Montgomery County sentinel., 1877-10-12

murmur even to each other. Eudora
felt it most. as she always did all things
Her cherished haunt to become the
property of u great hunking boy This
description of him was purely imagi-
nary, for Sidney Winter, when he came,
proved to be, in manners, principle and
personal appearance, gentleman. He
was older than any of the pupils, and
had no occasion to study the branches so
Indispensable to them. There were
two or three subjects which he wished to
pursue further, and he proposed devoting
year to patient and unccasing toll
Before he had been there three weeks
saw that Eudora was subdued. Never
had she been so gentle, never so amable.
And Sidney Winters happiness, comfort,
convenience, were all she thought Of
To care for his room, to see that every
thing in it was delicately neat, to adorn
it with the choicest flowers, even TO the
riAing of her favorite geraniums, to i'm
part just the right shading aud just the
right degree of atmosphere to it-these
were her every morning duties and she
entered into them with heart and will
that showed it was no unwecome task.
The indolent disposition of the young
man and the probable indulgences he had
been accustomed to, prevented any very
warm appreciation of her service. Eudora
did not perceive this sellishness iu him
so apparent to others. 1t was no sacri-
| fee in her to labor for him, even though
the fair white hands were never put to
such uses for any being before. She
loved the task, and heed not the lack of
thanks for what was u pleasure.
Suddenly Eudora awoke from her
dream. Sidney Winter was going away!
And Alice and be walked together night
after night, in the grove of elms, while
Eudora sat alone in her chamber. This
was the bitterness of the cup, that her
own sister, SO dearly loyed-for Eudora
had loving heart-should be her rival
in Sidneys heart. Had she, indeed,
misinterprcted his appearance Of pre-
ference for herself? She had felt every
smile, every expression of appreciation,
as proofs of "A growing attachment; and
now--oh, how dreary seemed her life !
That Sidney liked Alice was very evil
dent but he soon forgot her, and turned
to Jane with fervor that seemed quite
real Jane, however, was exceedingly
cool. She knew-that clear-sighted eldest
sister--that her lover was coqutte of
the first water She had seen how he
had alternated between the three, and she
determined to punish him
His first love speech, all unmeaning
as it was, was reported to her father, and
then, for the first time, Mr. Hclstonc be-
came aware that his two younger girls
had each received similar avowas Of at
tachment Mr.. Winters philosophy was
like Tom Moores;
''IIow happy could be with either
Were the other dear charmer away"
With Jane and Alice there was no
scar of the wound they had borne. They
talked together Of his conduct, and wise
ly concluded that such cvanescent love
was not worth the echo of a sigh. But
Eudora's love grew deeper than theirs
She was one of those, who having loved,
love always. Passion once aroused in
her soul, burned into her very nature
and as this was the first, so it was tho
deepest and strongest-the last. And
Mr., Helstone, who knew the natures of
his children, would not scruple to give
him his opinion.
Il do not believe in either James or
Alice's impressibility," he said, "but
with my youngest daughter it is danger
Gus to trihe. If you have ventured SO
far as to gain ber affections, you must
fulfill your pledge"
Alice told me this as VIC sat at her win
dow at sunset. She disagreed with her
father, and thought Eudora's pride would
be her safeguard from misery We sat
long talking of this, until twilight came,
aud the sweet starlight. Beneath the
lovely light We saw figure in white at
the bottom of the garden.
"That must be Eudora," said Alice
"No one else is romantic enough to walk
there at night" And she laughed a
gay, happy laugh, that told me Of a
heart free from any cntanglement with
'DiNHNJ " bttfi
Then we were very still again. The
figure glided away, and then we heard
splash, gurgling Of waters, and Alice
screamed out Tho pond the pond
Julia, Eudora has fallen into It's pond !"
| did not dare to say what | thought,
but silently believed that il we're really
Eudora who had troubled the waters she
had done 50 knowingly, meaningly. !
ran down and out into the garden. As
passed out Of the door ] saw Sidney
Winter lying asleep OIL a couch in tho
hall. There was no light but the star
light shone bright and soft on his fore
head. shook him by the shoulder. |
have had no doubt--noyer have had
that pulled him by the hair violently.
Come along and sec your work %
! exclaimed rccklcssly. did not care
for the man at all, and bad been indig-
nant when Alice seemed 10 favor him. -
was now full Of deep and bitter rage
against him and was willing that he
should>know how little | approved Of
the worship he was getting from them
all.
did not think this, for thorc was no
time; but felt it. / did not relax my
hold Of him until we reached the pond.
There wcro Eudora's white garments
floating 90 its surface, her white arms
struggling. She was not dead then.
"What docs this mean? What is that =
he exclaimed dreamily.
"Ono Of Mr.. Helstones family Is