The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1877-09-13

happened to- my husband. Il But: ,byi Til
time 1lreached the open hall door, a lady
alone, was coming up the steps from til
carriage % She was; very Young, richly
rpbed, and instantly addressed me;:I : !
oji;s AIe::; yop ,net ny: brother .; Roscoe,
:TiteM she asked, am his hi sister Ora
from New ;Qrleaas.n!, .Is,i;r ,.4y., y.'''n
!n1 don't; remember how, IiwelcQmed her
but 1 threw open tho drawing room door
and she entered and dropped into 6
seat. lia:'s' I.;usi L . - .-..------s---.
E*"Where is Roscoe? Il have come &c
stay with you," she said her face pale as
ashes.
.iI took q, vague alarm at her appear
ance, but I endeavored to speak as usual
I'll" You are tred-ill.' Lay, of. YOU
wraps and let me get you glass ot
wine.".... IT, . ::..' -.
/ went across the hall to the china
closet: When came back she lay in q
dead faint upon: the floor. p f:...
- Roscoe had gone out of town, and did
not return till evening; I had Ora taken
to room next to mine and put to bed
She was mere delicate child when un!
dressed, not more than seventeen years
old. "'i'
"Oh, how good you are--how good you
are!" she said, with heartrending pathos
as bathed her temples and rubbed heel
delicate limbs. I.had studied medicine
little with my father, and I knew she
was close upon q fever. At length she
lay warm and quiet, and soon feel asleep
sat up till eleven o'clock, waiting fo1
Roscoe. At length I heard his step in the
hall. L hurried to meet him. !.
He looked astounded at my news
why, what does it mean2" he asked. ::
The next morning Ora was in a burn:
ing fever. She talked incohercntly-she
did not know me. She lay very, very i'll
for three weeks. "'''
Poor girl! at one time it seemed
certain that she would die, but we kept
her. 80. :. -
At last her first act Of consciousness
was to kiss me, and murmur::
II love your; ,.y.
At last she could sit up and talk lit
tle. And then she told Roscoe and me
her story. - n.:i f.. .:..
I will not repeat it here. It was tale
too sickening; of human passions inham:
ed by liquor; of mans tyranny; of wom-
ans weakness. Her husband was false
to her and to his manhood. She clung
to him, pleading; he knocked her sense
less at his feet. And before that, she had
borne-oh, pitiful Heaven, so mi UGH!
"sHe has killed my love for him." she
said, willie. aud shudderlny. II an,
afraid Of him had rather die than live
with him again! Let me stay here! Here
he will not find me. Oh, Roscoe
stance, 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 a
relapse of her fever.
So found what I had never had-a
sister-and I think we made her as hap
py as she could possibly be after the ter
rible blight upon her youth. She found
fund Of comfort in little Lyle, who was
very fond of her, calling her "Lolo," in
in his soft, lisping accents. She was
most unselfish and sympathetic in dis.
position, and this latter trait won from
me at least confidence. - -
She sat with me, sewing in my cham
ber, one da Y. Roscoe had just sent out
from. town a package Of new books
wished to see. We had looked them owe,
promising ourselves much enjoyment
in the long winter, evenings coming.
{; "What splendid man Roscoe. is!'
Ora said, thoughtfully. ,."He is cham.
pion-a friend-he is interested in every.
thing you care for-he consuits your
wishes-ministers to your tastes: Now
my husband never seemed to care for any.
thing only to own me!'< >,,.. r'.
~ She seldom or never'referrcd to her hus.
band. It seemed to make her; physically
ill to do SO. ] hurried away from the
subject.
II know have good husband, Ora
I respect him, I admire him. But yet,"
added, "I should have been happier if !
had married another man"
Then I told her the tale Of my youth.
OF my exceeding beauty-the tourist who
wandered to my mountain home-of his
beauty, his charm, his power-my pas
sion for him. OF my invalid mother,
who prayed me not to leave her-of the
choice needs must makc-of his depart
ure-his subsequent desertion; of how
my mother died blessing mellow my
conscience approved, yet my. passionate
longing for what I had lost. The hot
tears rained down my face as concluded
$50 deeply had my nature known this
experience. s';''
Ora listened with wide eyes, quickened
breath her work dropped upon her lap
and when had done, she said:
"What was his name, Constance? You
have not spoken it." lin. IL,
j.. 5"Ivan Grey"
"Have you a picture Of him ?''she asked
in a sharp, suppressed voice.
unlocked the. cabinet, found the
photograph, placed it in her hand.
:; She glanced-dropped it as if it had
stung her: SIT is my husband. Con.
stance!" p" 81! :: .'.. 80
Icould only stare at her: -.
= ut surely is, Constance" she said
winding her arms about me: "When you
first spoke of your childhood's love II
Blue Mountains, I remembered to have
seen some sketches my husband made
there, bearing date 1855, ten years ago
Oh, Conny, what an escape you made
that you did not marry him! To, be thu
wife, of Ivan Grey was reserved for m,
fate," she added, mournfully. -. .::s..
"Was Mr.. Greys name lvan," STAN
mered: - .eE!t /! i"'.
Yes" she answered: -... 81. :
1 was forced to accept the truth x
I rose, by and by, and put the letter
and the photograph in the fire. '' i''5
And that night I talked alone with m,
husband. Through :all eternity he vii
never doubt now nov that I .lov love him. ,.. 80 !:
l. srN..:IT 17!i!.. III - -! i.
Competent authority says you must al
WAYS lie with your feet to the equator