The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1884-12-20


low. singing II pathetic Italian re-
veic, the young step-mother lay |
with her face buried in the sofa
cushions, livingover again the weary |
months she had spent in her hus-
bands home.
She was an orphan, eking out a
scanty living by teaching music in
the city of London, where Rodney
Victor met her, and, won by the
beauty Of her face, wooed her per-
sistently, and asked her TO be his
wife. Despite his forty-fve years,
and the silver threads just gather
ing in his brown hair, the lonely
orphan girl learned to love him,
and they We're married. Then fol-
lowed two months of supreme hap
piness. Mr.. Victor was fondly de-
voted tu his beautiful bride and
travelled with her from place to
place, proud of her beauty, and ad-
miration she excited in the circles
in which he delighted to introduce
her. At the end of this time he an
nounced his intention of returning
to his home in New York, and Lu-
Giles heart thrilled with delight at
the thought of this home coming,
for from her husbands manner of
speaking of his ''golden-haired little
one she had formed the idea that
May was a child, upon whom she
might lavish her affection, and
whom she would teach to love her.
How different was the reality !
When the news of her fathers mar
riage reached May, she carried the
letter containing the announcement
to Cousin l.alie, who was the neicc
of her dead mother, and, being many
years older than May, had acted in
the capacity of house-keeper to her
wealthy uncle-in-law The news of
the latter's marriage was bitter as
~ | and wormwoud to l.alie, for she
had ruled the household, and want
ed no mistress to reign. May, who
was naturally IL sweet-tempcred and
afiectionate girl, but weak and easily
led, was taught by her cousin to re-
gard her fathers wife us an inter
loper. who would usurp her place in
her 'ftfat RS heart, and rob his child
of his aflecti0r:----------.
The beautiful face, the genGae VIM
ming ways of Lucille would IlGlNe
won tho girls love, had not Cousin 7
Lalie been ever near to poison her
mind against the interlopcr. Poor
Lucille was chilled by the welcome
she received ON her entrance into
her new home, and from that hour
her tender heart was continually re-
cciving wounds that seemed barbed {
as she attempted to draw them out
by reasoning and patience. ltneedcd
all her Christian hcroism to forbear,
vet no word of complaint escaped
her lips, although her face paled, the :
roses faded from her cheeks with
he secret tears she shed, and when !
Ter husband, whose love alone had !
her, was called away to
Florida on business connected with $
to which he had fallen |
leir, Lucille could no longer endure Il
Ter loneliness, and from the hour e
# his departure, she sank into
tate of nervous depression that babe 9
mir to assume more dangerous
v
Mays communion startled and S
larmed her, for she knew her hus- T.
and would blame her for not ac- fl
uainting him with the fact of Dale's IL
isits to his daughter, and she ven fl
Ired to demonstrate, with what re-
nit we have already seen. {
Il will write to Rodney tonight t.
will beg him to come home. Oh. h
he knew how | have suffered, h
ould he not pity me?" she MUIR b
Iured, raising her sad eyes to the
.eaven where her wrongs were IL
nown. Ii
1t was a glorious summer even qr
g, and Lucille drew her writing st
ssk before one of the open windows di
nd prepared to begin her task, but W
'r hands trembled so that she could fir
't hold her pen, and her head OF
robbed painfully. st
Mechanically her eyes wandered 81
1t of the window to where the twi- al
ght shadows were falling over the
nooth-shaven lawn and fragrant VI
'wer parterres, and she caught a ag
impse of II white dress and blue dc
Dbons disappearing among the
res, where May was walking with m
n lover. nc
a sudden desire saized her to see
is Alwyn Dale whom May had yo
to wed, and on the inn w
llse of the moment she rang for m
r maid, and startled the girl by tn
e abrupt manner in which she an be