The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1879-10-08
A wonAN's STORY.

had just entered my seventh year
when my father, NJ Vieie, gave me q
new mother in. the person Of the hand.
some and imperlous widow of one,
Col Lalor. and brother in Mrs. La
lor's only child, boy of twelve.
Albert Lalor, with his handsome
face, strong will and pleasant ways,
soon became nv master, ruling my
impetuous spirit with o success that
10 one else could. Madame Viele
locked on with proud, seli.satisGed
smile, and more than once / heard
her murmur in her sweet, imperioGs
tones:
"They must marry. Philippe,
Your vi must be nv Albert's wife. y
And my father would laugh and
nod his head approvingly, evidently
well pleased with the idea.
But these happy days slipped all
By too rapidly.
My father died. Albert was 6n.
ishing bis collegiate course. /, in
accordance with nv fathers will, was
sent to Paris to be finished under the
care of his old and valued friend,
Madame Duponte. Four years later
| returned TO my step-mother
1t was near the close of q bleak
winter day that l reached Gray Fell
But bleak as it was, my handsome,
stately step-mother met me on the
steps of the great pillard portico.
"Ah 70 she exclaimed, half under
her breath, as she held me off mo-
ment and keenly scrutinized me with
her great lustrous black eyes. Then
q warm smile parted her lips, and
kissing me tenderly, she added:
"You are beautiful, my child-iar
more beautiful than | imagined. Al
bert will be charmed. Ah, blush,
dearest2 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-like before me, pausing only
long enough in the hall to allow q
kindly word or two to the assembled
servants.
Then, with rare condescension,
she led me up stairs TO my chamber.
As we entered the dressing room
she glanced at the time piece aud
turned to my maid.
Take Mademoiselle's wraps, Man
son,n she said quickly and imperious-
Iy, "and then lay out some of ber
handsomesi dresses adding smil-
ingly, as her eyes returned to me, II
shall superintend your toilet this
evening, my dear. Dinner will be
served in less than an hour, a1d I
want you 10 appear at your best
when you descend to the drawing
room. Albert shall be dazzied at first
sight"
When we entered the brilliantly
lighted drawing room i; was iensnted
by two persons--a handsome, kindly
looking man. whom l recognized at
once as my step-brother, and tall.
slender girl with heavenly blue eyes,
pesrly skin and shimmering crown
of pale, golden hair
A faint damask tinted the girls
cheek as We entered, and noticed
tha: the gentleman rose with suspi-
cious haste from the chair very close
10 her own. ! fancied, 100, that be
had even more hastily dropped one
of the dainty white hands toying with
a bunch of blue forgei-me-nots that
matched tiny cluster half hidden in
the fossy gold of her lovely hair.
i had heard of this fair girl, and
that her home would henceforth be at
Gray Fell But for the first time it
occurred to me that she might be
destined to step between me and the
man ! mad slowly learned to think OF
only I o tenderly.
With sharp, jealous pang ex-
tended ruy hand to Albert Lalor, who
had FASTENED TO me. his fine eyes
glowing with admiration and pleas
ure.
His greeting was cordial, and evil
IDENTIFY pleased his me- her.
"But why don't you kiss her, my
son. as in the old davsy ~ she smiled
gayly.
And with an answering smile, Al
bert bent his grand head and pressed
bis bearded lips tightly to mine.
"Ab. what q charming blush -
laughed my siep-motber, touching my
glowing cheek earessiDPIy with her
soft, white fingers.
] smiled. bot my heart throbbed
ps1nfulIy under the ruby velvet bo-
dice that became me so well. Be-
neash the pressure Of those bearded
lips my wsyward wop,an's heart had