The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1881-10-01
OLD PETERS STORY.
BY HE'LL BLOSSOM.

my buffers dignity, and all evidences OF whicl
strove seduioasly 10 conceal!
1t was occasioned by no less an event thai
the return of the young lady OF the house-th
only daughter and sole heress Of all thcs
broad acres-from the finishing school IN Pan
is, to make her formal debW III society.
Tine suite OF rooms assigned TO her had beef
thoroughly renovated and reiurnlshed in
manner widely ditiereat from the solid Eng
lish comfort which prevailed ELSEWHERE
throughout the house; but to look through
them was like a sudden glimpse into the mes
OF some humming bird, which had impaired
oil its brllascy to Us belongings
Only q few days before the expected arriva
had come letter, begging permission to brnl
with her her dearest trlend-a young lady
whose father was au Eas. Indian officer, and
whose return had Unexpectedly been postpon
ell a couple Of months.
OF course the petted daughters wish wa
law and though the fond father, reading alouc
the letter prefering Tins request at the break
fast table, exchanged a glance of disappoint
ment with his wife that so soon the privacy o
their little circle must be disturbed, fOrma
invitation to Miss Aliue Revere to the hospi
,slitles Of Chalmers hall was dispatched thai
very day.
| shall never forget the evening of Miss
Chalmers return. Her chcery GLOW do you
do, Peter 2" thrilled my old bones as did the
touch of the little hand she kindly offered me-
i'll memory, perhaps, of my long service, and
the many rides up and down the broad halls
she had had on my shoulder, screaming the
while with glee.
She fitted about all the evening like bee
from flower 10 flower and 1t was as though a
burst Of sudden sunshine had illumncd the
old house She was far, sweet English
glrl but as all were seated about the dining
table | could not but acknowledge that the
palm Of beauty must be awarded TO her friend.
/ had never seen more exquisite face. IL
fairly haunted me; il held in it the fire OF the
tropics, the ice of the arctic, the light of the
heavens, the shadow Of the night-each eX-
preston in contradiction TO the other each
lending to produce harmonious warfare.
! did not think this all out myself, but some
one long after, describing Miss Revere's face,
thus worded 1t, and | knew then they had
made clear the enigma my old brain had tried
% long to solve. / would even then have
been envious, for Miss Chalmers sake, but
that she seemed so fond, so devoted to her
friend that her very gladness was an uncon.
scious rebuke to me.
1t was not long before the house was filled
with guests-ladles and ladies' maids, gentle
irg the place with gayety and excitement
Then came the announcement OF grand ball
with Invitations to all the county. And glad
enough was when the evening on which II
was to take place actually arrived, and | could
feel that the hustle Of anticipation was now at
an end
On the way down to the drawlng.roOm Miss
Flo pecped IN to see the tables, and though.
Tor once that we might compare her to M iss
Aline She was dressed in white, her arms
and neck bare but glltterlng with precious
stones Some of the family jewels her father
had had reset, and presented to her that very
morning ut the breakfast table. was not
likely to forget the circumstances for the old
feeling Of half dislike, with which had first
regarded Miss Aline swept over me as fan
cied an envious glitter sparkled in the black
eyes, as. they rested on the white, glittering
gems.
"Wlll | do Peter?" asked my mistress,
sweeping me mock courtesy, as If she had
been tiny girl; aud halt believe, instead of
answering her, brushed away a tear.
The ball WAS IA grand success and the sun
had arizen ere the sound of the wheels OF the
last carriage illed with departing guests had
died away
There had been many made welcome that
night but none, well knew, received a warm
er one than young Mr.. Earle, who had return.
ed home from Il years absence in foreign
countries only twenty four hours before.
! caught a glimpse of him once as he was
danclng with Hiss Flo. Even IN that fleet.
my moment saw how tenderly his strong
arm claspcd her; how proudly his handsome
eyes looked down upon her; how flushed with
happiness WAS her own fair face half hidden
on his broad shoulder; and my heart gave
glad and eXutant leap that 50 joyous future
was assured Ter,
| well knew what was the unexpressed fam
NY wish Tor young Mr.. Earle's estates adjoined
our own Tney were unfettered, unincumber-
ed and III every way splendid patrimony.
had turned away from this tleeting glimpse
among the great folks, my Old brain filed
with The Idle ireams Of the future, when my
eyes chancea 20 fall upon one, who, like my
self, was eugIossed IN the animated scene be
yond US. II vas Miss Flo's friend, bat oh,
how change
The mask had fallen from her beautiful
face. The great black eyes, larly scintillating
with supprc.s1 Cd feeling, were fixed upon those
two who moved in such perfect harmony to
the music. 4 drop Of blood was on her scarlet
lip, where i,,r little white teeth had rested
One small hand was invountarily clenched.
Her mouth IL wed, but no sound ISSUED from It,
stood ira 'nXed, strange cod shiver run.
niDg thrcu "a me. IL was this fury whom
Miss Flo, geu le and unconscious, regarded as
her dearest 4 End.
OF what sil.lmight be made her dearest foe
rememberad then the look had seen these
same eyes iiX upon the jewels Was shc cnvi.
ons of nv young lady's fortuney What dan.
ger might ngl threaten her through this beau.
tiiui panthcf. ? and yet how dared |, q hum.
hia spryant tttpr a word of N.aruinP Even
With these '..clghts passing IL quick success
ZION throlga my mind, there Was so sudden
s1d Instance o change over Miss Revcres
EXPRESSION III. | could scarce recall the other
except rs t..e suit oil some hidden coniuring
3f my ONO Fancy
3 Mss Flo g,s coming towards her, leaning
,n Mr Farce arms.
returne,l e my duties with heavy heart,
,elt a shadow Of i'll was pending over Us, yet
almost fofst 1t next day, when my young
.,lyss torlns engagement 10 Mr.. Earle was an.