The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1877-06-02
'ked. AZ am his sister ora, from New

sue asked. "l am his sister 0ra, from New
Orleans"
don't remember how welcomed her, but
throw open tho drawing-rOQm door, and she
entered and drUpped into scat.
"Whcre Is Roscoe? IL have come to stay
viii, you," she Id, her face pale M arl,es.
1took vague alarm at her ppearnItce but
| ondcavorCd to speak az usual.
"ioh arc tired-ill. Lay OF your wraps and
let me get yOn glass Of wine.
welIt across the hall to the china closet.
When came back she lay III dead faint upon
the floor.
Roscoe had gone out OF town, and did not re.
turn until evening. had had Ora taken to u
room next mine and put to bed. She was a
nero delicate child when undressed, not more
than seventeen years old.
"0h, how good you are-how good you
are" she said, with lcartrcnling pathuR, ~
hathcd her tOnlpleS and rubbed her delicate
limbs. had studied medicine II little with my
father, aud | knew she was close upon fever.
At length she lay warm and quiet, md soon fol-
asleep.
sat mp until eleven o'clock, waiting for Ilos.
coc. Al leuGth heard his step in the hall. |
hurried 10 meet him.
He looked astomded at my news. "Why,
what docs It mean2" hc asked.
Tha next morning Ora was in burning
fcver. She talked lncohere2tly-SlIe did not
know ME. Sho lay very III for three weeks.
Poor girl at one time 1t seemed certain that
she would die, bnt We kept her.
At last, her first act OF consciousness was to
kiss me, and murmur:
al love yop!"
At last she could Sit up and talk little.
And then she told Roscoe and mo her story.
Twill repeat II here. It was tale too sicken-
| ing; OF human passions infamel by liquor; OF
mans tyranny; OF wOmAn's weakness. Her
husband was false to her and to his manhood.
Shc clunG to him, pleading; he knocked her
ScnSeleSs at his feet. And, before TINT, she
had hornC-oh, pitiful heavens so'much!
81 lie has killed my love for him, she said.
white and shuddering. ~ am afraid OF him !!
had rather die than live with him again Let
me nc stay here! Here he will not find me. oh,
| loScOe-COnstance, let nc STAY with yoli "
We soothed her promised earnestly that shc
should stay, protected, beloved by lis. For tho
conversation was most hurtful TO her, and
nearly brought on a relapse Of her fever.
so found what had never had-a sister
and think womatlo her az happy Rs she could
possibly be after the terrible blight upon her
youth. She found fund OF comfort In little
Lyle. who was very found Of her, calling her
"Lolo In his soft liSping accents. She was
most unseliSll and sympathetic In disposition,
aud this latter trait won from me, at least, .
confidence.
She sat with me, sewing, In my chamber. ono
day. Roscoe had Just sent out from town
package Of new books wished to sec. We had
looked them over-prOmiscd ourselves much
enjoyment In tho long winter evenings coming.
"Whrt splendid man 1toScoO Isl" Ora said.
tlIOughtfully. ale il 4 companlon-R friend
Tho X interested In everything yOu caro- for
he councils your ministers to your
tastes. Now my husband never seemed to care
for anything only to own met
She Sell III or never referred to her husband.
Il seemed 10 make her physically Ill to do 10.
| hurried away from tho subject. q
al know have good husband, Ora l re-
spcct him, admire him. but yet" added,
II should have been happier II I had married
another man."
Then told hor the tale Of my youth. or
my exceeding bCauty-.of tho tourist who wan
dGred to my mountain home-of his beauty. his
charm, his powGr-my passion for linn. or my
invalid mother. who prayed me not to leave
hcr-0f tho choice l needs must make-Of his
dCparture-hiS Subsequent lesertlOp. OF how
my mother died blessing inc-how my COLI
science approved, yet my passionate longing
for what ! had lost. The hot tears raiNed
down my face rs ! cOncluded-so deeply had
MY nature knosn this experience.
Ora listened with wide eyes, quickened breath;
her work dropped upon her lap. When l had
done. she said:
"what was bis naEle Constance? iOuharc
not spoken IT,"
"Ivan Grey"
"lIavo you picture Of him" she asked, III
sharp, suppressed voice.
I unlocked the cabinet. found the photo
graph, placed II In her hand.
She GlancGd-dropped 1t as II Il had stung
her.
at IL nly husband, Constance -
could only stare at her.
ut surely IL, Constance" she said, winding
her arms about me. "When you first spoke
OF your girlhood'S love III Dlue mountains, !
remembered to haze seen some sketches my
husband nado there, bearing date 1865. Ten
years ago. Oh COnny, what Rn escape YOU
made that you did not marry him! TObe the
wife Of Ivan Grey was reserved for my fate,
size added. mournfully.
"WAS Ilr. Grcy'S name Ivan" stammercd.
"YCS." she answered.
was forced to accept the truth.
rose, by.and.byc, and put the letters and
tho photograph IN the fire.
Aid that night talked alone with my huS-
band. Through all eternity he will never
doubt now that love him.