The Osceola times., 1881-09-03
MIlRIEL.


morning, stood looking out on the dun
skies, that held no promise, past or fu-
tnre, of sunrise, looking at the sodden
earth, the gaunt tree-tops swaying
through the mist Of whirling snow like
spectral arms--and, in that solitary hour,
before there was any stirring in the
house, forced herself to look deliberately
in the face this that had come to her.
In the first place, she thoroughly dis
liked Mr.. stretton, and equally thor
oughly loved his wife. She had been
strongly inclined to refuse the pressing
offer, the tempting offer he had made
her, one week before-the day her faith
er had been buried-but, after the note
Mrs. Stretton bad sent her, begging her
to consider the offer, showing Muriel
how helpless and loveless and hopeless
her lite was. forever imprisoned between
chair and lounge and bed, and giving
her, in such sweet, motherly delicacy,
glimpses of the true and tender affection
waiting to be bestowed upon hereafter
this letter from Mrs. Stretton, Muriel
lad decided to 20, as Mrs; stretton,s
and to receive in return a fair salary, a
good home, the child's and mothers
honest affection. And-to have 10 live
under the same roof with Hubert Street.
ton.
To Muriel it seemed as though it
could not be possible for one person to
dislike another more thoroughly than
she disliked hubert Stretton. So long
rs she had known him she had felt the
same curious repulsion toward him. and
yet--there were enough people who
thought him not only handsome, but
agreeable.
lie certainly was not ill-looking, and
he certainly had plenty of money 10
make himself agreeable and elegantly
hospitable in his own house. He was
society man"-fairly fond of his DELI
cate little wife, and little blue.eyed
daughter.
In appearance he was tall, with in
tensely blue eyes. and intensely black
hair that curled closely around his
head, with a fierce, heavy moustache
and beard of iron gray--a man TO com
mand attention anywhere, and as much
from his courtly, martial bearing Us
from his always faultless attire and dis
unonished appearance.
But-Muriel disliked him, and since a
day two years back, now, when Cyril
Vernon had told her he had every rea-
son to believe that her friends husband
was not the man he represented him.
self 10 be, Muriel had made up her mind
that Cyril knew.
Because, TO her, Cyril was lord and
master-was thus, in those blessed,
happy days when fortune and friends
and home and happiness were all hers.
While now-sitting in the gloomy
March morning, all the world in mute
symnaiiptic mood. she realized 20 the
very fullest extent, how cruel Cyril had
been, how lie who had warned her
against Hubert Stretton's unmauly
deceit and duplicity. had himself been
worse than guilty of such.
Looking back, it seemed like an en-
chanting fairy tale to Muriel those
beautiful love.lighted DAYS. Now, in
this cold, wretched present, in which
she was so honestly trying 10 be content
and grateful, everything seemed unrat-
uial, while-and she did not dare look
very far ahead, there stretched out
future as gloomy as the grave iself-a
future uncheered Ivy the hope woman
needs TO hiv her Mp. uuliehted but by
the ta,sl fiickering of stubborn determi.
nation to endure as long as might be.
For now that Cyril so evidently had
yut her out of his life, there could be
only an endurance for her.
Right into her thoughts came sharp,
heart broken cry-little four year old
Flossie's: the sound OF bare feet patter-
ing in the hall upstairs, from room to
room. and then the child's voice in the
half heart broken, half frightened cry;
"Muriel Me want you-quick-quick!
Mammals so jedful sick
And when Muriel had sprung up the
stairs, and lifted the shivering little one
in her arms, she was met by MIR. STREET
,on lust at his dressing-room door
paier, perhaps, than she had ever seen
him.
II think she is dying. Send for DIR.
Heath, if you please, Miss Fenton-at
once"
And wher DIR. Heath came, mother
less little Flossie was sobblng out her
fright ana heart sickness, with tiny
arms wrapped tight around Muriels
neck.
They had laid Mrs. Stretton away for
her long, dreamless rest, and the sister
of the widower, who had volunteered 70
siey A month, while things "nehted
bemselycs-if things ever do get righted
when the mother and wife is forever
gone away, was 10 return home on the
morrow, and little Flossie. her lace pale