The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-04-30


| grew strangely interested in it all.
What woman can keep her fingers out
of love affair when the chance is offer
Ell her?
One evening I went into our little
parlor, which had come into unwonted
use since the advent of our visitors.
The girls were sitting apart, as
though resolved to be unsociable in the
twilight hour that was fast closing
around us. Kate was busy with bright
worsteds, fashioning one of the pretty
nothings such as ladies delight to kill
time with.
She greeted me with "Tm glad you've
come" and, with glance at Bella,
"'Tis so horrid dull here, you know"
L made no answer, but looked to the
end window, where Bella was leaning
her head partly out. L could see her
thoughts did not take us in, or any Of
her present surroundings.
Kate exclaimed that she had "made
a mistake, and worked in the wrong
color for ever so far" Bella said, as
though brought back to the present
time by the words You are not the
first one who has done that"
turned to her ~ have known lives
to be entirely changed by a false color !;
were you thinking of that? ?"
She replied indifferently: "No, there
is no need, women do not die of broken
hearts nowadays, and mans life is not
so easily wrecked, that is, if it is worth
anything. I'll risk them"
She stopped, held, perhaps, by my
look, though she could only have felt it
through the gathering darkness.
I asked We're you going to add,
that you will risk the consequence of
the wrong colors you have been weav-
ing into your own and another's life?'
Her head dropped upon her arm.
Kate called to her "not to NOPE, but
to bring her chair close to us.
There was no answer so turning to
me, Kate said "You are my last
refuge, the daylight has failed me,
Bella refuses to be comforted, so I am
left on your hands. Will you tell me
what you have been dreaming about
since you came in.
She sat down on the carpet by my
feet and laid her head in my lap. How
it came about could never tell, but I
opened my heart to that child, read her
page after page of my life, turning the
leaves backward for while, then
breaking off abruptly, commenced at
the girlish years, and showed her the
Joy, love, doubt and despair which had
left me the silent. gray-haired old maid
of thirty-fve, that was foolish enough
to review all this to q chit like her.
The short curls under my hands were
wet with tears which had somewhat
welled up with my recital, but twas
Bella's arms which were around my
neck, and her lips touched my fore
head in mute sympathy.
L felt strongly comforted by their love
tand caresses, but begged them not to
worry about me, for there was long
distance between those early dreams
and the prosaic now; only I prayed
that they might never let pride or dis
trust come between them and the one
they might some time love as had once
| loved.
I assured them my life had not been
altogether bare none need be, held,
unless they so willed it themselves.
"But, Jennie" )" and the little head
nestled close to my neck, "you said
'once loved ; don't you love him now ?
Wouldn't you ask him to forgive the
past if you could see him again ?"
Her words startled me. Child"
answered, "you know not what you
say. He has forgotten me, and another
woman holds the place was not worthy
| to fill. 1t would be a sin for me to love
him now."
"But you do, Jennie" she whisper
ed, "just little, you know you do"
"God help me, Kate, for I am weak
and sinful.
The daylight had retreated, and we
could not see each other, only could
feel how clouded over were the bright
young faces.
When they kissed me " Good night, "
Kate had recovered her cheerfulness,
and bade me to be of good courage, for
all sorts OF miracles were in her line,
and her faith was equal to the moving
of mountains.
AS I took down my hair that night, L
felt again the touch of those hands
which had loved to caress it in those
vanished years, and in my dreams there
came face and voice which were Won
derfully like Bella's, and yet sterner
and masculine. ......
With one excuse and another, the
girls drove me from the kitchen and
almost from the house for the week that
| followed.
They took possession of everything
the windows and high post-bedsteads
were draped with the long unused white
curtains, with their netted and tasseled
fringe. I heard aunt tell them that
she had put them by in case of fu-
neral.
How Kate's merry laugh rang out
upon the air. "You dear old fudge OF
an aunt, do you know I have brought
with me the immortal bloom of youth
talk to me of weddings and births, but
not of the tomb"
Aunt began lecture upon the uncer-
tainty of everything here below, but
Kate threatened to leave her if she
didn't desist, and added, "You know
what you would be if should withdraw
my magic why, they would have to
tuck you up in that bed and give you
gallons of herb beer. Don't you know
what bed-rldden, forlorn old woman
you were when I came, and just see
what have done for you p She caught
hold of the old lady and made her
dance across the room, humming to her,
Where's my little dog, he will know
if this is l." 2 EJLT
Uncle laughed yes, though I fancy
it must have been painful, such an un-
wonted movement of the muscles. u
The house beeam e bright with ever.
greens and flowers. Allthe quaint, old
dishes came into sight and were made
=