Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1875-02-20

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youngest sister was married tha,
same year,, and to Johns two chill
dren, a charming boy and girl,
Miss Ada Ross measured mo &C
curately with her eyes. They ex'
pressed nothing but contemptuous
indifference until they lighted sud
denly upon a valuable diamond ring
1 wore upon one fingcr-a ring that
had once been chief of q rajah's
treasure Then she gave me puz'
zled look, asking. plainly as eyes
could do it, what poor uninvited
guest did with such a jewel as that !
She was a brilliant, rather than a
beautiful girl, with dark, flashing
eyes, fine face, and tall figure,
something like Ler mother. johns
two children resembled him.
just as we were going to dinner,
a young girl stole noiselessly into
the rOom--a girl who riveted my at.
tentiOn at once. She had a sweet,
sonsie face, fresh and fair, with clear
true eyes, and the most beautiful
mouth I ever beheld. No one ap
peared to take any notice of her 4;
no one spoke to her. She was plain
ly dressed. without any jewels or
ornaments but in my eye she was
peerless as a young queen.
had just time to ask John who
she was.
"The dearest and best girl in the
world" he said. hurridly; "my poor
sister Nellie's child. She is dead,
you know, ard Kate is living with
me. I will introduce her to you,
Paul."
He did so and I asked Miss Kate
Challis if 1 might take her down to
dinner. Poor child! l read such a
story in her sweet downcast face.
She trembled and flushed when Lady
Clara spoke to her, or came near
her, and seemed ovcrpowered at the
bare idea of Miss Ada Ross. l read
story of feminine oppression and
cruelty; l understood the girls
miserable position; the taunts she
received from Lady Clara, the envy
and jealousy of Miss Ross.
After dinner had Miss Kate all
to myself. No one seemed to think
l was worthy of much notice. and
no one seemed to care for her, al
though she was the prettiest. sweet
est girl in the room. People took
their cue from Lady Clara, who ig-
nored us both.
l cannot tell how it was that SO
quick and true a sympathy sprung
up between Kate and myself. Per.
haps because we both loved John
Fairlie so we'll; perhaps, because
we were both considered poor and
obscure. l know that night | dream
ed of Kate Challis; for the first
time in my life woman's face and
voice haunte me.
Christmas day was cold and snowy.
l went to church with Kate Challis
and John. Neither my lady or her
guests dare venture out in "such un-
seasonable weather."
That day, during dinner, heard
that my old house, Hylton Grange,
was for sale. resolved to purchase
it, for vague sweet dreams of wife
and home began to steal over me
I placed the matter in the hands of
my solicitor, telling him to keep my
secret, and not let the purchasers
name become public.
Lynedale Hall was in grand COM
motion. Her ladysbip decided that
the Christmas ball si,onld be given
on the thirtieth, and the whole place
was in fermeHt Of preparation.
Kate and spent many happy
hours in helping with the deeora-
tions, and twining the scarlet ber-
ried holly and shining laurel with
dark fir. We grew very friendly
over it, anil began to think that
such a face as hers smiling in my
home would m AXE it. like heaven to
me.
"I am so fond of dancing," said
Kate to me, one morning, 81 shall
eujoy this ball very much"
$50 shall l, il you will dance
with me, Kate" l said |; ''not with
,ut."
She half promised. Judge of my
when, two hours afterwards
[ met her in the grounds. her sweet
lace stained with tears.
"What is the matter, Kate 7"
cried. "You have been crying
Tell me what it is."