The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-04-14
IN THE FIRELIGHT.

DUCK VI YOUR ucttu W AAC'
Gas long as it gets through me, does
it make any difference whether it goes
through the back or the front OF my
head?"
IT wish you would not talk slang.
Jack detests It'll" and an impatient hand
rustled the sheet Of letter PAPER.
"Humph! He does? What fraud
he ISL came cool retort from the fire.
place, in front of which was drawn an
armchair, over the top of which could be
seen dark, motionless head, as if the
eyes we're fixed upon the CRATE.
cat least, you might be polite!'
IT will be Chesterfeld's ghost, if you
will only get on.
An impatient rap of five fingers on the
open letter, then the reader began, in a
half provoked voice:
MY Dear Little Woman:-I have
reached my journeys end, and it will be
my last, can assure you. If it had not
been for the interest at stake, I would
have cut and run at once. I never was
80 homesick in my life. long for the
sound of your sweet voice, and a glance
Of"
"Come cut all that, Essie?" broke in
her brothers disguised voice. "Jack is
such an idiot when he is homesick."
Donald Carey, I'll never" pro-
tested the indignant little woman at the
center table. provoked to tears.
ooh, yes, you will. Only skip all
that. Jack don't mean it. And have
heard it all so much better elsewhere,
only I don't remember where"
Mrs. Blayne looked Indignantly at the
armchair, but, the effect being lost upon
its padded back, it broke the force of
her anger, and reduced her to submits
sive sniff.
"'I found, the poor girl terribly cut
up, but awful glad to see me, and as
pretty as blush rose"
"Jack is getting worse" groaned his
brother-in-law.
"Do you want to hear this letter, Don
aldp" severely asked Mrs. Blayne, with
the dignity of five feet.
Eyes. And when you are finished
then tell me what it is all about"
II will be home almost as soon rs you
get this. Keep Donald in good hui
NOR. 1 want him to be good to the poor
girl, and if you don't rub him the right
way"
know" demanded the cool, lazy voice
from the fireplace. "I'll give Jack
Blayne to understand that I am no
poodle to be smothered down."
81 wish you were a poodle! cried
Mrs. Blayne, provoked beyond endur-
ance with his tantalizing mood.
"Why SOP" with great interest
BECAUSE then you could be thrashed
for your impudence!'
"And this from my only sister," said
the cool voice, as its owner gazed down
in the fire, in reflective mood; "and all
because her disreputable husband is
incoming over blush rose, and wants
me rubbed down smooth enough to let
his little pecadilloes slide off of me-"
"Why, Donald, don't you know who
she isY Her name is"
But here an interruption in the shape
of white cap checked Mrs. Blayne's
eager declaration, as the door opened,
and French nurse said, gently:
Madame, 10 petite"
The sentence was finished outside the
drawing room, for the little lady made a
precipitous dash at the nurse. and
headed her out of the room, as visions of
fire, Group, and every known ill, flashed
through her mind as assailing the only
child Of the Blayne family.
Left alone, Donald Carey sank into a
reverie, and stared down into the fire for
o long while, his face quivering ner-
vously, and red glow under his eyes.
He raised his hand in the freight and
looked upon the ring upon the third fin
ger; then he began speaking slowly. in a
dreamy voice:
"You have often asked me about this
ring, Essie, and tonight l mean to tell
you.
1T was the betfothal ring I gave the
woman loved q year ago in France.
Yes, l know; did come back from that
trip changed to the morose, variable be-
ing have since been. But, Essie, girl,
l had had blow hard enough to knock
every gentle or good emotion out Of me,
and you and Jack have been dear friends
10 humor me as you have"
"Where l met her, it matters not;
loved her-let that suffice. She was
poor and industrious, working from sun
rise to sunset, to keep a roof over her
head and that of the old woman who
lived with her as house-servant.
"She sang in the village choir; she
taught, embroidered, raised rare red
roses, which found ready sale. and in
every way known to her quick mind and
ready fingers, strove to mako and save
money.
Twas on walking tour, and met her