The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-07-12

I'm the cool and quiet hooks,
On the bre asst of CLASSY brooks;
In the forests green retreat.
With the branches overhead.
Nesting at the old trees feet.
Chose they there shining bed"
"See here!' said Roscoe.
He had pulled off his straw hat, and
the curling hair about his white fore
head was literally dripping with perspir-
alton.
"See how wilted I am, hurrying home
through the heat to save your lilies, he
laughed.
1 brought him some cool water tc
battle his face, laid out for him some
fresh clothing, and went away to see if
dinner was ready. Thus took up again
the present.
Another year went by. 1 was sur
rounded by comfort, tenderly cared for.
1 resolved not to unlock the rosewood
cabinet again.
1 was reading in my portico, one June
morning, while Melissa, the urse, was
Leading little Lyle along the garden
walks, when carriage came whirling up
the drive.
l sprang up, fearing something had
happened to my husband. But, by the
time I reached the door, lady. alone,
was coming up the steps from the car
riage. She was very young, richly
robed, and instantly addressed me:
Are you not my brother Roscoe's
wife?" she asked. II am his sistor Ora
from New Orleans"
/ don't remember how l welcomed
her, but threw open the drawing room
door, and she entered and dropped into
a seat.
"Where is Roscoe? II haveeome to
stay with you," she said, her face as pale
as ashes.
l took vague alarm at her appear
ance, but l endeavored to speak as
usual.
"You are tired-ill. Lay off your
wraps and let me get you glass of
wine."
went across the hall to the china
closet. When came back she lay in
dead faint upon the floor.
Roscoe had gone out of town and did
not return till evening. had Ora taken
into room next to mine and put to bed.
She was mere delicate child when I'M
dressed, not more than seventeen years
old
,"Oh, how good you are-how good you
are!" she said with heart-rending pathos,
as bathed her temples and rubbed her
delicate limbs. had studied medicine
a little with my father, and knew she
was close upon fever. At length she
lay warm and quiet, and soon fell
asleep.
sat up until eleven o'clock, waiting
for Roscoe. At length heard his step
in the hall. l hurried to meet him.
He looked astonished at my news.
"Why, what does it mean?" he asked.
The next morning Ora was in q burn
ing fever. She talked incoherently-she
did not know me. She lay very ill for
three weeks.
Poor girl! at one time it seemed cer
tain that she would die, but we kept her.
At last she recovered. Her first act of
consciousness was to kiss me and muir
muir:
II love your
At last she could sit up and talk a lit
tie. And then she told Roscoe and me
her story.
l will not repeat it here. It was tale
famed by liquor, of mans tyranny, OF
WOIuhu WthhueSs. I1ef huooouu Wuo
false TO her and to his manhood; she
chung to him, pleading; he knocked her
senseless at his feet. And before that
she had borne-oh, pitiful heaven, SO
much!
"He has killed my love for him." she
said, white and shuddering. II am
afraid of him! 1 have Il horror of him! l
had rather die than live with him again!
Let me stay here! Here he will not find
me. Oh. Observation-Disclosures, let me
stay with your
We soothed her. promised earnestly
that she should stay, protected, beloved
by us. For the conversation was most
hurtful to her, and nearly brought on
relapse of her fever.
And Roscoe wrote to his aunt, Mrs.
Brompton, of New Orleans, asking
further particulars of Ora's story, and
announcing his determination to protect
her against her husband. To which Mrs.
Brompton replied as follows
l am glad Ora is with you. Her mar
riage has certainly turned out o most
dreadful affair. Her husband was
wealthy, moved in the best circles here,
but | blame myself that did not inform
myself concerning his principles. He is
now avowed to have none-rather, he
possesses the worst! The scandal is dying
down here, but il Ora wishes to remain
with YOU for the present, it will be bet
ter than returning to New Orleans. My
love to her. AUGUSTA BRoMProN.
SO l found what had never had-a
sister-and think we made her as hap