The Virginia star., 1877-09-08

bitterly to tell it, but it did me much
good. | think she could not bring
herself to tell you. You are not her
/ daughter, and canrOt love her as | do
and you never have had reason to pity
her as have. You never saw Grand
father Jarvis, Mabel"
"Why, thought he died beforeI was
BORN
"No, he died ten years ago in Brazil.
| never saw him myself Nab; he never
knew he had daughter"
Mother! -
Mrs. Lees lovely dark eyes filled
with tears as she drew Mabel down be-
side her on the sofa.
II have been told that grandma was
a very beautiful, high-spirited girl at
your age, dear, animated, brilliant.
thoroughly satisfied with herself and
her surroundings, especially when Jon
athan Jarvis fell in love with her. Her
father died when she was three years
old, and her invalid mother adored the
child, and spoiled her even more than
| do you"
Mabel kissed the soft hand laid ON
her shoulder, and gave it wilful little
bite.
"DOn't be hOrrid, mamma, or | shall
eat you right up. As if was one bit
spoiled :"
eff you were not my child You would
not need grandma's lesson. She was
spoiled, rs | said, and Jonathan Jarvis
knew it, but he was bewitched by her
spirit and beauty, and thought, us men
are apt to think, that he could control
and cure all that. She loved him, too,
very deeply, after her fashion, and
there was nothing to delay their mar
riage; but the day was scarcely fixed
when her mother suddenly sank and
died. Grandmother did not mourn so
hOpelessly that it was thought best to
put off her marriage, though out of re-
spect to her mothers memory, there
was no wedding party, and the happy
pair began their life at once in the old
homestead where grandma lives to-day.
''The outlook before those two was
very fair: youth, health, competency,
what seemed to be devoted love, made
them an apparently enviable couple,
wills brought into daily contact than
trouble began.
"You may laugh. Mabel. bur their
first dispute was about cotfee-pot.
Mother preferred the old-fashioned urn
her husband the newer style of pitcher.
Neither would yield i'm a mere matter
of taste, and this was the beginning of
evil.
"Silly? Yes, it looks wonderfully
silly to us; but | think | heard very
warm discussion only yesterday on the
proper style of riding-hats for a lady"
Mabel cOlOred to the waves of her
dark hair and tried to smile.
"They came to a compromise on this
matter, agreeing to drink chocolate in
place Of coffee; but other small dis
putes followed; they all burnt in on
grandma's mind, but forget most of |
them, so slight and trivial were the mat
-ers of discussion, though they grew to |
active means of torment.
"A child was born, and Jonathan, i'm
MS sad and sore heart, thought that |
would bring peace, and his indignant |
md grieved wife hoped it also, for each
blamed thp other &c com boton+c yt;1l
Dut the baby's eyes never saw their
strife, it died, and the hope died with
t. Little frets are what wear away
owe and life Mabel. My poor father!
and my poor mother. There was no
Kindly friend to say judicious word
o either. They showed IA smiling front
o the world outside, but grew more
llienated daily.
"There was no real quarrel, no vital
disagreement, but the hourly fret of
tempers, inpatient ma
ures, strong wills and self consider
tion that forbade yielding, that cher.
shed pride and petulance, that recog-
lized no duty except as owed to itself.
"The end of these things fastened.
Before the nameless baby had slept in
Is green grave year father had set
MT for Brazil in a merchant vessel,
eaving this short adieu to his wife.
"Gou can say | have gone South on
usiness, Mehetable, but you must
now | shall never come back. | am
ired of living i'll torment, and you will
e glad to part with one who could
ever please you. So farewell. Yours
t command.
JONATHAN JARVIS.
Mother was frantically angry at ,
rst. She raved in her own chamber
yer what she termed mortal insult,
mt as day after day came on, and her
'neliness and weakness grew over her {
ne began to see things more honestly; i
nd when news came that the ship had {
at sea; ana all hands per t
he'd, then she was entirely prostrated. a
; she told me her past life rose up, +
oked her in the face. and struck her G
OWN. c
was born after my fathers depar- r
ire, and a very long illness carried t
ar to the gates of the grave. She re- c
'vered at last, a stern and saddened i
oman, with only one interest in her i
'e; but she brought me up with strict \
n