet half proud, the vio,et eyes were
wonderfully, beautifully bright, and clear, with
aTched brows and long siIken lashes IT WAS
such face as one sees in grand Old pictures
lar and angelic, sweet aud spiritual. Her long
golden hair, our poor mothers greatest pride
hung IN beautiful "aVing lines. She gladdened
my heart as | saw her.
Her manners were Just as sweet and graceful
as her face, always winning aud cheerful; and
she hsd most musical voice and lauZh-a
laugh that rang out like sweet low chime
She had no great gilt Of Inteiiect-my darling
was not what one would call a stro9g minded
WOInan-but she had quick. bright fancy, a
pretty, playful Wit, bright, sunny words, and
pure, graceful thoughts. She was essentially
gentle and wOmaEly, full OF sweet girish poetry
with the kindest and most loving heart in the
world.
How old and worn / felt By her side, never
ssddenCd her bright face by sps 4king OF NV
fears for Hugh, yet three days after her arri7s!
the second nail came il that brought no letter
from him.
ClaTice was like a sunbeam in the house; il
seemed strange ~ US solitary women to hear
the music OF voice ard song, ID see the golden
cad ana the graceful Lgure-ws TO whom love
and hope and youth Wers things OF the past.
CiaTlce came 10 me one day with q pleading
lace. There was to be a grand bali at Beecham:
sif the county were going, snd Mrs. Ruthers
begged that We would both accompany her. L
Ooxed at the child in horror; what should [ do
~ ball: ''My heart was over the sea-" trou.
bic and sorrow were my constant companions;
but the sweet face looked so wistful, the bright
lender eyes pleaded so silently and So elo-
luently, that L could not refuse. Why should
shadow the child's life with my sorrow? She,
With her youth and beauty, must have amuse-
ments.
l consented, and her pretty Joy was pleasant
% see-She overthanked me with thanks and
caIesses.
- shall be so happy, Laura" she cried; "I
have been longing for the last two years to 90
10 real ball. You will enjoy 1t. too-every one
going. How shall wait until the evening
comes ~
i could not afford an elaborate toilette for nv
darling, nevertheless 1 exceeded our means by
The purchase OF a soft flowing white silk. had
zone magnificent lace that had belonged to my
mother, together with a pearl necklace. She
1aG no other OrnamentS-n0 rings on the white
'lender fingers, no bracelets on the rounded
exquisite ANN. But, when she was dressed, ami
me rich lace arranged Spanish fashion around
her, thought nothing so dainty or 80 beautiful
had ever been seen.
Did think wha. q foil | was to her radiant
Oveiness, in my plain Sober cOlOred dress AMI
pale worn face, worn with the tears IA shell
N the silence of night for my lost, distant lover,
Hugh Gordon?
Squire Ruthers called for US in his carriage.
he was chained with Clarice, and leased her
ali the way about the COnIuests she would make,
despite tie warnings OF his sensible wife, who
objected that she was too young yet TO think OF
such nonsense.
The first person 1 met in the pretty ballroom
v a. Lady Horton. Her daughters were elabo-
rately attiTed-they had sweeping satins and
cCstly jewels ,.maryelOus pleatings and ribbons
ard laces, VET tue general effect seemed TO be
heavy and OyeT-wrOught.
Toe yCung barOnet was with them, talking to
ADELAIDE Horton, the youngest, and, some
thought the pTettieT Of the Ri Tersdsle girls. H.
do not observe our party ST first, but q few
minutes aite- wards, when Squire Ruthers LED
C.arics up the room, he caught sight OF her,
and shall never forget the startled expression
Oh his face. he pOlUted her ont to Adelaide
Horton, and evidently asked who she was, for
that young lady shrugged her shoulders in a
way that implied both ind Ference and con-
tempt. IL Gid not yex me-my dar,ing's triumph
" as zone the less great. Men looked with daz-
Zled eyes on her graceful lOvelntss; yet no
flush OF gratifed vanity moved the sweet, mol