The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-09-23
THE HISTORY OF A LIFE.
BY THE AUTHOR OF CAPTAIN GERALD" THE
RIGHT OF Way" ETC.
CHAPTER XVI.
A STEP ON THE STAIRS.

panied, annoyed, and seriously dlspleased,
he came towards Euphemia at once, and
offered her his arm.
81 thought you told me it was quite
impossible for you to go out to-day, Eu-
phemia; and here find you on my return
from q solitary walk, a good mile from
home"
81 thought it was impossible" she an
swered i'll visible confusion; "but heard
Of the dangerous illness of an old servant
OF mine and did not like to stay away"
"Who was this old servantW asked Mr..
Roper, in tone that showed he had his
suspicious, and would not allow any
evasion.
'1t was Margaret Cell"
II feared as much, And you know,
Euphemia, that ever since our marriage,
the one difference between us has been
your infatuation for this wretched, un-
''Then the difference may be very soon
settled, George, for instead of having any
leaning towards her, she is the only per-
son in the world whom really hate"
"Then why 90 near herr"
"Because she is sick and afflicted"
"Her misfortunes are entirely of her
own making"
"True; and that is why they are so
hard to bear,' replied Euphemia, feeling
ly "a person who has the conviction
Of her own integrity to support her is
not overwhelmed"
"But what is the matter with her
now?"
"She is dying, believe"
'Ihooyy are bad lot, Euphemia. My
bailif' tells me that the sons are poachers
and thieves, and the old mother is as
worthless as she can be. Margaret he
he does not know much of, as she has
been away for a great many years; but
says that, as girl, she was perfectly un-
manageable until she got place some
where at distance"
~ suppose she behaved well there"
said Euphenia, who, in spite of her dis
like, found it necessary to attempt some
defense.
'She only stayed few months, at any
rate"
"Did she come back here afterwards%'
"For time, and then she started of
on her travels, it seems, and was neither
seen or heard of until quite lately. 1t
seems to me particularly unfortunate
that her arrival should have 50 quickly
succeeded ours"
cit is an unfortunate coincidence, GER
tainly; but do not think we need con.
vert it into a trouble, George, for the
woman has Just been telling me that she
means to leave the neighborhood as soon
as she is recovered. We can surely sub.
nit to the inAction for little while"
"For little while-yes," replied Mr.
Roper "But you can not expect me tC
regard herpresence here with any amount
Of favor, when you consider that my wife
shows me plainly that she prefers hel
society to mine" ..
"Nay, George, but you are very unjust
How could l do thatT'
It is rather my place to ask that ques
ton. Without being unduly vain,
might certainly have calculated upor
having the preference over person like
Margaret Cell"
Euphemia looked him full in the eyes
and on her beautiful lips there was tht
shadow of smile--a smile that said al
plainly as words, 'It is only your voice
that misjudges me, not your heart"
Mr.. Roper, who was keen and penetra
ting, interpreted this smile Alright, and hi
hand went quickly to clasp her hand
and cordially, too. ...
"My dear, it will not do for us to quar-
1a1, l. L.,
Of it, and it simply serves to display m.
weakness"
On arriving at their own garden, Eu
phemia, as she passed between the flower
beds, stopped and gathered herself bou
quet, and the first flower she plucke'
happened to be narcissus.
Mr.. Roper stared at her minute il
perfect surprise. He was always s.
consistent himself, that he could accoun
for any variation of mood or opinion il
Others At last, out of pure thoughtful
ness, he ventured to demonstrate.
"My dear Euphemia, you will hav
another OF those painful attacks you ha
this morning, if you do not take care
You know that the scent of the narcissu
always makes you JILL"
Euphemia picked this flower out of til
bunch, and tossed it away
"Now they will not hurt me, )" she sale
And there was something in her ton
and manner that stopped MIR. Roper frol
saying anything more.
They went in soon after this, and Ell
phemia was about to retire to her ow
room, leaving Mr.. Roper in the librar
to write some letters
~ hope may not be called away, bu
your father wants me to run up town fC
day or ,wo," he said. "There is som
business in hand that promises we'll; an
though have empowered him to az
without me, he does not like to take tn
sole responsibility of the undertaking."
"And quite right, too" answered Ell
phemia, who, feeling that her father ha
never yet been very safe in his specul
tions, was very anxious that Mr.. Rop'
should investigate this before it was d
cided upon.
"Then you want to get rid of me, E