The daily gazette., 1880-01-22
AFTER MANY YEARS.
BY L. T.


Chow oddly things come about" Mrs.
Marshall said, coming into the room
where her sister and two daughters were
busily engaged In the manufacture Of
two elaborate evening dresses.
"a deep and philosophical remark,
mamma" said May Marshall, looking
up rather saucily. "Pray what occasion
ed it?"
"You won't know anything about it,"
was the reply, "but your Aunt Effie
will"
Miss Efis Selwyn looked up in her
turn, twisting, as she did 90, q bright
blue ribbon into tasty knot.
"Mrs. Montgomery has Just called" !"
said Mrs. Marshall, sand tells me that
her brother Harold will be home In time
for Mrs. Grants party"
The knot of blue satin ribbon was
suddenly crushed out Of all shape by the
quick. c0nvulsiye grasp OF Miss Efiie Sell
wyn's fingers, while about that lady's
lius gathered whiteness and moisture
that threatened fainting fit.
/ For moment the room looked dark,
and the voices sounded far away and
indistInct-only for moment; then she
reused herself TO see that her agitation
hid been unnoticed, and TO hear her
niece Carrie saying:
~ never knew Mrs. Montgomery had
q brother"
"Probably not" said Mrs. Marshall.
"de has been In Cuba for-how many
years is 1t, Effie?"
"Twelve."
"Twelve yearsw cried May. No won
der you think Carrie aud know moth
ing about him. He must be as old as
his sister,"
| "Let me see; he was about twenty
three when he went away" said Mrs.
Marshall, musingly. "He Is not more
than thirty-fve. That Is still young for
| O man."
She looked, as she spoke, at her pretty
blooming girls Of eighteen aud twenty,
and vaguely called to mind the stories
she had heard Of the large fortune Har-
old Russell had gathered together dur
ing his exile.
Then she gave herself little mental
shake, thinking
"Pshaw! am not going to turn into
a manGuvering mother yet" and taking
a needle, also engaged In the work Of
b ll-fress making.
| For Mrs. Grants party was to be an
Q 'ent in the quiet little town of Heydon,
the hostess residing In the largest and
most stately mansion, and opening upon
| gala nights long, wide ballroom that
was the delight OF dancing feet.
The Misss Marshall, brightest #
blondes, were to appear at the coming
festival In clouds OF white tulle with
blue trimmings, aud the muliitudinous
skir's, puffs and ruffies demanded by
fashion required busy stitching for
weary hours beforehand.
Miss Selwyn had also been hidden to
the party, but "Aunt Effie never went
anywhere" the girls said, so there was
no dress preparing for her adoInment.
AS her needle went in and out through
c'oudy tulle and lustrous satin, Effie
Selwan thought
Does he bring a wife from the far-away
land of his long sojourn, or will he choose
one here among the fair young girls OF
his own country?
"On the bitter folly of the past May
and Carrie are now light hearted and
gay, as was when Harold Russell and
clasped hands with promise TO be all
In all each to the other.
"Only one little year of happiness,
and he left me. How long was it7 A
year, two years, before knew that he
thought me false TO him, never guessing
that 1t was Kates betrothed husband he
saw me greet so warmly, when never
guessed he was near.
"A brothers caress and kiss worked all
the misery. Poor sister Kate, she never
knew the anguish her handsome lovci
caused her. Well, they are far away
Happy IN their home, and I-what oi
meS
"Can II be that am so foolish as u
think the old days can ever come again
Ii Harold Russell loves now, it will be
some brilliant girl, not the faded shadow
of his old lovep
The eventful evening came al last, and
the girls were shut up in their room pre-
pairing for conquest.
toilet mysteries.
In her own room, with the door SO.
:urely fastened, Effie Selwyn was, she
said in her own heart, "makiag agoose'
of herself.
Il A very fair and satisfactory goose she
made, as her prep irations we're complet
ed, though her own criticism was moi
complimentary.
81 am but q faded old maid, aftel
ALL"
Was she?
Her thirty years of peaceful life, will
only one heart struggle, had left her fac
as smooth as in girlhOod.
"Considering 1t is twelve years sinc'
wore this dress and flowers, do no
look so very antiquated. A train II
always train, and l suppose the over.
; skirt modernizes," thought Effie.
Then she went to box hidden away
in her bureau drawer, and from Its mos
secret corner she took ring. wrapped
carefully IN soft cotton.
"Dare II" she whispesed, turning i
round under the gaslight, and showing
the device, an enameled violet, with |
flashing diamond for its heart.
"Will he despise me IL ], put 1t OF ?''
she thought. "Will he think am 100
easily won back again? Should despiss
the hasty Judgment that led him to cen
denim me unheard, twelve long, long
yaars aoo?