The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1877-06-22
Stlerf &arp.
TWO BRIDES.
BY ETTIE ROGERS.

out OF tne gray SKY. A SLOW drlZZle was
falling on the dull, complaining sea, and
upon the gloomy, red brick house, that
loomed above the bare margin cliffs.
Along the wet, stony road toiled two
lank, jaded horses, with dropping heads
and steaming nostrils, patiently making
the ascent up the slope, until they
paused in front of the iron gate of the
handsome railing that enclosed the
stately walls wherein dwelt Miss Ann
Kehoe.
She stood in the shelter of the porch,
watching the carriage with keen and
eager delight in her deep gray eyes.
The driver flung down his reins leap
ed from his seat with an agility that de-
fed rheumatic breeding dampness of
the drizzly day, and flung open the door
of the mud besprinkled coach.
Thanks" said a voice deliciously
sweet, as lady, young and transcend
emily handsome, descended with sup
pie Grace. at has been a long drive
and your poor animals should go 10
feed. Take them to the stables and
while they are feeding come to the house
and get something for yourself"
@Och, but you're a true lady, Miss
Shure, and its few indade that would
be thinking ola starved cratur, nor the
bastes, nather, after such pullin' and
sweatin' through the ruts, worse than
the bogs of old Erin"
But the girl was beyond the sound of
his voice. She had fitted up the wet
gravel walk, her black trail rustling past
the box shrubbery, the beds of yellow
crocus, and spikes of fragrant hyacinth,
and beneath the tall cherry tree, that
rained upon her their beaten bloom of
snow.
She looked like Gipsy queen, with
her tall, 1.-THE form, her floating black
curls, her pronounced but delicate fea-
lures, her rich, dusky skin, with its
touch of scarlet on rounded cheeks and
her thick, red showl dropping from her
superb shoulders.
Il am so glad to be home again, Aunt
Anna" she said to the little old woman
who was waiting for her on the porch.
eAnd am so glad to have you back,
DEAR" was the glad reply. "How you
hove grown, Kathleenj How beautiful
you are my child!"
Kathleen Kehoe laughed, a rich CUR
gle of subdued sound, like tee song of
sweet waters.
She had heard compliments like this
before, but none perhaps more tender
and true.
Arm in arm they went into the house
together.
The appetizing odors of a holiday
dinner fioated out of the long pretty
DINING room, through the open doors of
which Kathleen caught the glitter of
silver and crystal and china q century
old.
She went to her room-the pleasant,
coy chamber where she had passed so
many luxuriously-delightful hours be-
fore the five years of Eer boarding school
life began, and the sight of IFS elegant
appointments brought back again her
childhood. The prettily papered walls
with the subtle touches of scarlet and
gold, the ceiling of the tropic purple
shaded by frescoed clouds like sunrise
flame, the tall windows fronting the sea,
that glittered and cleaned through the
curtains of misty lace, the easy satin
cushioned chairs, the sofa, mahogony
desk, the gilded book case and the dain-
ty bed, arl seemed the same
She threw aside her travelling dress,
donned a wrapper of pearl white cash
mere knotted in her ebon-black curls
cluster of blood red buds.
Then from her necklace of rubies she
lifted a locket of gold, touched the spring
and revealed the face of a young and
handsome man; then bendingher queen
ly head, she touched her ripe, warm lips
to the cold miniature.
| MY earning beh she murmured;
Il must tell Aunt Ann tonight.
Kathleen Kehoe went down to the
dinning-room, slipped her tea and wine,
tasted her soupp toyed fstidiousiy with
her slice of roast. and dallied over her
dessert of tropic fruit
@You are TOO weary to night TO enjoy
yonr dinner" observed her waichful
Aunt Anna. II had meant TO ten you
tonight the story you have asked me
for so long, but ! will give you the sleep
you need first"
aNo, indeed, Aunty,' said the girl
'I am in Just the mood to hear it: it will
quiet my nerves, think after my ride
through the storm. Besides / have
something to tell you, dear, darling
aunty."
So she slipped her round white arm
about the waist of the little, pale, gray
eyed woman, as they went to the parlori
where the oay windows giowed with
blossoms, and the piano, burdened with