Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-07-23


to him an open book, and very cosy reading.
Not that Pcfris was By any means forward and
unmafdenly bat she had not yet learned the
woman's lesson q cc,ceaiing her emotions.
blindness Of love athwart the young mans Wis
ion he could not have seen TO read 90 clearly.
He sincerely admired Persis; he thought he
loved her, or that he should love her II he
dared. But then that terrible crutch! It swung
over his head like the sword of Damocles. To-
night he seemed for the first time to forget it.
She looked 80 unusually beautiful: abe had
such sincere affection for him; how could he
resist the attraction?
"Persis," said he, IN low, thrilling tones.
/ hope" etc., etc.
commonplace love scene Another was
gong on uhder the same roof that very evening,
ana not pins choice between the two: but you
may be sure it was all as fresh and glorious to
Persls as If the world had Just been created and
she and Stanley were alone in. it. The little
hand which lay in his was not withdrawn nor
was there the faintest sign of indifference in the
eyes bent timdly on the floor 1t all ended in
the most orthodox manner; they left the party
betrothed.
As Persis passed Ephraim on the stairway, he
battered out hurried Goodnight" and she
beamed down upon him so graciously that he
walked home on a bed of roses and never really
came to his senses till Mrs. Blake dropped into
tea week afterward and said her charming new
Now Mrs. Blake was own aunt to Ephraim.
(Think what a plebian he must have been to
nave relative who took in sewingD She was
quiet, sensible woman, who attended strictly
away her left foreinger down to the bone What
she said was usually the simple truth, and you
might depend on it.
Ephraim's heart stood still.
"Persis Talbot, did you say?" asked he, pick
ing currant out Of a bun with the coolest de-
liberation.
Eyes, to Stanley Warner; the affair is cut and
dried. replied the not over elegant Aunt Blake,
as indiferently, her nephew thought, as if she
had been abiding to bushel of pippips. Mr..
z 1 SAT iate at his desk that night, and scrib
bled black "Ichabod" on every blank bit of
paper at hand. 1t was all the outward sign he
ever gave OF the hidden wound. His own
mother observed no change in him except that
he fell away from his food, ;" and stood in daily
need OF camOmile tea.
never once suspected she was trampng over a
heart. The happy young creature saw in life
out one shadow, and that was the shadow of
her crutch. 1t might now be supposed to grow
less; put, on the contrary, it rather increased.
"Oh, mother" she sighed one day. .sStanley
says it is all the defect have-this iameness. I
mean"
docs he?" remarked Mrs. Talbot. dryly and
with the set look about the lips she always wore
when Staniey's name was mentioned. 'Does
AhCu siPposc lie is thankIuf 1Or tllat one
defect. Not being anywhere near an angel
he can't wish for perfection in you
"Oh, mamma, he knows l am very human,
indeed; it is only his way of talking" said Per-
SIS, with one OF her quick bushes. q should
be glad for his sake to walk like other people.
10 you know there is way-a terrible way-I
hardly dare to tell you"
% A terrible way to what %
TO walk, gasped Persis, the color dying out
entirely, and her white lips trembling as she
spoke. AmputatiOn-as far as the ankle
Then when the time comes a cork foot. YOu
know, mamma, cork foot walks beautifully,
81 Perss Talbot How could YOU conceive
such a dreadful idea %
"Oh, heard of girl once who had it done.
l have seen her-Abby Harlow. You would
mamma, all the patent contrivances for the feet
90 no good. must always swing this cruel, de-
testible crutch unless
"Persis, when did you see Abby Harlow? Who
introduced yOuI'
Il saw her last week, mamma when went
with Stanley to the Islands,"
Mrs Talbots lips shut together with a spring
lock. What she thought of her sOn-in-law elect
II mad always been easy to guess by what she
did not say. Persis looked at her inauiringly.
and as their eyes met cold glitter of determin-
alton rose in both pair of orbs. Gentle Persis
had steel in her composition as well as her
mother the two natures met sometimes and
struck fire.
81 think, mamma" said the young girl few
weeks later, II shall go to Boston and submit
to the operation l spoke of
Her voice was low and sweet, but there was
no waverng in it.
mot with my consent, my daughter
~ am SO sorry, mamma; but you will think
better OF it. Papa has consented He is going
with me, and-and-Mr. Warner too"
There was no help for it. Persis had set her
feet in the terrible way" and Mrs Talbot
with mothers heart, could do no less than
follow. The world knew nothing of the object
OF the journey. But Ephraim Zelie learned it
from his Aunt Blake, who, unless she shut her
ears, could not help hearing the warm discus
sions between mother and daughter which were
ncautiOnsly carried on in her presence Woman
ike, Mrs. Blake took sides with that "cold-
FLOODED warner who ''hadn't any more feel
70 her nephew with the story because She knew
ne had friendly interest in Persis
But II you'd never set eyes on the sweet
amb you couldn't but want to take her part. "
cried she. thrusting her needle into bit of cam
olic us saVaSeiy as II 1t had been an imaginary
poniard, and the cloth the unfeeing breast of
Mr.. Warner.
Ephraim set his teeth together and whitfield
single into the shape of a tomahawk 1t would
have been waste of breath to tell Aunt Blake
how he lOnged to rush to the rescue and save
MS devoted Persis from her hardwood" adj
mrer.
IF she was going to marry a man with a
soul as big as ninepcnce, think could bear
IT," grOaned he 1nwardly '.Oh. little Persis.
IS there nobody to save you? My poor dear
amb!'
Meanwhile the travelling party of four was
cheerful one to all appearance; and the two
lovers, living on smiles and moOnbeams, seemed
TO forget the terror that was to come
:, Il am doing it for Stanley;" this was the girls
thought.
The time Of trial drew near Thus far Persis
had not faltered The next day would prove
how much her stout heart could bear
''GOOd night, dearest!'' said Stanley as thew
parted at the foot of the staircase in the hall of
heir hotel. Good night! Don't dream of cruel
'teel. Dream of me and the graceful little bride
shall claim one of these days"
The old ready blush fiickered on Persis' cheek:
)ut no smile came with it. She shuddered and
irew away. Something in her lovers tone hurt
Ter. She had been half conscious of the same
hing before; but tonight. as if she had Weakened
% it for the first time, it gave her thrill of
,ain.
II am doing it for Stanley, thought she, as her
lead sought the pillow.
But the magic had somehow gone out of the |
words. What if she were doing it for Stanley?
" as that going to take away the terror and the |
agony! Was there length and breadth and depth
enough In his love to atone for all this? How
'ouid he let her suffer SO? All. there was the
n hn$ 6nl he'd