The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1876-04-07

|
ly saturated with eau-de-cologne to-
battle my temples.
81 dare say am a superstitious old
fool. A woman Of sensitive nature,
however well educated, is apt to be-
come so i'm constant contact with the
sick and dying, and ! have dread
amounting TO horror of any reference
TO my young days. l know ii bodies
calamity. And it's no use arguing that
at fifty one ought to be prepared for
such contingencies. l shut my early
memories, rs il were, in a dark, deep
vault, but il any one suddenly opens the
trap-door they come trooping up 10
oyerpower and threaten me-"
This l said when the faintness had
passed, and l saw that, notwithstand-
| ing her gentleness and courtesy, Mrs.
| Chappell withdrew and stood grandly
aloof, as from one convicted by that
very attack Of bearing the seeds of in
fictitious disease in her own person. Nor
did my voluntary explanation dissipate
| the impression.
But though futare dealings might de-
pend on fair understanding now,
however communicative might be in
other matters, was not disposed TO
open to strangers the two-locked doors
l had closed on my secrets for SO many
weary years.
| A quick shower of rain, for which
was unprepared with either umbrella or
waterproof. detained me in the shop,
whilst it kept customers out; but the
hair-dealer had become coldly reserved,
and had half resolved TO risk spelling
my black silk dress and bonnet rather
than 10 remain under sufferance, when
my glance rested on the rare mouse
colored tress still lying exposed on the
counter-case.
That cleared the was to reassure her.
Pointing to it began:
~ have said the natural owner of
that beautiful crown, who wears a
brighter one now, died of decline. |
think should give another name to her
malady."
There was something, hardly curl,
on Mrs. Chappell's lip, as she sarcast-
ically added:
"And so should l."
Taking no note of this / leaned
towards the counter and continued
81 should call il Broken Heart y"
" indeed"
Mrs. Chappell's attention was ar
rested, and her whole demeanor
changed
" Yes. / saw Miss Royle for the first
time at the house of West End draper,
where there was christening, and she
stood godmother, and thought | never
saw more buoyant, beautiful creature
in my life. She was all smiles, dimples,
and vivacity, as though her world was
perpetual sunshine.
"Her pale mauve dress was light and
airy as herself, and admirers fluttered
around her Ike so many butterflies
One-Mr. Varey's portly partner (who
must be forgiven forgetfulness of his
dead wife, he had been so long widow
ed)-made his joint sponsorship a pre-
text for keeping close to her side and
looking thunder-storms at younger de-
voices.
"Nurse is always an important and
privileged person on such occasions,
and must have closed my eyes not to
have observed, since she, proud of her
newly assumed prerogative, kept her
self in perpetual communication with
me.
"It was Mrs. Marbury, will you let
Mrs. Berry see the baby's robe?' Mrs
Marbury, be kind enough to step this
way; Mrs. dollhouse will not admit that
the baby's eyes are blue; = and the sweet
est smile imaginable repaid me for my
compliance.
"She was seated on rich, rep-cov-
cred settee, with her face to the door,
and |, with the sleeping infant in my
lap, was installed beside her, answering
a very flood of questions about babies,
with reference to that particular baby,
when the gentlemen came in from the
drawing-room, and with them a tall
stranger, who was no stranger to me,
Mrs. Chappell.
"Miss Royle was talking to me very
soberly at the time:
"sYou see, Mrs. Marbury, know less
about little children than the generality
of girls of nineteen. l had no sisters.
My own mother died before was short
coated, and my dear father, Captain
Royle, was killed during the Indian
mutiny, when was nine-year-old
schoolgirl at Hampstead. My guardian
is fusty old bachelor barrister, living
in chambers, who only seems to remem-
Der me periodically, when receive my
dividends; and though / still cling to
the school where was educated, and
occasionally render assistance TO Mrs
Gray, with whom continue to board,
a baby is almost as strange an animal
to me as young opossum would be-
" / listened as attentively to the early !
orphaned young lady as you are doing
to me now, Mrs. Chappell, whilst she
went on TO say:
go You see, Mrs. Marbury, the solemn
promise I have made at the font to-day
is great undertaking for girl so situ-
ated and ignorant as I but / am desir-