Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-08-25
THE EVENING STAR.
AUGUST IS. I
OLD PETERS STORY.

OLD PETERS STORY.
Ali was excitement in the great house on the
nil. LOT SO Chalmers Hall was known for miles
around. had not served the family. boy and
man. fOr thirty years. without sharing it to q
certain degree not Incompatible with nv buffers
dignity, and all evidence Of which strove sed-
| ulOusly to conceal.
/ 1t was occasioned by no less an event than
the return ofthe young lady ofthe house-theo rily
| daughter and sole heireSs of all these broad
acres-hom the finishing school, in Paris, to
make her formal debut in society.
The suite OF rooms assigned her had been
thoroughly renovated and refurnished in q
manner widely different from the solid English
comfort which prevailed elsewhere throughout
the house; but to look through them was like
sudden glimpse into the nest Of some humming-
bird which had impaired all its brilliancy to its
belongings.
Only few days before the expected arrival
had come letter, begging permission to bring
with her her dearest friend-a young lady
whose father was an East Indian officer. and
whose return had Unexpectedly been postponed
! couple of months.
| Of course the petted daughters wish was law;
and though the fond father, reading 36ud the
letter preferring this request at the breakfast
| table, exchanged q glance of disappointment
with his wife that so soon the privacy of their
| little circle must be disturbed, formal invita-
| ton to Miss Aline Revere to the Inequalities
OF Chalmers Hall was dispatched that very day.
! shall never forget the night of Miss Chalmers
return Her CHEEKY 'HOw do you do Peter3"
thriedmy old bones, as did the touch of the little
| hand she kindly offered me, in memory perhaps
OF my long service and the many rides up and
down the broad hall she had had on my shoulder
screaming the while with glee.
She fitted about all the evening like bee
from hover to flower, and it was as though
burst OF sudden sunshine had illumined the
wnoie mousse She was fair, sweet English
girl; but. as all were seated about the dinner
| table, could not but acknowledge that the pam
OF beauty must be awarded to her friend. | had
| never seen a more exquisite face 1t fairly
hauntedme; it held in it the fire of the tropics the
Ice OF the Arctic. the light of the heavens. the
shadow of the night-each expression in contra
harmonious warfare.
did not think this all out myself. but some
one long after in describing Miss Revere's face
thus wOrded it. and l knew then it had made
clear the enigma my old brain had so long tried
TO solve. would even then have been envious.
LOT Miss Chalmers sake. but that she seemed so
fond, so devoted to her friend. that her very
gladness was an unconscious rebuke to me.
| IL was not long before the house was filed with
| guests-ladies and ladies' maids. gentlemen and
Their Wallets, coming and going, filling the place
with galety and excitement. Then came the
announcement of a grand ball. with invitations
to all the county. Glad enough was when the
evening it was to take place actually arrived.
| oiiN Oouiu lcCl ttlc UUStle vi dQCiciUatlOn Was
at an end.
On her way down to the drawing-roOm. Miss
Flo peeped in to see the tables. and thought
1or that once we might compare her to Miss
Ahne. She was dressed in white her arms and
neck bare but glittering with precious stones
Some of the family jewels her father had had
reset and presented to her that very morning
at the breakfast table. / was not likely to for
get the circumstance, for the old feeling of half
dislike with which l had at first regarded Miss
|
glitter sparkled in the black eyes, as they
| rested on the white, glittering gems
win do, Peter?' asked my young mistress.
sweeping me mock courtesy, she had done
when a tiny girl; and half believe, instead of
answering her. brushed away tear.
The ball was grand success and the sun had
| risen ere the sound of the wheels OF the last
carriage filled with departing guests had died
| away.
There had been many made welcome that
night. but none. well knew, received warmer
one than young Mr.. Earle. who had returned
| home from years absence in foreign countries
| only twenty-f0ur hours before
L caught glimpse OF him once as he was
dancing with Miss Flo. Even in that fieetng
moment [ saw how tenderly his strong arm
clasped her. how proudly his handsome eyes
| looked down upon her, how flushed with hap
piness Was her own fair face, half hidden on his
| broad shoulder; and my heart gave glad ex-
ultant leap that SO joyous future was assured
her.
well knew what was the unexpressed
FAMILY wish, for young Mr.. Earle's estates ad-
joined cur own. They were unfettered. unen-
cambered, and in every way splendid patri-
mony.
had turned away from this feeting glimpse
among the great folks, my old brain filled with
| It's idle dreams of the future. when nv ewes
chanced to fall upon one who, like myself was
engrOssed in the animated scene beyond us. 1t
was Miss Flo's friend. but oh, how changed!
n Ok ha6 foil har
The great black eyes, fairly scintilating with
| suppressed feeling, were fixed upon those two
who moved in such perfect harmony to the
| music. drop of blood was on her scarlet lip.
where her little white teeth had rested. One
small hand was invOluntarily clenched Her
mouth moved, but no sound issued from it.
| l stood transfXed. strange. cold shiver run
ming through me. 1t was this fury whom Miss
Flo, gentle and unconscious, regarded as her
| dearest friend
OF what stuff might be made her dearest foe?
| remembered then the look had seen these
same eyes fix upon the jewels. Was she envious
of my young ladys fortune? What danger might
not threaten her through this beautiful pam
| theresa And yet how dared |, an humble serv-
ant, utter word Of warning?
Even with these thoughts passing in quick
succession through my mind. there was so sud-
den and instantaneous q change swept over Miss
revere 8 expression that | could scarce recall
the other, except as the result of some hideOus
COHJuifnS VI lily OWL fancy.
Miss Flo was coming toward her. leaning on
Mr.. Earles arm.
returned to my duties with heavy heart. I
felt shadow Of i'll was pending over US, yet
almost forgot it next day, when my young lady's
formal engagement to Mr.. Earle was announced
SO loved and protected, what possible harm
could come to her, even through a wOman's
malice?
All, my unspoken question remained not long
unanswered! 1t had been all too natural for
these two young hearts to flow towards each
other. obeying the life impulse of both. They
mad loved each other as children; they knew each
other as though the bond of brotherhood and
| slsterhOod united them; their memories circled
round the same spot, were haunted by the same
objects.
1t was the natural sequence which all had an
ticipated. Therefore. save that Mr. Earle was
with us even more constantly than of old, and
| that there was new flush on Miss Flo's cheek,
softer, tenderer light in her blue eyes, it was
hard to realize any change. But one was i'm
pending less difficult of realization. The lovers
had a constant companion in the person Of nv
young ladv's friend. At first Mr.. Earle seemed
to dislike her; but Miss Flo's sweet influence
and his own courtesy led him first to conceal
| this. and later to OVerc0mo If