The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-08-11
MOLLY.
A SKETCH IN THREE TONES.


When first I entered the room il
seemed to me that was confronted by a
thick veil OF darkness; but when my
pupils, contracted by the fierce glare OF
the july sun outside, had become accus-
toned to the sudden change, perceived
fhat subdued light, proceeding from
three carefully curtained windows,
uimly illuminated the apartment. I ad-
vanced cautiously, treading my way
amongst the quaint and oddly-disposed
furniture, until 1 slipped into the little
nook where her ladyship reclined on a
, soft, luxurious divan. She was almost
walled mp between huge black cabinet,
and some curiously carved shelves filed
with saucers of antique china, each of
which stood with one side against the
wall, so as to form little square cham
Der within the large drawing-room.
This corner was Just big enough to con-
tain the divan, a small, low ottoman, and
y tiny table, on which lay buttercup
with long stalk, by the side of slen-
der vase in which had been placed Il
spray of white currapts, the stem aud
leaves struggling high in the air, whilst
three or four punches of the transparent
frnit hung over the edge of the glass.
Lady de Burgh was lying back among
deep red cushions, with listless hands
clasped round her knees, and contem-
plating the vase of currents with the rap
tpre of one who has discovered pro.
found secret. She was woman whose
age it was difficult to guess, and whose
height and figure could not be OWNED
from the obscurity of the loom, the ma
ture of her apparel, and her lou oging at
titude. She was very pale, and her fea-
lures, though hardly beautiful, were re-
fned. She wore no ornaments. not even
ON her long white fingers, save her we'd
ding ring-and on her head her sole
adornment was her soft, dark brown
hair, which seemed to cling simply about
her in short, dainty waves, without
either plat or parting. She was arrayed
in pale-green dress, with o good deal
sf old and very yellow lace about it; it
sat loosely round her neck and wrists,
and though her elbows and knees were
sharply defined, her wrists remained un-
marked behind the straight and single
fold of her silken garb.
~ muSb AOt VIC cuRPOcCN SAop WIN IA
all these facts at glance. observed
them gradually as ! sat by Lady de
Burghs side on the divan, whittier she
DOtioned me.
81 am very glad to see you," she said,
IN low, melancholy voice. II believe
I have not seen You since the day OF my
marriage. and you were such rough
hoy them :.
II hope I am not rough man." I
said, trying to moderate my voice. Il
vas only fifteen then, and it is twenty
years ago. You went abroad, and before
You came back, had gone to India"
"Ah! you must have found India very
trying" she remarked. "But life is q
dreary affair to all-alwsys desire and
never fruition."
"But surely you have no cause to COM
plain" ventured to demonstrate. "Sir
John is rich and successful, and under
stand you have charming daughter"
She shivered slightly. my daughter
10 shepherdess," she said, "a mere
shepherdess. do my best for her, but
abe is a mere shepherdess. She is en-
tirely her fathers child, like him mega
lively and affirmatively. Would you
believe it?-she even ridicules my cur
rants! She says fruit ripens to be eaten!
Eaten! can hardly support the idea.
Had 1 q son, he would have understood
ne, sympathized with me, intuitively
deciPhsred me-"
"But hear that Miss de Burgh is in
hnitely lovely" I said.
mo doubt" said Lady de Burgh, mo
doubt the soulless beings you have met
in town think so. Numbers Of soulless
nen and women come here, and think
Asr perfect. And 90 she is, in her way,
but she 10 nero shepherdess, ~ I said
before. She cannot satisfy me. But !
sssk no joy from those Of my'own hearth
I look for IL but in this calm seolusion,
- occasionally in The intsrcourse Of :
ao1est Ssv who saA appEoeiats." And