The Osceola times., 1882-02-11
ing void In her vnnnr heart.

presence had grown to take so large a
share.
Mrs. Lee saw with concern that Ethel
loved, was dropping, and impulsively
combatted the idea that st. Charles
loved another. She had studied the
young man-believed that he appre-
ciated her daughter; and il this were
true, how could he marry Ada Appleton
with her selfshness and limitations,
beautiful as she was?
"Propinquity" she murmured. "That
is an argument against it. bIe must
thrown so much in her society, learn
her sellshness, her insincerity, her
heartlessness."
But for Ethel there was no such hope.
ful consolation. She had great self-re
spect, but little self-esteem, and with
deep appreciation of beauty, caused by
an artistic temperament, her cause SO
modest in its claims seemed quite lost.
"0f course he will forget me for her,
she mused
Mrs. Meredith was own aunt 10 Edgar
st. Charles. Her house was n fine one
on the outskirtso Of High Bridge, and just
at this time she gave a large, general
party, inviting the AppletoDs, De. St
Charles, the Lees and many others.
81 do not care TO 90, mother" said
Ethel, dejectedly.
Poor child The world seemed so very
hollow, and she was 50 young, and her
powers of endurance undeveloped. But
she yielded to her mothers wishes, and
when the pale-brown silken hair, with
its tinge OF gold, was looped in braid'
and fastened from the white temples and
roseate cheeks by clustering white
bouvadia and sprays Of lace-like green
that trailed from the graceful col iileur to
the hem of the rustling, moonlit, sllken
robe, no fairy was ever statelier or love
lier. Ethel saw her beauty with start
OF surprise.
mother, am | really 50 pretty?' she
asked, looking with innocent eyes OF
frank delight into her mothers pleased
and tender face.
"My darling, you are beautiful and
good as you are fair"
And so, with hear secret grief half con.
soled by those,words of love, Ethel went
to the Meredith party.
There were many strangers present
and among then little, wrinkled, old
lacy, with a plain cap and back alpaca
dress, looking strangely out Of place in
her corner, though evideutly much en-.
tertained by the novel sight Of the gay
company. Her dress was extremely
neat and suited 10 her years, if not to
the occasion.
And Ethel and her mother, after sin.
gle glance and thought to this effect
we,e passing by when their attention
was attracted by haltsubdued sound
very Ike a schoolgirl giggle, and turn
ing beheld a merry group surrounding
Miss Ada Appleton.
Her gold eye glass, raised to her lovely
fringed eyes, was directed toward the
corner where sat the little old lady in
alpaca, and by the smiles curling the lips
of those around her the remarks falling
from her ruby lips were evidently very
amusing,
The surging crowd of promehaders
press d Ethel and her mother little
closer to this group.
"0h, | know" Ethel heard Ada say
'it's o,ie ofthe extinct species Prof. Dab
ney was telling us of last winter. How
interesting and how very kind of Mrs
Meredith to so provide for the entertain
ment OF her Derious- minded friends"
The air of mock gravity and the grace
full contortion were indescribable, and
half dozen lace han ikerchiefs went mp
TO rosy lips that must not laugh toC
loudly.
Iwill do this group the justice TO cay
that they were the very youngest of Mra
Meredith's guests, and had recently been
Ada's school friends. 1t was but n yeal
and half since the young lady had left
sne academy.
But EthePs cheeks burned. She met
Ada's beautiful eyes Indignantly, and as
her mother not overhearing the obiec.
tionable remarks serenely joined a group
of mairons, she slipped her hand from
her arm and stepped back into the old
lady's lonely corner.
May sit here a moment?' she asked
with a sweet, apologize smile. Il am g
little tired"
"Ycs, dear; certainly, certainly" re
piled the old lady, gathering her alpaca
skirts to make room for Ethel's fair dra
perry on the little sofa; and then She
looked with evident pleasure, more
closely at the sweet countenauce.
"You don't look tired" she said, al
last. You look as fresh as q May morn
ing. 1t is very nice TO be young, though
the old have their pleasures. OF course
nobody notices the old lady like me in
this corner, but | am really enjoying my
self | live so quietly in my house il
the country that the company, the dane
ing and the music are very entertaining
to me- Mrs. Meredith is my sister.
arrived unexpectedly tonight, intending
to give her and my son surprise. an
not prepared for attending party, bu
sister promised to arrange a dress suit
able 'or me as soon as she could get ;
moment of leisure; but II thought
would slip in quietly for a little Will,
and not make any trouble. | presum,
no ons has seen me but you, my dear"
There was something very sweet ii
this simple and unconscious old LADY,
manner. Ethel replied with smile
and continued the conversation, hopin!
to divert her companion that she nigh
not discover Ada's eyeglass and the
merry faces of her friends. Suddenly, t
her surprise, she saw Edgar st. Charles
his hashing eyes fixed sternly upon tn,
merry-making group. Suddenly ad
You allow me2" he said; aud taking he
hand upon his arm, led her before th'
/ little old stranger.
Miss Appleton, allow me to presen
you to my mother he said and then
not giving the gentle old lady time Il
rise, he swept the young lady to a sea
and took ceremonious leave of her.
/ In a moment he had come back &
the sofa in the corner, and his brow
cleared.
so you and Miss Lee are getting ac
quaiuted, mother?n he said, gladly, o.
hope" he added, bending closer. "tha
you will come TO love each other a.
much as | love you both.'
Out of the long evening at Mrs. Mere