The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1884-03-15
WESTMINSTER, MD, SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 1884.
hands with Edith, went over to his wife a

| my sisters snow you 10 your rOOm So ds
you can trim your feathers little, he said,
lovingly stroking back the soft, fluffy dark
hair gently from the forehead. My sister
carried her off at once and of course Gerald
followed He did not seem able to take
his eyes off her for moment.
"What queer little fright she is-she
looks like an elf! He must only have
married her from pity, I suppose" l
could not help saying.
"Not fright, surely!" Edith answered
quickly. "We see her in an unfavorable
moment. Her grief has told on her face,
but she has glorious eyes, and | can see
what took Gerald. 1t is her winning man
ner-just like petted child's."
1 glanced at Edith admiringly, thinking
what an angel of forgiveness she was, and
when the bride came down again l took
malicious pleasure in comparing her with
Edith.
Edith, so fair and so lovely, with hair
like spun gold and wild rose bloom on
her cheeks, and graceful, willowy figure.
And Ste-to call her by the curious alb
breviation she wished-so small and dusky,
with colorless skin and nothing to recon-
mend her but two immense black eyes,
which certainly were as lustrous as twin
stars and soft as velvet.
Later in the evening, when dinner was
over and Edith had drawn her away to
look at Gerald's drawings, he came up and
sat down by me.
'Ellen, you must not form an opinion of
Ste's attractions now," he whispered, ear
nestly; "she is not herself; naturally she
is as bright and happy as bird, and alto
gether charming. You must help me to
chase away her trouble and bring back her
smiles. And then, you don't know how
pretty my little one is when she smiles,
he went on, enthusiastically.
And wondering how she could ever be
pretty, l forgot to answer. So after
momentary pause he said:
edith is more beautiful than ever, [
see!'
"Ahr' | thought, ''he could not he'll
comparing these twO-the girl he had need
lessly thrown aside and the girl he had
linked himself to for life.
1t was not long before Ste "was more
like herself" as Gerald said. Her sorrow
had been so wild and so passionate that
naturally it soon wore itself out. The color
came back to her dark cheeks, additional
luster to her eyes, and | could often hear
her carolling snatches of songs.
They were mostly French ones-some
with wonderful pathos ringing through
them and the pronunciation of her ma
ternal tongue was the prettiest thing imagi-
nable Yes, she was growing merry enough.
Gerald's love was so perfect and he filled
the place of father, brother and husband
so entirely, as he had said, that he left her
nothing to wish for.
My sister was growing very fond of her,
and declared her to be remarkably pretty,
but l could see no beauty in her, neither
could l love henry devotion to Edith
utterly precluded it.
Ste grew to be popular with Geralds
men friends, too, They thought her charm
ing, and his especial friend, a young fellow
who was rapidly rising in his profession,
and who had been an admirer of Edith's,
came more frequently than the rest.
Before Geralds marriage DIR. Percival
had made small progress in his wooing, but
since Edith had seemed more favorable in
clined toward him,
He was passionately fond of singing and
had superb voice. Edith could not sing
note, but Ste's and Mark Percivals voices
blended splendidly together. Thus hours
were spent, every hour, thought, that
he could spare from his practice, in these
duets.
And Gerald, who was also .tanatico per
Ia npusic, never seemed to tire of listening
to the two.
1 was very wicked, know. really be-
lieved Ste to be artful and designing; her
childlike, blithe manner l fancied was as
sumed. l saw how happy she was in the
hours spent in Mark Percivals society, and
it made me dislike her ten times more for
finding pleasure anywhere but with her
husband.
1 consoled myself with believing that
she was trying to bewitch poor Edith's
lover as she had bewitched my brother, and
listened Indignantly when she said in her
pretty, childish fashion:
u wish Edith and DIR. Percival would
come it's getting quite late and they are
not here yet, and l miss them SO Isn't
DR.. Percival handsome and accomplished
Ger?"
I don't think doubt of her ever entered
his mind until l put it there. l began
with a look or little word opportunely
dropped.
Then I rushed into the thing suddenly,
and shall never forget the expression of
pain on his face when | saids
"Mark Percival admires Ste very much,
Gerald. How we'll their voices suit l
think if he had chanced to meet her before
her marriage you would have had a very
formidable rival!'
He did not answer; he grew dreadfully
white, and, biting his lips, turned away.
But had not done.
There was an excuse for me, for loved
my brother with all my heart, and | was
Jealous for him.
"Hasn't Ste a wonderful, powerful voice
for such little creature?"
''That is lovely thing she is singing
now. 1t is Beethoven's Adelaide isn't
it?" he answered quietly.
"Yes; her favorite song or rather Mark
Percival's, which is about the same J.
He looked at me sternly for the first
time in his life, and then said
"You have never really loved anyone,
Ellen. But be careful that you don't plant
thorns that may prick you more than any
one else"
His words were prophetic. How deeply
1 repented my wickedness no one knows.
Yet at this time l hated Ste for being the
cause of the first rebuke that Gerald had
given me, and in Edith's ear 1 put word
now and then that soon built up wall of
ice between her and my brothers wife.
Gerald grew silent and even little
morose.
And Ste felt it, and was hurt that he did