The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-09-03
THE HISTORY OF A LIFE.
~ THE AUTHOR OF CAPTAIN GERALD" THE
RIGHT OF Way" ETC.
CHAPTER III.
WHAT THE WORLD SAYS OF ITS FAVOR
TIES.

room, she bolted the door, and threw her.
self down on couch languidly, as if her
forces were exhausted by the struggle she
had gone through.
Perhaps, at this minute, looking back
upon the past, and forward to the future,
both equally sorrowful, Euphemia may
have thought that death would be re-
lief, and pictured it to herself with earnest
longing. But she was still young and
strong, and there was no hope that this
would come to her for many long, weary
year. She must endure still patiently, to
the very end.
While she was indulging in these SOM
bre reflections, there came knock at the
door.
She rose at once, and opened it. 1t was
only her maid, and Euphemia was but
too thankful not to be called upon to re-
ist her mothers pleading and impor-
tunities again this evening, when she was
10 totally unfit for the contest.
"If you please, miss said Fannie,
"you never told me what you meant to
wear tonight"
81 have quite forgotten where we are
going"
at is Mrs. Ruthvin's ball, miss"
$50 it is Wait a minute, and / will
20 and ask mamma if we need 90. have
terrible headache and don't feel much
inclined for an evening party"
Euphemia put her head just inside her
mothers dressing-room, where Mrs. Be-
loe was lying on the couch absorbed in
novel, and said in voice that was oddly
pathetic somehow, Mamma, need we go
to Mrs, Ruthvin's tonight? would 50
much rather stay away"
GLOW can you be so ridiculousw an
swered her mother sharply. "You want
every one to suspect the truth, sup
pose%
"lt must all come out some day, man.
ma; Deception won't help us much
and. will assuredly hurt us hereafter.
What will my fathers creditors"
"Hush, Euphemia!"
Euphemia lowered her voice.
"What can they think Of us when they
know that we went out as usual, and
lived as usual, all the time while papa's
difficulties were so great that bankruptcy
was hanging over us, suspended by sin
gle hair, like the sword of Damocles?
What should we say of others under sim
liar circumstances?
"Why, we should say they were right
to keep up appearances as long as they
could"
81 fear not"
"You have such ridiculous notions,
Euphemia Don't we hear every day of
men failing for thousands upon thousands,
and yet doing we'll afterwards, and being
visited, and so forth If your father had
been less scrupulous, no change of fortune
could have affected us much. always
wanted him to settle hundred thousand
pounds upon me, and then his creditors
couldn't touch it; but he is just like you
he'd rather be ruined than do as other
people do. But all rests upon you now.
You can save your father from ruin; re.
pay the love and care he has always had
for you by this one sacrifice, which is
hardly sacrifice, after ALL"
Mamma, | would most gladly do it if
dared"
"Nonesense! You really provoke me
too much. However, we must certainly
70 to the ball tonight"
every we'll, mamma; only l must be
allowed to have my way about one
thing"
, "Well"
81 can only wear the simplest dress l
have, under the circumstances"
'In order to let people know that your
fathers affairs are in poor way, and 50
hasten the catastrophe?
"They will think it is freak of mine
the caprice of spoilt beauty" replied
Euphemia, with peculiar sad smile, as
she quilted the room.
On entering her own chamber, she
found Fannie busying herselfin repairing
a few damages in the rich lace of ball
dress.
'1 thought you would be sure and
wear this, miss" she said, rising, with the
delicate fabric spread upon her lap. "You
have only put it on once, and it becomes
you 50 we'll"
"No, Fannie, I will have the white
muslin wore the other evening when
the Trelawneys came"
"Oh, miss, but that is SO very plain!'
Gall the BETTER" answered Euphemia,
decidedly. "I intend to dress as simple
as possible tonight"
Fannie looked puzzled Euphemia
had the style of beauty which rich cloth
ing became, and she knew it. However
it was not her maids place to choose what
she should wear, and therefore Fannie
held her tongue.
The dinner was always an hour earlier
when they were going out of an evening
and Euphemia would not change hel
dress for this, and told her maid she
should not want her before eight o'clock
Fannie stole glance at her mistress
who, unconscious of scrutiny, had agair
relapsed into sombre thought, and ther
went out, nodding her head sagaciously.
Mrs. Ruthvin had a very fine suit Of
rooms, and lived in grand STYLE Euphemia
who wished to excite as little attention al
possible, resolved not to arrive too early
or too late, so that they might not be mor'
conspicuous than possible.
Mr.. Beloe came home to dinner; bu