Daily Republican., 1883-09-08
A HOUSEHOLDANG
BY CHARLOTTE NJ. STANLEY.

Angel" they called her. She had
been baptized Angelina, some one hav.
ing told her mother that the significa-
ton of that name was - little angel. :"
Whether there was any truth In this
statement cannot tell, but if 80, Ange.
line Arnold was rightly named.
Not for her beauty she hal little OF
that, save what lay in the soft. magnet.
ic glances OF a pair of large, dark eyes
but the girl was veritable household
angel, the sunshine of hearth and home.
And as such Matthew Wilder loved
her.
He was boarder In her mothers
house, and foreman in % neighbOring
factory. A somewhat practical minded
young fellow.
am afraid his idea of wife was
more that of friend and valuable
partner in life than OF another, dearer
self heart of his heart, and soul of his
soul. He loved Angel after q fashion,
admired her sincerely, appreciated her
sweetness and goodness but he never
felt for her such affection as he Inspired,
such affection as but few men perhaps
are capable OF feeling.
For the girl loved him most truly.
The handsome, resolute, self.willed fel.
low was q hero in her eyes, for whom
she would have sacrificed life itself had
it been necessary to secure his happi.
uees.
His happiness, which was SO soon to
be entirety her care, the hope, the aim,
the one ambition Of her life 1t wanted
but six weeks OF their wsdding-day !;
her preparations were nearly all com
pleted.
There was not happier girl in the
world than Angel, as she carried her
work one golden afternoon to the rose
arbor, singing softly as she went, and
wondering little where Laura could
be.
Her beautiful sister Laura, soon to
be her bridesmaid. All, she remember
ed how, before she knew that Matthew's
heart was her own, she had pictured
him loving Laura-lnsrrying Laura.
And indetd it might have been so,
perhaps, had he seen Laura first. Who
could resist her loneliness, her grace p
But now
She smiled joyfully, thinking Of the
treasure that was all her own.
:. He loved Inc, and We were engaged.
before he ever saw her; and now they
like each other 80 much-they are like
brother and sister Indeed at least
-p
a little shadow fell on her happy
face. She remembered suddAnly that
ust of late these two had not been
quite such good friends.
She had intended, indeed, to speak to
Matthew about it. 1t would be- so sad
If they should be estranged, whom she
so loved.
And then another matter troubled
her, a certain vague anxiety unspoken,
hidden in her own fond heart about
Matthew.
Was he in trouble, she wondered, that
he had grown so grave and silent-even
sad ?
His light song and merry laughter
had not sounded in the house for sever
al days.
Hitherto he had been the very life and
soul of the family now he was silent,
moody, lost in thought; even Laura
seemed to have lost the power to cheer
him, but, indeed-sie reflected, with
something like reproachful resentment
towards her sister-perhaps Laura no
longer cared to try.
They had ceased to read and sing
together, she noticed could they have
had some misunderstanding?
She reso vel to question Laura that
very night. Surely it was most unkind
OF her to take otfense at the poor fellow
when he was in some trouble But
what trouble?
" He is kinder than ever to me- she
nused, "aithough so sad, oh, 50 sad ~
Some how she had tanci"d chat his
distress had some reference to herself
had she not heard him once murmer to
himself;
"poor girl, poor lit g angel ~
Yet her gentle questioning had won
no reply, save only:
"lt is nothing, it will pass away; no
one can help me -
Now, as she thought the matter over,
her distress increased.
No one can help him." she murmer-
ed, sorrowfnlly; "not even II who
am to be his wife. who would give
my life for him -
The work fell on her lap us her hands
were claspel in her great earnestness.
"Oh, what can it be that SO grieves
my darling, and that even must not
know 2"
At that moment the click of the gar
den gate fell on her ear.
1t was almost time for Matthew to be
home.
" Perhaps it is he, she thought, and
gathering up her work, paused, listen
ing for his footstep.
1t came but not alone the quick rus
tie of dress preceded it.
Within few yards OF the rose arbor
was "a hinge. old tree, under whose
boughs rustic seat was placed. Into
this seat Laura sank, pale and trem-
bling, her hand pressed down upon her
breathing heart, her eyes raised to
Matthew Wil,ler's face, rs he stood
before her, no less agitated than her
self
No less, did say More, far more
in his whoI" aspect, that sent a chill to
Angels loving heart, and rooted her
where she stood-seeing ALL hear
ing all-uuable to move or utter d
word.
What Was it that looked forth from
her lover'- eyes-not upon her, but on
her sister 10 was passionate love, agon-
lied grief, hopeless despair.
Laura spoke trst-scarcely above n
whisper, her voice hOarse and strange
with the effort she was making for self
control
Why-why have you followed me-"
"Why!' He flung himself down
on the grass at her feet. "God knows
Because am mad, perhaps. Because
suffer more than | can bear with pa |
thence. because hunger for one word
of strength and comfort, for one touch |
of your hand--one glance at your dear
eyes Because-oh, God do you need |
to ask me why? Then | answer, be.
cause love you !"
He caught at her dress and pressed it
to his lips, and buried his face in its |