The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-09-18
THE HISTORY OF LIFE.
~ THE AUTHOR OF CAPTAIN GERALD" THE
RIGHT OF Way" ETC.
CHAPTER XIII.
A VIPER AMONG THE FLOWERS.

first morning in her new home VIII,
should Nemesis follow here, and mean
while all was so sweet and fair?
The roses sent up a sigh of fragrance
as she opened her window, and looked
down upon their dewy petals with cur
ious feeling of delight.
MIR. Roper was no sluggard, and had
already been up for an hour. There wa,
one OF the roses lying in her plate, as she
descended to the breakfast-room; and he
himself looked over the morning paper al
her as she advanced, and declaring that
the country air agreed with her mar
velously, for he had never seen her look
10 well before.
ut is such a lovely morning, George
Iquite long to be out"
$50 do |. | want to show you a lovely
piece Of landscape discovered just now
l think you will agree with me that we
have seen nothing prettier abroad"
Aoh | like England best, by all means,
said Euphemsa, transferring the rose to
the bosom of her white morning dress, as
she took her seat in front of the urn.
"There is nothing equal to our own coun-
try, and our own country people, in all
the world.'
"At any rate, my love, it is very pleas
ant to come home from foreign tour
with that conviction strong upon ones
mind, because we have enjoyed every
thing immensely too. Only we like old
England best--thaps ALL"
Decidedly" she said, and smiled a
tranquil sweet smile, as if her mind were
ut ease and the present very bright.
Breakfast over, she waited in the hall
whilst her maid fetched her hat and lace
shawl and then she took her husband $
arm, and strolled forth with him.
Perhaps it was that never being destined
to look at Nature with unclouded eyes
again, everything seemed so wondcrolsly
beautiful this morning. The dew was
still on the grass, shining like diamonds,
and she wet her white sleeve woefully in
trying to rescue rose from amongst the
thorns.
81 shall gather my bouquet now," said
Euphenia, ''and then | shall have it to
enjoy all the way as Igo along. Look at
that mass of purple verbcna, how splen-
did they are with the sun shining into
the very midst of them. would have a
bunch, only they are like happiness-fade
10 soon."
Another hour, and her own happiness
would have faded, whilst they would be
as bright as ever; but she never guessed
that. She had stifed her conscience,
and was at ease; but Nemesis had not
Been cheated of his prey. sHe was close
1t her heels at this very moment,
lodging her as she walked, biding
his time, but ready at any minute, to
eize her as his own.
She strolled on, unconscious, smiling.
"What made you think Of this place,
George? 1t is very pretty"
81 saw the advertisement, my love, and
felt sure it would suit U.S."
"And 50 II does, admirably. There is
only one thing hope people will not
take the trouble to call upon lis"
"Not call! WhyY
"Because we are much happier alone"
Mr.. Roper drew Euphemia towards
him and kissed her tenderly.
$50 we are; and yet | want people to
see and admire my handsome wife,
81 think lam tired of all that kind of
thing, George. 1t is a kind of routine
which grows very wearisome at last.
was congratulating myself last hight
that we would be quite out of the world
here"
ut is q very quiet village anyhow. l
was talking with the gardener this morn
ing, and he tells he there is only one
gentle person in the village besides the
clergyman"
fls the clergyman married man"
"He is widower with one child"
"Indeed! And the otherW'
A widow with one daughter"
"That's odd, too; it would be amusing
II they were to marry"
"What-the children of the widow and
the widowerW
dyes"
"There is slight impediment to such
an arrangement"
"Their ages are different suppose"
"Well, there is disparity of ten years,
certainly; but that need not be an insur-
mountable barrier, if they did not so
happen that they were both girls"
Mr. Roper laughed heartily at the idea
Of having so completely mystifed his
wife; and the two, in surveying their
domain, soon forgot all about their future
neighbors.
"What is it that l see down there?"
said Euphemia, pointing out peculiarly
brilliant flower at the end of the lawn.
"Will you wait here? l must have
that"
"Shall not come too?
ut is only giving you a journey for
nothing, as shall be back in second. 4
every well; just as you like"
She drew her.white skirts over her. arm,
and sped across the dewy lawn as lightly
and swiftly as young fawn. Mr.. Roper
watched her awhile, lover-like, and then
turned to note some striking point in the
beautiful landscape stretched out before
him.
Meanwhile, Euphemia was STOPPING
over the flower with kind of rapture
that was visible in her eyes, when all of