The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-12-29
ARvlE.

She was our pet and baby, was Arvie.
The beauty of the family, and al grace
full and careless as the white daisies
that swing in the summer zephers.
She was just eighteen when Blanche
returned from her European trip, bring
ing with her Lord Hadley, whom she
had captivated abroad.
Blanche was a success in society. !
was confirmed old maid. and had set
tied down quite contentedly to a life OF
single blessedness; but we had always
expected that Blanche would make a
great match. Therefore, it seemed quite
a matter of course that she should re
turn from Europe, where she had been
travelling with the Blanchards, the aft.
anced wife of Lord Clifford Hadly.
1 admired my sisters choice at first
sight. He was of good height, with
massive shoulders, and an erect, easy
carriage.
His manner was perfect; quiet and
gentle yet with an indefinable something
which suggested reserve power and
strength and passion. His hair was dark
brown in color, and lay in little waving
locks about his handsome head. He
wore a heavy brown mustache, and side
whiskers trimmed closely to a narrow
line on either cheek.
His eyes we're OF a dark gray. deep
set and expressive.
He was very devoted to Blanche, and
it seemed to me that they were admira-
bly, fitted for each other. could easily
imagine Blanche as Lady Hadly, doing
the honors of the fine old place in Eng
land which she described to me.
They arrived day earlier than they
had expected, and it happened that Ar
vie had gone with party of her friends
a mile or two back from the town, after
pond-lilies. 1t was four o'clock when
she returned, and she came directly to
the sitting room, expecting to find me
there alone, with her arms full of fra
grant blossoms.
She paused just within the door at the
sight of Hadly. / can shut my eyes and
see her as she looked then-her pretty
suit Of Scotch gingham crumpled and
lilies, her broad Fayal hat pushed back
from the bright girl face with its rosy
lips and laughing brown eyes, and rings
of soft fair hair clinging damply about
the white forehead.
Blanche laughed in her quiet, lady
like way AS she came forwaid-Blanche
never made fuss about anything.
How do you do?" she said, putting
her arms about Arvie and kissing her.
This is my little sister, Lord Hadly-
you must be the best Of friends"
The gentleman advanced with unmis-
taxable admiration in his eyes.
Arvie dropped all her fragrant burden
at her feet, and smilingly laid one slen-
der, ungloved hand in Lord Hadly's.
That was their first meeting. think
in after days he must have thought of
her standing no faintest shadow in
her clear. sweet eyes, the fragrant white
blossoms at her feet not winter or purer
than her own young heart. Ny poor lit
tie sister
Hadly was come for a long visit with
US. We were delighted with him. Father,
usually very quiet and reserved, ex-
pressed his approval of the young En-
glishman in the warmest terms; and
mother was his staunch friend from the
very first.
The summer days drifted by like de-
hghtful dreams. There were pleasant
excursions down the harbor. and horse
back rides in the cool of the morning.
and croquet and lawn tennis on the lawn
in mid-afternoon, and twilight duets in
the parlor, and moonlight strolls over the
long bridge.
Lord Hadly was a most fascinating
companion; but it was not until the lat
ter part of August that I began to fear
that his companiopship had been too fas.
cinating for Arvie.
entered the parlor one morning to
look for q bit of fancy work which had
left there the night before 1 could see
through the open window Arvie, loung
ing in half-sitting posture in the ham
mock between the two veranda pillars
She made picture in her white muslin
dress, with one slim foot in its dainty
rosetted slipper peeping from under thu
fiounced hem, and the luxuriant vine
Of the woodbine dropping all abou
her.