Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1879-05-08
.58}EsreiIJny,
A WOMAN'S STORY.

should have been better. might
have been worse. How much better, how
much worse, the Story will disclose.
| had just entered my seventh year
when my father. NJ. Viele, gave me a new
mother in the person of the handsome
and imperious widow Of one Colonel LllOr,
and brother IN Mrs. Lalor's only child Il
boy OF twelve.
Albert Ialor, who with his handsome
face, strong will and pleasant ways, soon
became my master, ruling my impctuous
spirit with success that no one else could.
Madame Nicle looked on with proud,
self satisfied smile, and more than once
heard her murmur in her sweet tones:
"Ihey must marry. Philippe. Your Vi
must be my Albcrt's wife.
And my father would laugh and nod his
head approvlngly, evidently well pleased
with the idea.
But these happy days slipped by all too
rapidly.
My father died. Albert was finishing
his collegiate course. |, in accordance with
my fathers will, was sent to Paris to be
finished under the care OF his old and val
ued friend, Madame Dupont.
Four years later returned to my step
mother.
1t was near the close of bleak winter
day that reached Gray Fell. But bleak
as it was my handsome, stately stcpmothcr
met me on the steps Of the great pillarcd
pOrticO.
"Ah!' she exclaimed, half under her
breath, rs she held me oil moment and
kecnly scrutinizcd me with her great, lus-
trous blacl, eyes. Then Il warm smile
parted her lips, and kissing me tcnderly
she added:
you are beautiful, my child-far more
beautiful than | imagined. Albert will be
charmed All! blush, dearest? You
have not forgotten my old hope, then!
But, come, come dear, the air is bitterly
keen"
And gathering up the shining length of
her black satin she swept queen-likc before
me, pOusng only long enough in the hall to
allow kindly word or two to the assem-
bled servants.
Then, with rare condcsccusiou. She led
me up stairs to my chamber.
As we entered the dressing room she
glanced at the tlmepiece and turned tony
maid
Take Mademoiselle's wraps Mant'g,
she said, quickly and imperiousIy o..
then lay out some of her handsome,. DIE.
es;" adding, smilingly as her eyes rr.lg
ed to me: 81 shall superintend your 'nii
this evening, my dear. Dinner WI
served in less than an hour, and wa.
you to appear at your best when you d..
scend to the drawing room. Albert shG
be dazzled at first sight,
| blushed, and, with a low, hap.
laugh, she kissed me and pattei my bln
ing cheeks.
The business of the toilet conclude
Madame Viele stepped back and eyed n
critically. A glowing smile directly d
tested her entire satisfaction blt
cried eagerly: e.
you are glorious, Vi-simpIy gi5ri)I
"A very Eastern princess from your .lw.
head to your fairy feet! That ruby
vet, with its rich laces, becomes ],
splendid brunette beauty rarely, whq.
those creamy white roses adorn your di.
ky locks most faultlessly. All, child
am proud OF youl you are sure to cha
my noble boy. But come, darling
concluded hastily, 'he retlued uf-
town some time ago; let us descend. 4,
When we entered the brillmtly-ligh
drawing room it was tenanted hy two ct,
sons-a handsome, kindly-luokiug M.
whom recognized at once aS my st
brother, and a tall, slender grl We
heavenly.blue eyes, pearly skin, and
shimmering crown of pale, golden hair
A faint damask tinted the girl che,
as we entered, and noticed that the ge
tleman rose with suspicious haste fr0mti
chair very close to her own. ! lancie
too, that he had even more hastily dro
ped one of the dainty white hands tovu
with bunch OF blue forget thi
matched tiny cluster half hidden in Il
1ossy gold of her lovely hair.
| had heard of this fair girl, and th:
her home would henceforth be at Orr
Fell. But for the first time, il occurr,
to me that she might be destined to St .
between me and the man | had sloH.
learned to think of only too tcnderly
With sharp, jealous pang ! eS'tpC,
my hand to Albert Lalor, WHO had hast
to me, his fine eyes glowing with adm
ton and pleasure. nj
His greeting was cordial and eyide
pleased his mother e..
"But why don't you kiss her, my son, as
in the old daysp" she smiled, gayly.
And. with an answering smile, Albert
bent his grand head and pressed his
bearded lips lightly to mine.
"Ah! what charming blushl' laughed
my stepmother, touching my glowing
cheek caressinglY with her soft white
fingers.
smiled, but my heart throbbed pain
fully under the ruby velvet bodice that
became me so well. Beneath the pressure
of those bearded lips my wayward wom-
ans heart had leaped from tenderness to
inll. fierce, passionate love.
'lifted my ores. lnstrous with the new
born feeling, to the handsome smiling
| face of my brother, and again my heart