The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1876-04-08

mo. made inquiries. | learned that
the husband of my dear school friend
whose death l mourned had married
AGAIN. and had chosen for his second
wife widow with two children, the
elder being the heroine of to-night's
fetc. Where is Fidelia, ! asked, the
charming little daughter of the Kings
lands, the interesting child of whom early
letters of my friend gave me such agree
able advice?' 'She has grown to be n
woman, they answered, and she IS kept
n captiye in her own house must
see. | cried, this captive Mt once.
81 came, and availed myself of doors
opened to guests. From the dressing
room | found my way with difficulty.
1t was child-a visitor, L imagine
who conducted me up stairs to the last
fight. Shining of light through the
crovico of your door guided me the rest.
Now, my child, speak to me freely as to
Your own heart There as notting so con-
soi;,,g as n .fi'iend. Tell me why you
suffer and what you wish"
q suffer" said Fidelia, without the
slightest reserve or distrust because
am a mothcrless girl. No one loves
me. have no right-indeed, l often
feel so 20 be in the world And wish
it is easier to say why l suffer than
what | wish-I wish to be happy and to
he loovd'
The BRIGHT little lady listened atten-
| lively to this speech. She sighed once
or twice, but at last seized fidella's
hand warmly, and with bright smile,
said:
my dear, YOU shall have your wish.
Do not fall into despair; keep your faith
in life. | shall help you; | know how.
| Tomorrow | continue my journey, but
any day after a fortnight You may look
for my return. Then | shall send Tor
you to visit me. Keep courage ; sunny
days come TO all; they will come to you.
And now kiss me, if you like, my child,
and good night.
Fidelia bent down from her Iueenly
hight to kiss lovingly the strange little
lady whom an hour ago she had not
| known to bear an existence in the world.
She lightet. her guest along the pas
sage; blazing lustre below showed plain
| " enough the descent. Then she re-
turned TO her own room, and having I'M
dressed and said her prayers with com
fortcd heart, lay down in her bed, and
the dance music lulled her to sleep.
When at dawn she awollc. her expe-
ricncc Of the evening seemed like n
dream. Nor could she by such inTni-
ries IA she ventured 10 make. learn
ANYTHING of her guest. A fortnight
passed: three weeks; q month. On the
last day Of the month she received Il
note:
My Dr.r CHIrp;--Come and spend the day and
night win ,ne at The hotel Two Isles have oh
famed your fathers permission t" extend to yon this
! request. Your mother friend'
"NAsNErTE hicARp.
On no more unpropitious day could
the note have been sent. AS if Fate
had docreed that Madame Hicard should
visit this special town only on its days of
unusual excitement there was this time
a grand ball to he given in honor Of II
distinguished citizen and not merely
was the whole place in II fcrmcnt, but
each house had its share of excitement,
the kinGsla.nls' not the least.
The citizen whom the ball honorod
was ii young soldier. Colonel Darrell,
whose labitual bravery had been made
famous by an act Of vaior. The war
having ended, he was commissioned to
go abroad On an important diplomatic
service. He possessed the hearty appre-
citation of his townsmen; and although
lie had Iwclt but briefly in his native
place. yet rs lie was fine looking man,
with aiiable manners, and, moreover,
the largest landowner in the county,
he had the happiness to possess the
| GOODWILL of his townswomen.
The feminine regard was heightened
by an appeal to compassion. Edgar
Darrell had met with a sad misfortune.
While still in his boyhood he had lost
by one night : tragedy both his parents.
A fire, quickened by a tempest, had at
tackled his homestead and burned 1t to
the ground. His mother, an invalid,
persisted in the flames; his father, drag
| ged from the burning building i'll an
unconscious state. survived his wife but
few DAYS. Their only heir inherited
the estate encumbcred with his lifelong
grief.
You surely will not be SO hcartless
as to leave your sisters to-day?' said
Mrs. Kingsland to Fidelia, when the
! import of Madame Ricard's note reached
her. I" Your father, man-like, forgot
all that must be done to make your sis
ters presentable tonight. For once in
your life you can be Of use. The Paris
ball dresses, only this morning arrived,
require stitches and tact to make them
/ fit"
Fidelia sighed in spirit, but. schooled
to self-sacritice, uncomplainingly re-
manned. Conscientiously all day she
piled her needle and exercised her taste.
Her arrogant step-sisters did not hest
tate to wreak upon her at once demands
for her service and contempt for her
servile state.
1t was evening Wien. hooded and