Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-04-23
Mas IL Mistress.

LY MtEI -ItNULE.
tvs glo,iuu, . ,ot,r i '. when
Bella l. we're 80 form. ID M,r- Ter ia
vorIle steel, for her -ual AornIuC
II e Thr foliage uai only IIst begn
10 chang, 70 the woods IL general
were til green. But arpidy. III Tia"
bellows. were httlr patches Of color So
exqnI>Itely lovely that they looked like
tue - deus of Paradise; the hickory
the dog wood ami the naples, here aud
there, blazing out Indescribably beau
tiiul Then the shadows that NOV. Il
slowly across the hills we're solemn
enough to have come from the wings Of
great passing angels.
After a sharp trot of an hour, Bella
let her horse fall into walk, and tnrn
ing into the very heart of the forest,
drew up ut spot where the ferns rose
almost up to the knees of Mars. Here,
letting the reins lie 10 Isely Oh his heck
she took off her plumed cavalier hat.
and stretched up to pull cluster of
particularly brilliant leaves.
Just such a day as this she said,
with sigh, here, on this very spot,
and now"
A great tragedy had fallen on our
heroine, and the traces of it could still
be read in her face. Years before, she
had loved, and been loved in return;
here, on this very spot. she had first
listened to her suitor's VOWS and pledged
her own in reIurn; and for a few bliss
full weeks, in that eventful autumn. she
had been supremely happy. But there
had come Misunderstanding; jealousy
had driven her almost insane; and in a
moment of angry recrimination she
had discarded her lover. Hugh Cal
verify was as high-spiritea as herself,
and nearly as exacting. He had taken
her at her word, left by the next train
for the city, and sailed for Europe be.
fore week was out, missing, by this
haste, the repentant letter, which, after
astrnegle of fortnight, Bella had sent
to call him back.
The ship in which he sailed had never
been heard of since. There had been
q terrible cyclone, in which three or
four other vessels had barely escaped
shipwreck, about five days after Hugh
hat left for New York; and there was
no doubt among those who were expe-
.,
ship barclay had gone down with all on
board, as the President and Pacjfc, and
many others had gone down before her.
Her owners said ''she has struck an
iceberg, and foundered at once, or else
We should have had tidings," and this
was the general conclusion also.
1t was not till tweivemonth had
passed, however, that Bella had re-
nounced all hope. Then with burst
OF tears she cried, one day.
de will never, never come back
never, till the sea gives up its dead"
Bella was passionately fond of all
brute animals, and especially of horses;
but she loved her favorite, Mars, with
a love surprising words; for he had
been gift from Hugh, in those happy,
happy days; and she had never had an
opportunity of returning him, for which
she was now glad. She found, indeed.
asecret pleasure in riding him and pet
ting HIM. Perhaps there was some
thing OF unconcious remorse and atone
ment in this.
Thus 1t came to pass, that not day
passed In which Bella did not visit
Mars IN his stable, and few in which
she dld not go sweeping over hill and
dale, TIL her floating feather became as
well known, il that mountain region.
as tie white plume of Henry of Ma.
ware, OF old, on the battle-fields of
france. Many and many night, after
hours spent in the saddle, she sobbed
herself TO sleep however, crying
On, II Hugh could but have lived
to forgive mel IF he only knew
now. If some one could only come
back from the dead - tell me he has
pardoned me-"
The years, however. had not dimmed
beilas beauty; on the contrary, thew
lad improved 1t. Her face was more
clas ened; her figure had developed
AT three and-tweuty she Nas almost
re.al Meantime, there had been no
Iack q! suitors for her hand. But 10
ali she turhed deaf ear. Her heart
vas buried with Hugh.
h-r greatest pleasure vas TO ride
WIZ Mars, TO this secluded forest re-
Cess ~Lere fern, tag. aud tree all
IeD iided her Of the pas. Sue WAS
Ios' IL deep thought hos, her finger,
Fill hngerIng, uneOn.cIou.lv. on the
bf-Lch that she hai forgotten. I, pluck
Sbel size SAs recalled To herself by the
excited p4EILC Of Mars
Qliet. sr. quiet sic said. gath
erhg Dr. her relns IustinctIyelv. ',Yyu
doh See ghosi. Mar. do youP"
She hal scarcely spoken whom 9
tnicEei parted, Just b-slda her an3
fooeh-ip0king, coarsely -clai man s,en-
y. iJ''A- ne wore a sl0uched. torn
bat, beneath which peeped forth
h, threatening countenAuce, half
hioo ea py Wild, tangled, black locks