The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-05-31
she asked. ~ am his sister Ora. from New

4
Orleans"
don't remember how I welcomed her, but I
threw open the drawing-room door, and she
entered and dropped into a seat.
"Where is Roscoe2 II have come to stay
with you," she s. id, her face pale as ashes.
l took vague alarm at her ppearance hut
1 erdeavored to speak usual.
You are tired-il. Lay Off your wraps and
let me get Won glass of wipe.n
l went across the hall to the china closet.
When came back she lay i'll dead faint upon
the floor.
Roscoe had gone out of town, and did not re-
turn until evening. had had Ora taken to
room next mine and put to bed. She was a
mere delicate child when undressed, not more
than seventeen years old.
ooh, how good you are-how good you
are :" she gaid. with heartrending pHthos. as
bathed her temples and rubbed her delicIte
limbs. l had studied medicine little with my
father, and knew she was close upon fever.
At length she lay warm and quiet, and soon fell
asleep.
l sat up until eleven o'clock, waiting for Ros-
coe. At length l heard his step i'll the hall. l
hurried 10 meet him.
He looked astounded at my news. "Why,
what does it mean?" he asked.
Tha next morning Ora was in burning
fever. She talked incoherertly-s did not
know me. She lay very i'll for three weeks.
Poor girl at one time it seemed certain that
she would die, but we kept her.
At last, her first act of consciousness was to
kiss me, and murmur:
81 love you!"
At last she could sit up and talk little.
And then she told Roscoe and me her story.
will notrepeat it here. 1t was tale too scken-
ing of human passions infamed by liquor of
mans tyranny; of womans weakness. Her
husband was false to her and to his manhood
She chung to him, pleading; he knocked her
senSeless at his feet. And, before that, she
hDrnp--oh baa CO NM
.. lie has killed my love for him. she said,
white and shuddering. 81 am afraid of him
l had rather die than live with him again Let
me stay here Here he will not find me. Oh,
Roscoe-Conetance, let me stay with you,'
We soothed her-promised earnestly that she
should stay, protected, beloved by US. For the
conversation was most hurtful to her, and
nearly brought on relapse of her fever.
SO found what had never had-a sister
and think we made her as happy as she could
possibly be after the terrible blight upon her
youth She found Il fund Of comfort in little
Lyle. who was very found of her. calling her
"Lolo i'll his soft, lisping accents. She was
most unseltish and sympathetic i'll disposition,
and this lattet trait won from Inc, at least, q
confidence.
She sat with me- sewing, in my chamber, one
day. Roscoe had just sent out from town a
package Of new books wished to see. We had
looked them over-prOmised ourselves much
enjoyment in the long winter evenings coming.
"Whrt splendid man Roscoe isl Ora said,
thoughtfully. ''He is companion-a friend
he is interested in everything you care for
he councils your wshes-ministers to your
tastes. Now my husband never seemed to care
for anything only to own me-
She seldom or never referred to her husband.
1t seemed to make her physically ill to do so.
hurried away from the subject.
81 know l have good husband, Ora l re-
spect him, admire him. But yet, l added,
Il should have been happier if l had married
another man."
Then told her the tale ef my youth. OF
my exceeding beauty-of the tourist who wan
dered to my mountain home of his beauty. his
charm, his power-my passion for him. OF my
invalid mother. WHO prayed me not to leave
hcr-of the choice l needs must mske-of lis
departure-his subsequent dcscrtion. OF how
my mother died sing mellow my con-
science approved, yet my, passionate longing
for what had lost. The hot tears rained
down my face as / concluded-so deeply had
my nature known this experience.
Ora listened with wide eyes, quickened breath:
her work dropped upon her lap. When l had
done. she said
not spoken it,
Ivan Grey"
"Have you picture of him?' she asked, in
sharp, suppressed voice.
l unlocked the cabine'. found the photo
graph. placed it i'll her hand.
Sh2 glanced dropped it as if it had stung
her.
1t is my husband, Constance :"
could only stare at her
- Il surely is, Constance" she said, winding
lirI arms about me. 'Whcn you first spoke
Of Your Sirlhood's love in Blue mountains,
remembered to have seen some sketches my
husband made there, bearing date 1865. Ten
years ago. Oh, Conny, what ali escape you
made that you did not marry him To be the
wife Of Ivan Grey was reserved for my fate"
she added. mournfuly.
. Was Mr.. Grey's name Ivan, stammered.
Yes she answered.
l was forced to accet t the truth.
rose, by-and-byer and put the letters and
the photograph in the fire.
And that night talked alone with my hus-
band. Through all eternity he will never
doubt now that love him.