The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-12-15
Stranger Than Fiction.
CHAPTER v.
ELLEN's PERPLExITY.

though the doctor could not pronounce
him out of danger, yet he spoke more
hopefully about the boy, and said that
possible he might be able to save him.
For days and nights the mother sat
beside the bed, feeling with Jacob: "If
lam bereaved of my children, | am be-
reaved." But at the end of week all
cause for anxiety was over; and the lit
tie fellow, weak but convalescent, was
smiling in his mothers face, and play
ing with her dress.
At Dapplemead, however, as at Lon
don, Mrs Calcey was subject to those
fits of abstraction which SO puzzled her
fellow-servants.
When her child lay asleep she would
sit for an hour at stretch doing moth
ing, looking at nothing, but seemingly
lost in reverie. Ii at such times any
one addressed her, she would start and
look confused, as though suddenly
aroused from dream. She said she was
happy in her situation, and had no words
sufficient to express her eraffection for Mrs.
Montrelle and all the family;S and yet
seemed unsettled and unhappy, alterna-
ting between feverish activity and idle
depression. iq 4a..s' :-a., .a,-l ,
Mrs. Briart had not been slow to no.
tice this change, which she at first attri-
buted to anxiety concerning the child;
but she could not avoid seeing that, so
far from growing more cheerful when the
first pressing dread was over, her daugh-
ter seemed to sink into adeeper state of
greater despondsncy. She waited for a
short time, thidEhg that perhaps conf
dence might be given unasked, for never
before had she known Ellen keep secret
from her; but observing no symptoms of
frankness, she determined one evening
to Sroach the subject. .as.l -
1t was Sunday evening; the children
were in bed; the fire had burnt low and
bright; the kitchen where they sat was
snug and warm there was soupin lit
tie sauce pan on the trivet, getting warm
for their suppers by-and-by; the ''Pil!
grim's Progress" lay open on the round
table, and the place where she had been
reading was marked by Mrs. Briart's
spectacles. The light given by one can
die seemed rather to increase the gloom
than to dispel it. Leaning back in an
old armchair. Mrs. Calcey watched
the glowing embers, but spokef never a
word. E '+.1 q" A1J.'. Nv "..'' j
#''eYou have something on your mind,
girl" said Mrs Briart, breaking the
silence with an abruptness which made
her daughter start
"And if l have, mother? asked the
younger woman. H r .' = "7@
"Why, you had better tell me all
about it, was the answer. aHl
perhaps if did you would say you
would rather l had held my tongue"
"Try me-" advised Mrs. Briart,, Then,
as the other relapsed into her accus-
toned silence, she repeated the words
once again. Ly1t .ss. :.
- "Try me-" she said; and she stretched
out her hand and stroked her daughters
hair with touch that seemed to carry
comfort in its quiet tenderness.
Mother, I am very unhappy" began
Mrs. Calcey, o....,., ssS,t3a...
II see you are, Nell"
II do not know what to think Or to
do" .... .....
Suppose we take counsel together,
then, dear. Two heads are better than
one, it is said."A "a, fE eH lrs aslloas
"But do otwant to make you un-
comfortable" als l;a2 sa.'T 't 10 I'd F!
II can not be comfortable seeing you
troubled as you are"
~ think, mother, you will never be-
.ieve what I am going to tell you" -.'
81 will believe anything, Nell, unless
you tell me you are going to- marry
again; and ! should be very sorry to have
to believe that" 4a hslg5. No 3. 1a. +
The younger widow shook her head.
81 do not think shall ever come to
you with that story, mother" 4R
:. "Well, then, what is the story?" asked
the elder woman, impatiently. "You
have not robbed or murdered anybody, ]
suppose?",
t'Who has, then, in the, name of pa
tience?' cried Mrs. Briart. .'For gra
cious' sake, Nell, speak out, and let IA
have done with it, All nv life long
could never a-bear secrets and mys
teries."
II am sure I do not hike them either
and if l could only make up my mine
what was right" p iipa9 Tot Gua.at f
'I should think no one need eve
think twice about what is right; tina
must always be clear enough, interrupt
ed her mother. "Come, child, let us hea
all about it," d"7 '.pia-
"You know l have told you what
nice young lady Miss Molly is," begal
Mrs. Calcey.@ rog o. o. rao'f ai'.N
eyes; sure, but IT'S nothing about her
Ihope." '' .l. :, f,f',, t' 9..' 49,. 80. 49,, t.,
"And what a pleasant, afable, gen
erous gentleman she has got for a bver.'
Mrs. Briart nodded.
"But have not told you his name."
Her mother looked up interested, bu
spoke no word. f.o 7i.l 20 : -. ~ ,aL,..s-. ~.
'"It is Mason; he is that 'Hap Mr.
Harlesdon Mason talked about on hi
death-bed, and he is the owner now 9
Mort;piy uol1U --~----