Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1883-10-06

IhOukn Ill us iA1r companions ul0
is fAdeless hope.
I --MRs G. l.. RICE
Hurry, Opal Get off this masqu'
ra'le suit, and 30 into the parlor
him."
There / knew | should get
wrong when begun. have writte
the end Of my story the firsr thing a
the beginning, fulfilling the Scripture
prophecy to the letter by the means
The first shall be last, and the In
shall be first, all of which cant b
very we'll hel ped in this case, since tn
first aud the last are precisely alike
We'll, then, without further prelimina
ries, what have to tell will tell.
A July day, with sky that one hOu
was sunny and smiling as a baby 3 blu
eyes, and the next, black with tempestu
GUS winds and rain clouds, and cool
westerly wind.
Three ines that day there had beer
violent little rain storms, followed by
sudden and peaceful clearings of thu
tumultuous sky, and the heroine of my
sketch, Opal Staley, at five O'Clock
OF the capricious afternoon, was sitting
discon solately at the window, looking
out At the lovely, velvety lawn where
the croquet arches had been put up, and
the balls and mallsts were ling In con
fusion all about the grounds.
| 1t WAS . charming sight which Opal's
blue eyes looked at, and had she turned
her gaze within, everything that met II
would have been quite a. hOmely and
pleasant but for all there were traces
OF violent crying on her sweet face, and
sad, troubled look in the eyes into
which Clifton had liked to look but a
few months ago.
Somehow Opal had been thinking,
rather, had allowed herself to think
more of Mr.. Clifton Ostrander for few
days than her Judgment approved of ;
but, then, when girls heart and affec-
tons are IN the case, it isn't very often
that judgment will hold undisputed
sway.
Honestly enough, Opal had tried not
TO think Of him, for good many rea-
sons--one, because dwelling upon him
invariably made her wretchedly happy;
another, because he was not worth
troubling her brains about after the
way he had treated her.
All the same, however, the image of
his handsome, darkly beautiful face
heard the sweet, carsssiDg TOT o. of his
voice az she sat there alone in the
cleaning, for, early though it was, the
Registering clouds, black with promises
Of wiud, aud thunder, and pouring rain,
we're making it dark and gloomy.
There was nobody in the house but
herself, for Ora had gone on an Grand.
All the little house was in exquisite
order, for Opal and Ora had skllIful,
willing hands, and there was only them
selves to do for.
There was plenty of everything, from
wardrobe to refrigerator.
Sickness never troubled the little
family, and dear friends were many and
true and yet this little Opal-sixteen
her last birthday--fet that life was
scarcely worth the living.
And all because of Clifton Ostrander,
with his smiling black eyes and hand.
some mouth, melodious voice and curl
ing, black mustache.
In il word, Mr.. Ostrander had spent
the early winter at Professor Flemiug's,
and Opal had met him at IL soiree and
german.
From that time on he had been most
marked in his attentions, 80 that people
had set it down as Il foregone conclusion
that there was delightful understanding
between them.
Everybody declared it was just the
very thing. Professor Flemming's
wife, Mr.. Ostrander's naughty sister,
was pleased and had called most gra.
ciollsly on the Misses Staey
Ora could find no possible fault and
Opal, bright, happy, charming Opal,
with her bright golden hair and won
dertul, large blue eyes, was the hap
piest girl in all the world, glad, and
proud, and happy.
And then, all ~ once, without word
or sign, he went away, entirely away,
he and Professor Flemming and Mrs.
Flenming, and not word of eXpla-
nation, or regret, OF apology was left
behind.
1t could not help being an awful
blow t" Opal, but she bore it wonder
fully, at first. She was indignant and
naughty, and Indifferent by times, I'M
Til her woman's heart asserted itself,
and lhen-she broke down and cried
out all her true agony on faithful Ora's
breast.
Try not tn care, dear, cant you
Believe in him still, and make up your
mind, that it will be all right vet
that he will explain, and come back
again. Can't you
And strengthened by such tender
counsel, Opal tried to be brave and
patient. But the days grew into weeks
and winter came, with Joyous holiday
greetings that Opal had looked so
fondly forward to. Earliest spring
came, and now July, and no word or
sign had ever reached her.
Was it any wonder that Opal leaned
her bright golden head against the
window, and let the thick tear-,lrops
fall fast and hot ? Very much wonder
that her heart was hurt aud SICK almost
past endurance
Ora came in, a look on her sweet, grave
face that in all her life, Opal had new
er before seen there
She went up 10 Opal, stopping to
Law her little parcels on the rable then
separated from them the Ohio |
State journal, which she opened and
folded slowly and then went closely
up TO the figure leaning so disconsolate-
ly, half fearfully, against the win.
dow
opal, dear, you know 1 never hest
tate II there is a pleasant or unpleasant
iuty for me to do. have bad news
for you, little sister, and know of no
better way for you to bear it than to
ask your Heavenly Father TO help you.
Clifton Ostrander is married-see for
in this mornings paper that
was handed to me in the store by Cora
Jlave
But Opal did not attempt to take the
paper. She did not even move, and Ora
a thrill of fear ~ she saw
he sweet, girlish face Written and har-
len.
"Opaa Opal--don't do so! You
must not. Child, he is not worth such
! look of agony as that -