The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1875-12-02
A LIFE'S REGRET.

LIES REGRET.
am the Youngest of three sisters-NIar-
garet, Louisa and Helen. the last-named
being of course myself. We reside in a
NortonFolgate, and from all appearances
lives pursuing what strangers would sup.
pose the calm and even tenor of color.
less existence.
Our income, though small, ADMITS OF
our keeping two domestics; and when we
pay visits, which at rare intervals we dc
to some OF the county families, we jointly
subscribe and charter close" carriage
which enables US to make our calls with
something like dignity. Not that my TIVE
elder sisters are lacking in that respect,
for they never, either sleeping or waking,
believe, forget that our late father was
descended from an ancient and honorable
family, and that the name of Howard
which we bear, is derived from source
which, even though it does not acknowl-
edge us, is ours justly, and on the tree
which testifies to our pedigree our rela-
tionship is clearly set forth. Our late moth
er could also boast of gentle blood, so that
on both sides of the house our connections
were undeniable.
In addition to those advantages, ma
turc had not been unkind to us-indeed,
in our younger days we had had our own
share of admiration, and the three Misses
Howard had on many occasions been pro-
nounced the best-looking girls. at the
numerous ball: which, chaperoned by our
mother, We used regularly to attend Our
admirers were not few, and We were al
ways engaged for every dance whenever
we went; but there to all appearance 1t
ended, for, after more seasons than care
to record, none OF us were married. Plain
er girls by far, even penniless ones,
in due time made their appearance,
had an interval Of gayety and then
announced their enga gements, which duly
ended in marriage, and they would return
in all the dignity of matronhood to patron
ize and remind us in more ways than one
of the gulf that separated our unappropri-
ated selves from them and their "posi-
ton as married women. At first it was
not so CALLING, but by and by l began to
feel it keenly, and to long-as every
woman does sooner or later-for ties of
my own; but my longings were not to be
gratiied, for the one hateful reason that no
ordinary man was supposed to be good
enough to mate with "a Howard, - though
one degenerate descendant dared to wish
it could lie otherwise.
By degrees it became known that we
were hard to please, and though it was
true enough of Margaret and Louisa still
I felt so differently from them on the sub
ject that it was rather hard to be included
but was "a Howard" and SO had to
pay for my privilege.
Margaret was seven years my senior,
and Louisa five, consequently I was &C.
customed to being considered quite child
until l had attained the ripe age OF
twenty five, when an event happened
which, but for my precious pedigree,
might have changed the color of my whole
existence.
We had received Limitations to ball
given by a certain Lady Aylmer, who al.
ways made a point of asking us to her en-.
tertainments; and, though l was beginning
to be very weary of gayeties, to decline was
out of the question so, after some delibera-
ton as to our attire, etc., an acceptation
was sent and when the evening arrived,
we, accompanied by our mother, crushed
ourselves into hired carriage and set out
for Aylmers Court.
We were received as usual, most cord
tally; and after few dances were over
became conscious of the presence of a
gentleman who seemed to regard me with
some interest. He was very nice looking
man of about thirty, rather fair, and with
a small mustache slightly inclining to
red. He was not tall, neither was he very
short; his figure was good, and he had a
soldier-like look about him which rather
admired
As usual, was we'll supplied with part.
ners, and when.Lady Aylmer approached
with the individual l have just described
and introduced him to me was very
glad l had spare dance still left, fol
which he at once engaged me.
l did not catch his name when Lady
Aylmer brought him up, and when my
eldest sister inquired who my new &C
quaintance was 1 could only say he was
Capt Somebody; fancied Bruce was the
name.
"a good name," remarked Margaret;
Il daresay he is relative of Lord Bruce"
But was doomed to undeccive her
shortly, for on addressing him as Capt
Bruce he smiled and told ME his name
his name being Bebb.
Bebb, thought-what funny name!
However, it did not prevent my thinking
him very pleasant, and being secretly
glad when he told me he was quartered
al NOIOu-I OASotO AOA cOAO AnOuIAS W
come. -
To he brief, after several meetings, Capt
Bebb, whose name had transpired in my
family y, began to pay me marked attention
but although in my inmost heart liked
him, still was we'll aware that for a
Howard to ally herself with Bebl
would be regarded as an impossibility by
my family. .-
He came to call-endeavored to ingra.
tiate himself with my mother and sisters
sent me bouquets, books, music, and, in
fact, did all he could to show his prefer.
ence, which in my heart of hearts 1would
fain have shown was mutual. But how
could I? My sisters, alarmed by my EVIL
dent leaning toward him, instituted q sys-
tenn of ridiculing him which, had he only
family guessed, would, felt sure, have
prevented him from ever again entering
our house.
His personal appearance was stigma
tized as the most vulgarthat had ever been
seen; his hair, which. was really brown,
was always alluded to as carrots, and
a shuddering tit frequently overlook
Louisa, as she described the horror she
had experienced when, on one fatal &C.
casion, he had shaken hands with her,
and his hot, clammy clasp had almost
given her q fit.