The Morning herald., 1876-10-27
Etta's Hidden Wrongs.

Etta's Hidden Wrongs.
PARrI.
Montgomery Curtis was accounted
cky fellow when it became known thai
and Eta Pierce were engaged to b.
srried. That young Curtis loved Eta
ss a fact as apparent as the shining Of the
idsum.0er sun; and while many laughed
his righteousness about the affair, Etta's
raises became qualified by the wish thai
be would only be little more open. A
|ant of outspokenness vas Etta's chief
lult, and although she was dimly conscious
the failing, her efforts toward its efacine
ere of so desultory character that ii
cry often led her blindfoId dance, and
objected her to no little unhappiness.
A mutual friend of two, Ellen Gibbon
name, having come from the village
There Montgomery was born, to be book
Keeper in the firm where he was now EN-
ploped, he was tempted out of sheer fun t.
ease his betrothed, by often alleding to hi-
hildhood's companion in terms Of praise
Miss Gibbon had been about week it,
he counting-room, wheu Montgomery said.
usually, as he and Eta sat together in the
vening:
You cannot think what change there
in the counting-room since Ellen came"
"Indeedp' Eta looked up pleasantly.
eyes; she proves 10 be such lively,
witty girl, and yet so ladylike, that all the
clerks are in love with her"
'I always considered Nelly quite aimia-
ble," said Eta, more quietly.
"'Amiable' hardly expresses all her fas-
cinating powers" said Montgomery; ''tor
none Of us imagined that hours could pass
so quickly as they have done since she
came among u.s."
There was wicked twinkle in the young
mans eyes, as waiting in vain Tor some
comment on this last eulogy, he said:
"You don't answer me, Eta"
u have no answer to give" returned the
girl coldIy.
"Jealous?" he queried.
"0h, dea, no!' said Eta, proudly.
"Why shonId be jealous"
Why, indeed? Was not Ellen all that
be had called her? Yet Eta felt very
miserable as she went to bed thar night,
and wished that s. he had openly expressed
all that had been in her thoughts against
her lover. But, no! She thought he
ehoald never way that she was jealou, as he
Undoubtedly would if she spoke her mind
No silently nursing her wrong till it grew
to giant proportions, Eta at their ne Il
meeting greeted her lover with constrain-
ed manner, bordering on discourtesy.
"Why, what's the matter, Etta" was his
first question.
"Are you ill?"
"Not exactly: only headach,"
nient cloak for every ill humor!
Montgomery tried to say something
pleasant, but being answered in monosylla-
bles he soon began 10 find the time dull,
and said, in about half an hour:
" had an invitation to party this even.
ing, Eta, aud gave it up, because 1 would
rather pass the time in your company alone;
but as you are so sick l think l had better
Co. and then you can retire early. You
don't object to my going, do YOU"
Object? Oh, no! Eta would not think
o. such thing. So he went, and the silly
glrl had headache in earnest that night
Next day, as Eta was passing along a
narrow business street, she was slightly
startled by seeing Ellen Gibbon standing
IN narrow alley.way, talking to a man
whose snowy dress and extravigant display
" jewelry betokened him sport Of the
krstwater. Eta had only an instantaneous
glance at the couple, for Miss Gibbon no
sooner sSt eyes on her than she and her
companion parted, az with previous un-
derslanuing, md while the spor'ive gentle.
man lounged of, the girl came toward Eta
with great ef1usion and greeting. :,
"Why, Elta! My dearest bosom friend!
How pale you are! Are you wellT"
""Qnite we'll, thank you" co'dly..
mo one would think it, then, for you
are looking miserable. / expected 10 see
you at the party last night, but had your
eeau all to myself instead. we da"ced
together all night. and said lots OF ron.
sense to each other, and I told him that
When he married hoped he would get a
wife as merry and light.hearted as him,
sell, and he laughed. He's 50 pleasant u
say anything to him, you know; was al
ways his confident at home. lie told me
mat the firm where we are employed are
ABOUT to make him cashier; but don't ~
alm know that raid anything about IT, Tor
ne told me in strict confidence"
Eta grew red 10 the tips Of her pretty
cara, AID vestured sickly smile, which
aled away very suddenly As her glle co"'
panion ratified on. =,
And by the by, dear, if I were you !
would not let my beau be running around
everywhere without me, for it seems IKE d
sort :. Of insult to one, though know you ;' 70