The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1880-08-06


ton, was endeavoring to make amends
to the children for neglect of the par
ents.
Since that bright spring day when I
babe Ethel good-by had rolled twelve
years, when one morning letter from
Ethel was placed in my hand-still
Ethel Raymond, but instead of the
lovely child of poverty brilliant, beau,
tiful and accomplished woman, an heir
ess and the pet of society. just having
returned from Europe, she had written
to me to come to her. Tt was an affec-
tionate, merry letter, descriptive of the
gayeties of society life, containing a full
account of the last conquest, ETC., and
finally ending up with an imperative de-
mand for my presence at her home
Thanksgiving, saying her uncle had
given her full liberty to invite what
guests she chose for that day, (which will
be yourself, uncle, brother Harry and
myself. You see want only those
whom [ love for my first Thanks
giving at home after so long an absence
kind of family reunion, you know.
And now, dearest, she added, unless
you wish to entail lifelong misery up
on your old friend you must be sure to
come. ?"
1 handed the letter over to mamma
with a smile, who, after reading it
through, quietly remarked, "Well, my
dear, | think you can go"
ooh, mamma p I cried, ego when
I haven't thing fit to wear" For the
same years that had brought wealth and
luxury to Ethel Raymond had brought
poverty to me.
my dear, I think you speak rather
sweepingly, do you not? 1t seems to
me that you have very nice black
cashmere which will do very well for
street and churchwear. Iknow, of course,
that your wardrobe is not what young
lady would wish on entering fash
ionable society, but, my dear, it is all
you have; and, you know, lady will
appear lady under all circumstances.
Go, child, and enjoy all you can.
You remember Ethel once spent a
! Thanksgiving with you under similar
circumstances, only you were children
then )" and I presume she has not forgot
ten 1t, and week or two later found me
domiciled with my friend. Oh, the hap
Ply days lived over again within the
sacred precincts Of our own room 1t
was here, the morning of that memoir
able Thanksgiving, that we had both
suddenly subsidized into silence after one
of our extended conversations. Ethel,
seated upon low ottoman, just opposite
my favorite perch on the side of the bed,
was busily engaged in undoing the long,
heavy braids of her hair, which, when
loosened, fell in great golden waves about
her shoulders. Suddenly turning, she
merrily cried: "Why those piercing
orbs of midnight darkness fixed upon,
this innocent countenance, as if to pierce
the very depth ofmy inmost soul ?"
"Don't be tragic, dear, I was only occu-
pied with my own thoughts, " I inter-
rupted.
GA penny for your thoughts, then"
"Well, my dear, I was just wonder
ing how soon that ardent admirer of
yours, Col. Blackwell, of the million and
mustache, is to claim that little, white
hand; the symptoms are quite alarming,
and it is time the case was reported"
"Marry Col. Blackwell, is that what
you mean? That will never be. No,
never she added, with little SILVER. I
presume you have discoveredth the Colonel's
standing with my uncle, who has been
anxious for years for an alliance be-
tween the two families. The Black
wells, you know, are very aristocratic
and wealthy family. The Colonel is
handsome, intelligent, good, everything
in fact that the world would unanimously
vote good MATCH but, my dear, she
added, with something of bitter smile,
[ am SO foolish as to think that there is
another requisite to happiness which the
world usually leaves out of consideration,
and that is love, and as [ possess none
OF that Ito my happiness, necessary
commodity my uncle's ambition must
be sacrificed and my expectant friends
disappointed"
We'll, Ethel, pray inform us what
kind of a man is to succeed, when the
elegant, accomplished and fascinating
Colonel fails"
"Well, I am sure I don't know.
sometimes think that necessary little Or
gan called the heart was left entirely out
Of my composition, and, consequently,
doubt capability Of any unusual
amount of affection; and, under the cir
cumstances, it were better for Ethel
Raymond to tread Iife's pathway alone
than to be an unloving wife, a handsome
husband and elegant establishment to
the contrary. Do you know [ some
times think, she added, musingly,
had the gentle voice and tender smile
of Eugene Emerson, our boy teacher,
been known to me in maturer years,
things might have"
"Ah, indeed p I interrupted, with a
merry laugh. $50, after all, it is not
the lack of affection that is so disastrous
to our friend, the Colonel. Only in the
wrong direction; that's all. Come, now,
confess. Confession, you know, is good
for the soul.
Ono, no; you are too fast. L was
only little child in those days, you will
remember"
"WelI, then am to understand the
only serious effect then was to destroy
any germ of affection which might spring
up in after years."
"Well, perhaps; I believe you al
ways NuA PoooOoo U1lO 1hCuGJ VI udCulS
things down to fine point.
"Where is he ?" inquired. "Do you
know anything of him %
81 have heard nothing for a long
time. He used to write to me OCCASION
ally in my childhood days, and once
when in the city had the audacity to
call, as my uncle expressed it, of which
fact was not informed for some time
after. Then my uncle told me that he
thought it best that our acquaintance
should end, and, presume, gave him to
understand the same, as / have never
received any letters since. He is now
editing country newspaper somewhere
in the West, believe, and / occasion
ally find articles from his pen in our
leading scientific journals, which even
uncle is forced to admit are very fine.
But come, my dear if we go to church
this morning we must hasten our pre-
parations.
In a few moments 1 was ready, wait
ing for Ethel, who, In her navy blue
silk, velvet cloak, ermines, and jaunty
hat with its long. waving white plume,
was indeed fair picture to look upon,
as she caught up the long train of her