The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1878-08-16

circumstances came TO Sadie's aid. The
uncle who had paid for her education died.
leit her an income, small indeed, but enough
TO save her the necessity of further work.
she took small house, and an aunt came
10 live with her and here, with perfect pro-
priety, she received occasional calls from
Mr., Worthington Sydney. But the ambi
ton to be rich which had just filled her
heart gave place to deep love for the young
and handsome manufacturer, who never ex.
ceeded polite or gentlemanly courtesy in
his attention.
In vain she exerted every accomplish.
ment for his admiration playing her choi-
cest music, singing her sweetest songs. In
vain she chose becoming dresses, and decked
her rare beauty for his eyes.
Ever before him was the memory of his
mothers words, aud involurtarily he traced
the little sighs that always told of cold
heart and uttered selfish disposition.
But over the water came to him letters
full of the praises of the gentle companion
who accompanied his mother.
You would scarcely know Efiie,' the old
lady wrote, when she had been a wear abroad:
she has reganed her health ,and hers is that
rare delicate beauty that unfolds some new
charm when least expected. She is so mod
est and retiring that one must watch closely
to see how well educated and accomplished
she is. Imagine my delight to find she knew
French as well as | did and has conquered
Italian in wonderfully short tmn. Her
music is the rare, real music that comes
from the heart and the tears often rise in
my eyes when she fancies am sleeping, and
plays for hours as only a true lover of the
divine art can play
Sometimes there was formal letter, signed
Efie Ford, telling him that Mrs. Sydney
was not well and wrote by her companions
hand. And after the formal introduction
the writer would detail the events of travel
since the last letter, unconsciously proving
how much she saw with an artists eyes the
beauties of scenery she described, or took a
quiet humorous view of passing events.
lie would scarcely own it to himself but
Worthington Sydney watched for the letters
from the companion with deeper and deeper
interest, sending friendly answers that told
of his gratitude for Eflies tender care of his
mother and pleasure in her letters
Two years passed. and Mrs. Sydney began
to write of coming home. She was in Paris
with Effio and wrote to her son:
DO take holiday, and come to escort me
| ia s,,,l,n
to America at this time, and do not care
to travel alone
Thinking it all over, Worthington con-
cluded that he really needed little rest
and recreation, and he presented himself at
the hotel much sooner than his mother had
dared to hope She was alone when he was
announced but, little later, a graceful
young lady entered the room, whom he
scarcely recognized AS the fragile girl in
deep mourning who had hidden him farewell
two years before.
The palor of illness, the shifting color was
and in their place was the glow of per.
feet health the sad eyes were replaced by
animated ones full of happiness, and the
fragile figure was rounded and graceful. In
her exquisite delicacy of feature, in the ex-
preston of refinement and intellect and in
perfect manner she appeared to Worthington
to far surpass the more striking beauty of
Sadie Desmond who two years before had
cast her quiet loveliness in the shade.
Happy days flew by quickly in Paris, and
when Worthihgton Sydney told his mother
the secret of his love she opened her arms to
fold Efiie there closely, calling her dear
daughter
And Sadie, when the bridal party return
ed to B, knew in her heart that in her
rudeness to the plainly dressed old lady in
the factory she had forfeited her opportuni,
ty to be Mrs. Sydney's companion by hei
own error