Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-07-25

it. The heart Of his little friend had long been
TO hin an open book. ard very easy reading.
Net that PerCis was by any means forward and
| uamaidehly: but she had not yet learned the
wotnans lesson of concealng her emotions
pefiiaps If there had been q trific more of the
blindness of love athwaft the young mans WIS.,
,,9h ne could not Fave seen to read so clearly.
lie sincerely admired Persis: he Thought he
ioved her. or that he should love her if he
dared. But then that terrible crutch 1t swung
over his head like the sword OF Damccles. To-
night ne seemed for the first time to forget it.
She looked so unusually beautiful; she had
such sincere affection for him: how could he
| resist the attraction?
"Persis, said he in low. thrilling tones.
words cannot say how dear you are to me. May
1 nope, etc. etc.
A commonplace love scene Another was
gong on under 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
l,ersis as II the world had just been created and
She anu 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hand which lay in his was not withdrawn.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 timidly on the floor. 1t all ended in
.he most orthodox manner; they left the party
AS Persis passed Ephraim on the stairway, he
battered out hurried "Good-night." and she
Deained 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 afterwaFd and said her charming new
| friend, PeTsis Talbot was going to be married
NOW Mrs. Blake was own aunt to Ephraim
lThink what plebian he must have been to
nave relative who took in scwing,) She was
quiet, sensible woman, who attended strictly
10 her own business, and had almost pricked
away her left forehnger 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 saw" asked no nick
ing curTant out of bun with the coolest de-
liberation.
Yes, to Stanley Warner; the affair is cut and
dried replied the not over elegant Aunt Blake
as indiierently. her nephew thought. as if she
mad been abiding to a bushel of pippips Mr..
Zelle sat late at his desk that night. AID scrib-
bied black ''Ichabod" on every blank bit Of
paper at hand. 1t was all the outward sign ne
ever gave of the hidden wound. His own
mother observed no change in him eycent that
The fell away from his food" and stood in daily
need of caniOmile tea
Even Persis herself, "walkng on thrones
never once suspected she was tranping over a
heart. The happy young creature saw in life
put one SHADOW. and that was the shadow of
her crutch It might now be supposed to grow
less: but, on the contrary, it rather increased.
"Oil, mother" she sighed one day, STANLEY
says 1t Is all the defect have-this lameness /
mean"
Does hep" remarked Mrs Talbot. dryly. and
with the set look about the lips she always wore
when Stanleys name was mentioned docs
ne! Then suppose he is thankful for that one
aelect; Not being anywhere near an angel
nllnself, he can't wish for perfection in you
On, mamma, he knows | am very human.
indeed; it Is only his way of talking" said Per-
sis, with one of her quick bushes 81 should
be glad for his sake to walk like other people.
DO you know there is a way-a terrible way-I
hardly dare to tell you"
"a terrible way to what ?"
ITO walk, gasped Persis, the color dying out
entirely, and her white lips trembling as she
spoke. "Amputation-as far as the ankle
Ihen when the time comes. cork foot. You
know. mamma. a cork foot walks beautjfully.n
8 Persis Talbot! How could you conceive
such dreadful idea?'
ION, heard of girl once who had it done.
l have seen her-Abby Harlow You would
never detect the slightest limp. You know,
mamma, all the patent contryances for the feet
90 no good, l must always swing this cruel, de-
testible Crutch unless"
"Persis, when did you see Abby Harlow? Who
introduced you?"
Il saw her last weeR mamma when went
with Stanley to the Islands"
Mrs. T2l5ot,s lips shut together with spring
lock. What she thought of her sOn-n-law elect
1t had always been easy to guess by what she
did not say. Persis looked at her inauringly.
ana as their eyes met cold glitter of determine
alton rose in both pair Of orbs Gentle Persis
mad steel in her composition as well as her
mother; the two natures met sometimes and
struck fire.
Il think, mamma" said the young girl few
to the operation / spoke Off
Her voice was low and sweet, but there was
no wayering in it.
Not with my consent, my daughter"
~ am so sorry, mamma; bat you will think
better OF it. Papa has consented. He is going
with me. and-and-Mr. Warner too"
There was no help forit. 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 ZeIie 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
ncautiously carried on in her presence. Woman
IKE, Mrs; Blake took sides with that "cold-
booded Warner" who ''hadn't any more feel
ing than billet Of rock maple.' She went
to her nephew with the story because she knew
he had friendly interest in Persis.
But II you'd never set eyes on the sweet
lamb you couldn't but want to take her mart
cried she thrusting her needle into a bit of cam
Dr1c as sayagely as if it had been an imaginary
poniard, and the cloth the unfeeling breast of
Mir. Warner.
Ephraim set his teeth together and whitfield a
ShiHgie INTO the shape of a tOmahawk 1t would
nave been waste of breath to tell Aunt Blake
now ne iOnged to rush to the rescue and save
his devoted Persis from her hardwood" ad-
mircr
IF she was going to marry man with a
soul as big as ninepence, think could bear
II, groaned he inWardly. oh little Persis.
is there nobody to save you? My poor dear
lamb"
Meanwhile the travelling party of four was a
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 ialtered. The next day would prove
how much her stout heart could bear
Good night, dcarest!" said Stanley az they
parted at the foot OF the staircase in the hall Of
their hotel. Good night Don't dream Of cruel
steel, Dream Of me and the graceful little bride
shall claim one of these days"
The old ready blush flickered on Pcrsis' cheek;
but no smile came with it. She shuddered and
drew away. Something in her lovers tone hurt
her. She had been half conscious Of the same
thing before; but tonight, as if she had wakened
to it for the first time, it gave her thrill of
pain.
81 am doing it for Stanley, thought she as her
head sought the pillow.
But the magic had somehow gone out Of the
words What if she were doing it for Stanley?
Was 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
could he let her Snffar SOP All There was tha