The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1881-07-23
THE LIGHT OF HIS LIFE.

invoiuntarily exclaimed Clare Meredith
To herself. rs she sat in n far corner of
the great drawing-room, watching the
guests rs they fitted to and fro. sue
more particularly one, n tall. finely pro
portioned man of some fiye-and-thirty
years of age, with clean cut features
and a .thorough-bred'' air, but an in.
deiinable expression of unrest upon his
face that attracted Clare's sympathy.
He certainly was handsome-of fine
physique. with a pale complexion, and
dark, thoughtful. brown eyes. full OF
refinement and intelligence. and close
cut, loosely curling brown hair that
showed the intellectual shape of his
head.
Handsome, undoubtedly-Clare could
see that for herself; and Constance Pc
tronel had told her he was very rich,
very much admired, q great catch; yet
every n pitied him.
1t was incomprehensible to Clare,
how being handsome and wealthy. Il
was possible for Vivian Kilgour to b
an object Of pity! and, looking halls
wonderingly. half-shyly at him rs he
walked down the long drawing-room.
bowling here and there, she wondered
the more. ;
Herself. Glare Meredith, was one q
the gayest little spirits that ever lived
and her blue eyes were forever dano-
ing with mischief; her sweet, fair face
always alight with tho pure happiness
that Comes from perfect health, a clear
conscience, and n cheerful temporn-
ment, while her laugh-well, it wa
like all the enchanting sounds you choas
TO compare 1t to-a purling mountatn
stream, the chino of silver bells, con
centrated, idealized music. ,
She was pretty, too, in u dainty, girl
ish way, with her shining white tecOI
behind he ripest, rarest mouth, with d
skin all cream and roseatc hucs. and b
perfect wilderness of yellow-gold hair
brushed off her fair wide forehead, and
braided down her back. with the cnAp
all a curl for n quarter of a yard. I
Poor as a church mouse. for she was
the eldest daughter of a largo fan,
lily, but happy and content for all boz
lack Of wealth; busy from eight Il tie
morning until six Mt night; patient, sun.
ny-hcarted, grateful that she was suS
cecding so grandly, paying all her en-
penscs, dressing nicely, affording a fo~
little luxuries occasionally, and laying
by a little money every year.
The Petronels were old time friends.
and Glare had always a welcome In TIA
big. old-fashioned house, where tbs
n~ristocratic visitors elevated their noses
at the pretty little. obscure farmers
daughter, and the gentlemen put them
selves quite out Of tho way fo- q smile
and n gay, careless little nod from, the
beautiful golden heud, Es classic As q
Grecian goddess. /
But Clare never cared a whit more for
the masculine admiration thKn the fsnse
mime snubs. and went on in her quid
way, sometimes spending her svenlzf9'
In tho grand drawing-reon,, at othsfe
feeling perfectly centensto ait and rcs4
or sew, oil chat In C~oastanes'u prfvu4h
sitting room m staira-kAA cadAAn1nk
In the great big house. with a flowery-
and-viny bay-window. where a canary
ORD sang, and an upright piano, and q
cottage organ. and plenty Of pictures
Ind coy chairs.
And Vivian Kilgour was to be pitiedi
Glare could not, somehow, reconcile
herself to that; and she was SO inquisi-
tive on the subject that she spoke of 1t
% Constance.
II cannot understand why Mr.. Kill
gour is to be pitied. Concie. He has
everything q reasonable creature should
want What do you meanr"
..Just exactly what 1 said, my DEAR
Mr.. Kilgour is all you say. aud there
are scores of young ladies continually
angling for him. But haven't you no
ticed how quiet, and duh. and unhappy
he always tsp"
Clare's eyes looked thoughtful.
Yes. Iknow he is quiet and reserv-
ed; but"
.Wcll. that is just It Ho is Of a
acknowledgements moody-disposi-
ton, and know he is just rs unhappy
as he can be. Now you know why pco-
pie pity him."
A little flash Of indignation was in
Clarc's hlue eyes.
The idea! Plying n man who per-
mits himself such unmanly indulgcnces
as moods Indeed, l shall waste no
sympathy on him. The trouble is, MIR.
Kilgour is rich enough TO be lazy, and
consequently, dyspeptic and morbid
I've no patience with a man who will
make himself unhappy for no earthly
reason"
And Vivian Kilgour. passing through
the hall, heard the burst OF girlish
laughter that followed Clare's protest,
and Involuntary paused to listen.
what a glow Of happiness and ex-
hilaration that girl must feel, to laugh
like that. 1t is tonic in its effect on ME.
! wonder IL IL is that little Miss Mere
dithF'
And no turned about and deliberate
ly knocked at tho door Of C~onstanco's
sitting-room- & fE
May ! come ine You have no idea
how lonely II is for o poor fellow dow.
stairs"
And Constance gladly invited hira
in. and Glare sang and played for him