The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1876-03-31

tifal pictures upon the wall-. choice
flower. ablocm in graceful vnse', and
tho breakfast sablc, with II. array Of
china and silver, was itclf the perfect
picture which the artistic housewife
knows how IN evoke from chaos; but
not a face amid the group gathered
there, but wore sha e Of care and
annoyance. The father. leaning buck
IN his chair, toyed nervously with his
teaspoon, the mother, a slender, deli
cato lady, with pcnsive face, aud gem
tie brown cyes, now dim with tcars,
pushed aside the hardly tasted food,
and passing to the window, stood lost
in thought. while the daughter. the
cause, as usual. II the family trn,ble,
tapped the carpet impatien,ly with her
daintily slirpercd foot.
"Indccd, | must have II, rnpal" the
cSclaimel, drawing worry argument
IN closc; aud Mr.. Lynell. succumb-
ing at last to the inevitable. drew a
plethoric purse from his packet. and
placed roll Of bills in the tiny, out.
stretched hand, when, with kiss On
his furrowed brow and gny song ris-
ing to her lips. lena darced on, of the
room.
AZ tho echo Of her footsteps died
away. the mother crossed to her hus'
hands side, and smoothing the gray
hair back ,rnm his brow, said
Il am smry you yielded, Robert.
f,r il will only encourage Lena IN new
extrsvagancics. II seems to me thai
enc grows more wilful, more selfisl
anil hcartless, every day. l used to
think when we kept the little sh 7
down by tic river, and were 80 poor
90 very, very poor, that rich peopl,
did not know the meaning Of sorrow
but the fortune 50 coveted. has prov
cd q curse instead Of blessing; and
this sad morning it really seems to mt
that I would gladly exchange it for thu
peace and quiet happiness that were
ours in those carly days. God nm
swcrs our prayers sometimes. l think,
10 chow US how little We know Of ouI
own wants.
"You must not give up so, Lucia,
said the husbands calmsr voice.
-"I.cna is wild aud ihoughtIess, but
she is young, and we will hope for
better things. With such true, wis,
mother. l cannot despair Of her rcfor.
nation: and He who led Us in the day
of adversely. will not, I know. f'r.ake
.us in our time of worldly prel erity.
Meanwhile, Lena stood in her own
room before the mirror, trying the e..
feet Of various ribbons tha: Jay near
her. but whether the setting was o.
rose. or violet. or snow, the beautiful
picture framed therein, remained I'M.
changed. II was a lovely face thai
the r:irror reflected. and though II
proud. cold look. was dawning in the
once gentle eyes, and hard. defiant
lines settling around the once yielding
mouth. the vivid coloring and perfect
outline made It face, once seen. TO be
forever kept in memory. face full oi
strength and power. Left to her own
resomces, Lena Lyneu would have
fought brsvely, the battle Of lie;
wouli have proved the strcasih and
support Ut the weaker natures depend
ent upoa her. But the nature t,,ai
would have come forth ur,scorckeJ
from tho fires Of adversely had aoi
been able to withstand the clow Of
prosperity, aud living useless, aim
less life. with no higher ambition than
TO outshine her gay companions in ih'
gorgeousness Of her apparel. or the
acquisitions Of some new baubles. she
was growing daily cold. proud, and
nnwomanly.
Once indeed, in the months drifting
rapidly by. change had come over
her life. The touch of master hand
the glance of dark eye, the persu,.
sive accent Of loved vnice. hal WI
kenel new aims and ambitions 10 her
~orldly heart. had given her faint
glimpse IT n possible Z len.
But Gordon Gray. for some reason
Bnknoun to herself, and at the very
time when he had appeared mos, de
voiei and lover-like-how well she
reme@berel!-had gone away and for
gotten ler, and in the effort tn shake
Of the memories whose iunrfnl vibra-
tons maddcned her. Lena plunged It'll
deeper into the enguiphiug mael-trom
af fashionable life.
A few hours later. robed in rich ut.
tire. she. swept down the street on her
way To the jewelers.. In the little
country town which was her home,
there was not her equal for beauty OF
face. or grace Of firm--n f,ci ofwhich
The vas proudly cnnsciou'; AMI the
Looks of admiration that greeted her
from tho passers-by, Were delicipu,
food 10 her vanity, which was Jecnm-
log the controlling power VI her ma
ture Passing lonely residence on
refined street, her attention was arrest.
"a by rap On the window pane, aud