The Osceola times., 1881-02-12
4 BLlGHTED LIFE.
By MARY +. siOTFAT.

VI NlllL tlt YOU tlAtlihlllE' -Ntlls
1t was nothing new to see that far
away look on my brothers face when he
returned from his hospital rounds; and
as | expected, my question started him
| off to talk about something which had
| particularly interested him on that day.
He looked up with smile in his dark
| brown eyes.
"Poor little May, he said, playGlly, "it
is easy TO see that You had rather listen
even to my duh talk than to sit quiet
and NOPE to death by utter silence"
"Now, Neil" / began Indignantly,
'you know | would much prefer to hear
you tell about what you have been doing
| through the day than to-
"Neycr mind. sis; | was only teasing
You to see what you'd say. Now 10
make up for it will tell You about anew
nurse who came to-day, and who has one
OF the most interesting faces it has ever
been my lot to see"
"Neil," l said, percmptoriy, don't
you 20 and fall in love with her. | won't
hear Of it,
"No," he answered grayely, and again
| his face took that far away look.
Ny heart gave q COmpuntiJus throh.
| How could | have been 50 thoughjlc,~,
| My brother Neils darling Ahce-hisgirl-
| wife only been laid away from
sight beneath the daisies for one short
| year aud yet | had made such a speech
as That
| hastcncd tosay: "Pleasetcll me about
| herr knowing that once 10 get him 20
| tail, about his work WIS the surest way
| On chase away the shadow from his brow.
| is She very beHtiful.'
81 have seen many who could claim
more perfect features, but there is some
| thing about her which tells of unusual
nobility of soul, and also of her having
reached q height far above HAT attained
| by ordinary natures
"l hope you will become well enough
acluaIutod to ak her here some time.
Neil" | said enthusiastically. "~hc
must be lovely, indeed, TO have made
such am impression upon you.'
j. had been Ncii's custom to throw
open IN, house and spacious grounds two
ur three times during the summer for
| the entertainment of the hospital cm-
ployos. But it was now mid winter, 500
lhat unless Neil departed from his usual
routine there would be small chance of
my seeing the new nurse.
Couldn't you have Christmas party
or q New Years iute, or somcthiug?' /
continued.
"rcrhaps SD hc aid, ahseuOy.
The idea once in NY mind, was very
aIt to stay and bear fruit in time; and
before the winter had passed by ! had
induced Neil to carry ont my suggestion
In that way became acquainted with
Evelyn Boauchamp
10 know her was to love her. 1t was
long before ! could penetrate beneath the
apparent calm to which that high, pure
nature had attained and win her conf
dpuue. Bul at last | succeeded, and she
,0ld me her sad story. ! will give it in
her own words:
81 am a married woman. Ny ms-
bands name is. or was for know not
if he be still numbered among the liv-
iugl Louis Bpauchamp. | was an or
phan pupil at Madame Dupret's school
Without a living relative in the world 10
my knowledge was happy and con-
tented i'm the love Of my srhOolmates,
and in the steady light Of madamc's
kindness, until / met my fate in an in
Production 10 the handsome young
stranger whose romantic praises had
been Chantgd in my ears by my COM
pauiou4 long before | had ever seen him.
A. the first glance of his glowing dark
ewes my destiny was sealed. Madame
was wen pleased at the match, and our
married life promised very fair. But
from the FIRST, happy as | was, ! would
be conscious of a strange, shiycriug SEN
sJtion when sometimes | would look up
suddenly to find my husbands eyes fixed
upon me with Il distrustfll, halfsavace
expression in them, as though he were
irving to read my very soul. 1t was cx-
planned when | learned to know him
better. My Louis, whom | loved SO dear
ly a. not to have a thought for another,
was iealoul Once, at a concert. he saw
o lorgnctte leyeled at my face II was in
the hands of total stranger; but Louis,
in violent terms, accused me of having
tried to attract his attention. In vain |
protested against the injustice. He rose
at once and motioncd me toiollow. When
within our own house a scene followed
which beggars description. Louis drew
from his pocket a small pistol, without
which he never Travelled, and pointing to
a certain article, said:
"'l am going to send a charge through
that See how easy it will he to follow
it with one through your treacherous
heartn
For moments which seemed ages he
kept me upon the rack. Then his mood
changed and, aim st with tears, he
begged my pardon, groveling in his hu-
mllty, at my very feet,
This was the first Of many equally
fearful scenes. So that at last | became
absolutely afraid to 90 into the street lest
some curious stranger should turn to
take a second look at the face whose IA
tai beauty had worked me such suffer-
ing. Thus il went on for two or three
years. Then money became scarce.
After a time learned that Louis visited
the gaming table and when | remon-
stuted with him, he laughed jeeringly,
and told me that all our luxury and
splendor were but the fruits Of chance
AGer torturing me thus for awhile, he
explained that he had been upon the
diamond coast of Africa, and had staked
his life and health upon the chances Of
winning or losing in the feverish search
for sudden wealth. SO for time my
mird was at ease; but in his moments Of
excitement he would sometimes let fall
hints which made the blood curdle in my
veins. At last a time came when moth
| in1 was left US excepting the bare walls
of our house, and the handsome and
costly dresses he had bought for me after
orr marriage. All of our possessions had
| disappeared one after one, staked, as
too well knew, at the gaming table in a
| vain chance to lure back his fortune.