The Osceola times., 1881-05-07
HUGH M'CHEsNEY's WIFE.
by ELLA WHEELER.

,Nlpuih az A@hitB,f J''N W. 's''
was thoroughly enjoying the rest and
calm, with all the utmost capacity of his
idle, languid nature.
Under the shadows of the same tree
sat his mother, a stately matron of sixty,
the only human being Of whom Hugh
had ever stood in fear.
"Hugh," said Mrs. McChesney, 81 have
invited the Hildreths here Tor the sum
mer. They will arrive very soon."
"Have you?" responded Hugh. Ian
guidly; but his tone did not betray the
annoyance his face expressed. He had
gone to Europe to escape these very Hill
dreths.
"Yes," continued Mrs. McChesney.
"Yes, they come tomorrow. want you
to go down to the station every day now
till they do come. Mrs. Hildreth is al
ways so particular about having due re-
spect shown her, and would not offend
her for the world"
"How many of them will there be2"
"Three. Mrs. Hildreth; her niece, who
is young widow, Mrs. Gray is beauty,
| am told and Carrie, who has just pass
ed her twenty-first birthday, and has
therefore come into possession of her
hundred thousand dollars, left her by
her father, you know"
"Yes, know" assented Hugh, wearily.
He had heard of that hundred thousand
dollars every day for year. lie bad
been shown n portrait, also, of the pros
pective heiress, which had hastened his
departure TO Europe.
al wonder" he asked lazily, as he
rocked himself lightly in the hammock,
"if Miss Carrie has any more flesh on
her bones than she used to have"
"Hugh," cried his mother, 81 supposed
you were a gentleman. ] am surprised
TO hear such an ill-bred remark from
you. Miss Carrie is most estimable
girl. and has good breeding and kind
heart, and"
"And money" interrupted Hugh
"which covers multitude of deficiencies
in man, a woman always"
"You will have an opportunity to de-
termine before long," answered his
mother, whether money amt of some
use, after all. McChesney Place will be
under the hammer in less than two years
unless something is done to save it and
you and will be beggars"
She gathered up her work and swept
away as she finished, and Hugh covered
HIS eyes Niill iliS manu-
almost groaned aloud.
"Oh my God. if she knew" he moan
ed. But, mercifully, Mrs. McChesney
did not know.
Suddenly voice broke the silence,
trilling snatch of song,
~ love my love, love my love,
love my love, because my love loves me-
This is what the voice sang. The
singer came up the orchard path, and
was almost within reach of the motion
less figure in the hammock before she
saw il.
When she started back with little
smothered cry, and face grown sud
denly crimson. She blushed and paled,
so easily, did Flossie, the old gardeners
Young daughter.
"You are very happy this morning,
dearie," said Hugh, reaching out his
hand to her. Come here and let me
look at you. have not had chance
for more than glimpse at your face
since came home. Why, child, where
has your flesh gone--you are as slender
a. a reed-you who were SO round and
rosy. Have you been i'll since ! went
away?
ooh, very ill.,"
"They never wrote me of it."
~ was not here. | went away 10 my
remember her-she that
was Mrs. Tristan's governess. She mar
ried and lives in the country. ] was
with her long time, resting and re-
cruiting."
All the time Flossie's eyes had been
turned away from the eyes of her listen
anI ha hapI la, h.lI ahaAl- lilA
leaf in his.
"You are not strong yet, | see," he
said kindly. "You must take good care
Of yourself, child, for you are young to
die {; too young, too fair, too dear"
Again wave of color swept over Flos-
sizes sweet face. But Just then voice
from the house called to her and she
hurried away.
GLOW changed she is-in some indie !
Unable way" murmured Hugh, as he
ooked after her. She seems so much |
older, someway-poor child.'
lie had known her from her child !
hood, and had made a pet of her long
before he went TO Europe.
The next day the lIildreths came.
Mrs. Hildreth, forty in years, and thou
sand in society-wisdom and experience,
and with one supreme desire in her soul,
which was to marry her daughter to
Hugh McChesney.
Carrie Ilildreth came also, tall, thin, |
sallow, with pathetic eyes, that ALWAYS
seemed pitying her own plainness. which
was rendered doubly noticeable by the
rich elegance of her toilets, and the lus-
tire of Jewels.
Twenty-one in years, and looked thirty
five beside the splendid beauty of her
cousin, Mrs. Gray.
Had it been possible TO put Mrs. GRAY
out of the way, save by cold-blooded
Mrs. llildreth would certainly
have done it before she would have
brought her to McChesney Place. But
she had invited her neice to spend the
season with them before Mrs. McChes-
ney's invitation had been received; and
she had been obliged to inform Mrs.
McChesney, therefore, of this, and to
bring Mrs Gray with her.
Lisle Gray was indeed rival to be
feared. She lad that rare combination,
blue-black eyes, golden hair, and bril-
liant bloom. She had also a warm heart,
that held all Its stores of passion yet
untouched; for she had been an old mans
darling. and though she had sorrowed
for her husband as for friend and pro-
tector, it had been no more.
Something new stirred in Hugh Nc
Chesney's heart and pulses, when Lisle's
cool, fair hand first touched his. Some
thing that made him restless, and afraid
to look into her eyes; and, therefore, he
was all to Carrie that Mrs. Hildreth
could desire.
He turned Carries music at the piano