The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1878-06-19
An Embroidered Stocking.

nh AHAU1 UhNSl CU DtUCNIuSs
She was very prefty-but there came
time when | done think | cared in the
| least for her beauty-her soul was SO
much more attractive than her body. She
was no humble wild flower maiden, but
woman who has received a magnificent
dover of blue blood, including talent
| and the highest attributes of character,
and all that culture could develop in a
beautiful and Intellectual woman was
hers all that wealth could bestow upon
her she possessed. She had the good
fortune to have no singularity Of nature,
but all was a symetrical and harmonious
whole.
loved her, and | possessed the hum
bleness of true love. The more init
mately | knew her, she made me con-
scious of things that We're mean in my
self Out Of this feeling grew jealousy
of other men.
A bitter jealousy. She was of too
sunny and generous a temper to pick for
flaws, nor could she know man as other
men knew him.
She could not understand that DIR.
Cosgrove was as irritable in private as he
was suave and agreeable in public, and
| would not tell her that Capt. Lang
dale seldom pays his debts. They were
but two of her many admirers, and they
were both handsomer and Shower than
myself In time, | was miserable on
their account.
cannot now, in cold blood, accuse her
of coquetry; but Stephenie ST Jean was
nf Eranph HOOD ha,, 4,+l,,p'- l.
Besides speaking that language perfectly,
she had the French woman's secret of
fascination. A little more in vivacity,
when surrounded by gentlemen, made
her utterly irresistible
saw and felt the charm, and could
not content myself with the thought that
in the quiet hours we passed together |
knew myself dear to her. Many a VIM
ter evening had we sat together on the
little velvet sofa before the drawing room
fire, secure from intrusion, her beautiful
head resting on my breast, content in her
eyes, happiness in her smile And vet
swearing her to be the ploudest and most
delicate Of women, l was madly jealous
of Other men.
For months | would not see her alone.
She was one of large family, and she
had favorite cousin, Lily Lawton, who
was her constant companion.
She was very young, and a bright,
sweet little thing; but of late she had
seemed dropping, as if out of health,
and Stsphenie had been unusually pro
tective and kind
For Stephenie's sake l often took Lily
out 10 drive, though her exceeding sim
plicity often bored me.
could not but wonder that Stephe
ME associated with her so constantly
but Lily worshipped her magnificent
cousin and the latter delighted in being
kind to those weaker than herself Exit
ten" she called Lily, and there had been
something especially kittenish in the
girls round, bright gray eyes and play
full, graceful ways
Fer special charm was gone now. She /
was pale, faded, spiritless little thing.
StePhenie kept her constantly under her
wing.
Kitten must have green fields and |
pastures new" she said. Z" The May
suns are getting strong and [, too, long
for a country trip. We are going to
Brmchville and shall be absent a week
Mind you are good boy till we come
back.
Ismiled, but on the wrong side of my
face.
" A week." I murmured.
"a week and one day." she laughed.
al shall be gray headed when you
come back l said smiling at my own
vexation.
She laughed more gaiIy than ever;
then shadow tell over her face.
.: II is for Lily's sake, she whispered,
''Look at her
Lilly lay in hammock on the piazza,
her hands lying listlessly in her lap, not
a shade of color in her cheek.
The thought came to me that the child |
was bound for the land of shadows.
" She must have help soon" said Ste
picnic.
q Yes" l answered.
/ saw them of in the morning train
Kitten With her cheek on Stephenie's |
shoulder. l carried the picture they made
before my eyes all the week-my mag |
niicent, generous brunette supporting
the failing strength of that pale, fair
feed child And had never loved her |
better in my life than in this new phase. |
4 week and day Stephenle had SAID; /
therefore l had no expectation of seeing |
her when, at the end of FIVE days, | en-
tered the drawing room of her fathers |
house to find an opera glass had left |
there.
had told the sery ants at the hall door
what my errand was, and that | knew
inst where to look for the glass: But on |
the threshold of the apartment my steps |
were arrested by the sound of Stephe-
MES voice.
A rush of delight went over me- l
was about to spring forward, when dis
covered that Stephenie was seated in the
alcoye of an inner room beside gentle
man.
/ stood irresolute. A curtain of blue
six fell across the upper part of the tg |