The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-12-13

Helen, or his own heart, Perry drifted into
matrimony.
They had been married two years, Helen
and Perry, when one day he received this
Qote:
''NiY DEAR FRIEND PERRY.-l am 80 terri
bly,, desolately lonely. want friendship,
association, sympathy, and d am coming to
spend the summer near you-l and my little
one. Can you engage rice, pleasant farm
house home? Send particulars to Arlington
House.
"Now, as ever, your sincere friend,
Marcia"
Perry secured board for Mrs. Lindsay at
large, old farmhouse, five minutes walk
from the rectory and she was soon settled
there. Helen's black eyebrows met in a
frown, when, the day after Mrs. Lindsay's
arrival, her husband went to call on his old
friend and she Sat long in the little, honey
suckle-shadowed parlor, musing angrily.
She believed that, during their two years of
marriage, she had never yet been more to
Perry Wiliston thana cousin F.; that he had
never yet realized what q change had come
in his life. She believed, though he had
never spoken Marea's name, that the old
love-gamor was on him, and made his
dreamy, ideal life. Now the awakening
must come. What would it reveal to him ?
Tiny footsteps interrupted her thoughts,
and child, beautiful as fairy, wandered
into the little parlor. Helen loved children,
yet had none to pet. Instantly her arms
unclasped toward the pretty stranger, but
other steps sounded on the walk, and through
the sheltering vines she saw black-robed
figure approaching the house, arm in ann
with Perry, and knew whose child this was.
She closed her arms defantly, and caught
her breath as she heard Marcia's words,
where she fingered at the foot of the piazza
steps.
"What lovely home you have, Perry.
You must be happy as the day is long in
this cosy little nest, with Helen to pet. By
the way, how much better we women can
read the future than men. Do you remember
declaring that you never could be content
with skim-milk after cream, and that | told
you the cream was yet to find? You see |
was right ! was only the skim-milk after
ALL" and she laughed so charmingly. "But
do take me in, | am so anxious to see whether
Helen has changed as little as YOU"
They entered the parlor; and Helen came
forward to greet Mrs. Lindsay-a smile on
her lip, but cold light in her eye that
changed Marcia's warm words to more
formal ones. They chatted, the three, a
while of other days, then Birdie came in and
teased to be taken back, and Mrs. Lindsay
arose to leave.
"You must consider this another home,
all through the summer, Marcia" spoke
Perry. "IIelen will be so glad to have a
constant companion. And this little Birdie
we must teach to love this cage" and he
snatched the child to his arms, kissing her
passionately.
Helen seconded her husbands invitation
warmly enough to make any reserve in her
manner pass unnoticed by the bright, sun
ny-tempered little widow, who really longed
for just such friendly associates.
And through rose-perlumed June, and
sultry July, Marcia came and went at the
parsonage. She and Perry, as in the days
of their youthful folly, conversing daily of
painters, poets, musicians, authors, ethics,
politics, and religion. And yainly Helen
sought for any proof that this woman was
aught but true, pure, innately womanly, or
her husband more than faithful friend,
bound to Marcia by the wondrous afinities
of their mental natures.
And August had come. One evening
Mrs. Lindsay came to the parsonage-only
Helen was homeland asked:
"Helen, may send Birdie and her nurse
over here tomorrow? Sudden business viii
take me to the city for few hours, and
shall feel so much better if l know the chile
is with you?'
1t was satisfactorily arranged, and tht
morning found Birdie and her young nurse
at the rectory. A short time after, PER-.
came in from the Office hurriedly.
"Helen, l find | must 60 down to town
on the nine-ffteen train"
"Very well.'