The Osceola times., 1881-06-11

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past our house, and stopping for chat
with mamma when she and Stella were
| tesether.
And Stella was at home often Of an
I afternoon. sometimes reading aloud 10
Us, sometimes helping mamma with the
msndinc, sometimes idiiug over a bit
/ OF fancy-wo-k, with her pale face grown
/ drsSmily = serio1s. and her great. thought
/ full eyes fred upon the sunshiny land
s>ape whe.s Che-terton Court loomed
white and stately on the distant hill.
AT such times we had an odd feeling
I thSt we did nos quite understand Stella,
and it would be a relief 10 see Gerald or
Norman .auntering up the walk. or Sir
Jasper stopping at the gate TO deliver
unfailing remarks Of our splendid view
Of ''the Ein," and "the Hail." and TO
have her aroused TO II erTIment and COZ
versation. The mornings she nearly
always spent with Grey, helping him in
the fields as well and as energetically as
any boy, or riding with him over the
farm or tc the nearest market town.
And so that summer time slipped by
without cloud to darken its happiness;
and 1t had been happy one, and Ches-
terton had never known gayer one;
indeed, the excitement in which Dora
and had lived was the only drawback,
for we had had fewer hours Of
quiet talking, and walking, and driving
with our lovers than ever before, But ]
what need | grieve at, when Gerald
and | were to be married in 0ctohe'r
and ten DAYS of September were already
gone. Dora vas to pay a visit Of two
weeks 10 friend Of hers about twenty
miles away, and then the wedding dress
making WAS @ begin in earnest. Al
ready Vas b-sy irum morning - night
Hi;h nv pile of fuery.
~Gccd bye. Dora" sid S-elll. that
morning. I know stzu ind u horri-
by dull while ycu are away, with Es-
iher -rSpDei up in her sewing q her
lover. and Gerald sDoug the missing.
Try 10 SCI OF with staying one week in
stead OF two, that's good girl
Dora laughed, as she said ser good
nyes and went cut 10 the carriage, y here
Gerald was waiting to drive her across
the h2lf-oo1en miles Of country that
sy between e and the nearest railway
station.
i am sorry for you, Of course. but !
cannot see that can relieve your mis-
cry except ~ asking Gerald TO devote
the time OF ny absence TO cheering you
up"
"0h! he viii not be any kind Of CON-
pany with you away" retorted Stella,
With merry disdaIn.
Perhaps il vas TO convince Stella that
he could be entertaining, even with the
object Of his sic c.ionsn not by. tnat Gerald
UlAVcring came 10 the hose quite as
regularly du-ing Dors's abslnce as when
she was st home. Certainly none Of Us
questioned tie prvprieiy or wisdom
of the matter. Our cousins intercourse
with both ny sisters lover and my own
Z had been beyond the criticism Of the
most critical, 20 frank, 20 matter Of fact,
| 20 sisteTly, had been her treatment OF
them. Indeed it was impossible to
/ discern the slightest difference between
the easy, graceful eomradeship she be-
slowed upon Grey and her manner to-
ward Norman and Gerald; snd Dora and
had long since laughed at the idea Of
ever being jealous Of Stella. and We
resented, indeed, iAe application Of the
word "firt" to h$ Popular she GER,
| tainly was, but there was not bit OF
| the vulgar firt about her; she never
made the smallest attempt TO attract at
/ tention: even her toilets, though always
extremely stylish and exqpisitely be-
/ coming, were nouceably simple and
Reat.
And so du-ing an that busy month,
while Dora was away, and afterwards
when we were at our wits ends over
| piles OF silks, and fringe, and laces
Stella went her way with Grey, and
| chatted through half the evenings with
/ Gerald and Norman. But a cloud gath
cred all of sudden-OLe night.
Norman was late In coming. Gerald
and Dora were singing in the drawing
room, GREY had taken mother for a
stroll, and had seated myself in the
/ dusk to wait for my lover. II was a
glorious moonlight night, aud so mild
that kept The window open and peeped
out from behind the cl sed blinds. Pres
emily heard click of the gate, and
saw Norman coming slowly up the walk
in the full light OF the moon. Was ii
that had not seen his face in repose for
long time, now, that it looked changed
20 ne-that i was graver than it's wont
and vaguely troubied2
Suddenly a tiny figure, all in white.
sprung out from the shadows at the
house, and advanced TO the front steus.
"What Is the matter with the Norman
chief Tonight" Stella cried, gayly. "He
looks altogether graVer than a lover
should Couldn't be summon a smile.
81 hope yoI are not put out with ne, be-
cause he kissed me. | must saw thought
il rathe- premature, since We are not
quite cousins yet"
"And never will bel" | responded,
slowly, though my heart was throbbing
so bitterly / could scarcely control nay
voice. Norman loves you. Surely you
know this You must know ii. He
cannot be your cousin, he must be your
husband. renounce my claims on
him ltterly. Stella. Yours are greater
because he bears for you greater love. "
Stella looked at me with calm, wide
open eyes.
.Don't be foolish, Esther" she said
dispationately, laying her tiny hand on
my arm as ! finished my rapid, heart
broken speech. 1T is very nice and TO-
mantle in yol TO orier me your husband,
but / lik- Norman-nOthing more. He
cannot recall single act or word Of
mine n which | have given him 10 un-
derstaud that loved him. And"-she
hesitated moment, just moment ;
GREY and Gerald had come out on the
lawn, and were within a few yards Of US
II have already chosen whom / shall
marry; J am beiro;hed TO Sir Jasper
Claverirg.N
She spoke the words with perfect ev-
enness, perfect clearness.
Gerald staggered when he heard them
like man smitten by an unexpected