The Washington critic., 1885-06-06
PAST AND PRESENT.

hlnc iluu DtCu " SUI Ire untll IIlp SUN
shine of Estellc Cartoons friendship had
come to illumine its gloom.
had been a teacherin Madame Dupoys
academy for two years before Estelle en-
tered as pupil
1t had been very kind of madame to
take one into her employ whose name
had been clouded as mine had been, and
| had appreciated it to the full; for though
it had been through no fault of my own,
no sooner had the cruel blow fallen that
had attainted the name that bore with
disgrace, than all the fair-weather friends
who had apparently been so fond of me in
prosperous days, fell away until, had it
not been for my mothers old friend, |
should have been homeless as well as par
entless and unhappy.
My misfortunes, united to an excessive
sensitiveness, had combined to render me
morbid and reserved in the extreme.
But before the winning charm of Estelle
Carleton all my barriers of GOODNESS were
cast down. From the first she had seemed
attracted to me; perhaps it was because of
the entire contrast there was between us,
for where / was all darkness she was all
light.
/ will try to describe her. She was slight
and ethereal of figure with eyes as blue
skin was tinted as delicately and softly as
an infants; her mouth was Loves own
throne, with sweetness of expression
that never failed, wherever she went, to
win all hearts to her.
And she won mine. Poor and full of
sorrow as | was, she chose me from
amongst her gay companions for her
FRIEND and in time my own lips learned
| to copy in graver fashion the smiles that
so constantly played about hers, while, as
looked forward, glow of hope began to
| disperse the utter darkness that the future
had hitherto only seemed to hold for me.
For this is what Estelle said to me:
"When ! finish the academy course
which you know will be in Just one more
years time, shall not leave you. You
shall come with me. You need not shake
your head, Marcia, it will certainly be So
] am my own mistress. Aunt Mary only
lives TO crafty me, and she will be only
too delighted to have me provided with
companion of my own age. See, here is
her last letter. mentioning you, and say
ing how much she would like to know
you"
And as read the kind old ladys letter
tears rushed to my eyes. While GOODNESS
and Sights had only the power to rouse
| all that was hardest in my nature u sym
| pathetic word or action would always I'M
| seal the healing font
The year slipped by, and babe Madame
DNIoN Sool-DN, utE HTuItlullN
| for her many kindnesses.
"lndecd, ! have received more than |
have given, ! shall miss your services
| sorely, Miss Murray, and ] shall be de-
lighted to welcome you back again, if ever
you should wish to return"
And so, after being an inmate of its
walls foriivc long years, left the academy
to accompany my friend to her home.
had heard that Estelle Carleton was n
| great heiress, but so simple and unaffected
had she always been in her attire and
| manner, that until / saw the elegance of
| her stately home, j hardly realized the
| truth of what rumor had avouched.
The days rolled by until they merged
| into weeks, and months and then years.
| Three had elapsed since my advent at Bel
| yoir, and already tiny cloud doomed up
| over the horizon of my happiness, visible
| only to my own vision, for as yet Estelle
| had not an inkling of what was in my
| mind.
Six months previous n new neighbOrhad
made his appearance in the vicinity of
| Belvoir. His handsome presence and evil
dent refinement and culture had soon
| obtained for him the entree to the best
| circles, and thus Estelle had met him.
Despite her any urgings, even supplica-
tons, never accompanied her TO any of
| the parties or gay doings to which she was
| frequently invited.
| II am more content at home" ! would
| always answer.
| "You are too handsome, Marcia, to
always hide so persistently your light un-
| der n bushel Come with me tonight,
and let me add to my enjoyment the adj
| ditional pleasure of seeing the sensation
you will create"
| Only once she said anything like that.
| When she heard my reply she never again
urged me to set aside my resolution.
"lf you lovemc, Estelle, do not ask me to
leave the seclusion in which | have found
| such peace. Once out in the cruel world,
] should again feel the sting ofcontemptu
Gus, averted looks. should inevitably
meet some one who knew my painful
story and whose eyes would not scruple to
| tell me So"
But it was not long before |, too, met
| Arthur Meade; for, in the company of Il
mutual acquaintance, he called, and once
having learned the way he did not forget it,
As his visits became frequent, and no.
ticed the eloquent light thatwould spring
into his eyes as they rested upon Estelles
lovely face, and the answering glow that
would deepen to n sudden damask the ten
der pink of her check, | read all too
clearly just what was approaching and
that my image would soon no longer be
foremost in my darings heart.
| And So when one day, she hid her
| blushing face upon my bosom and whiS-
| pered her sweet secret was taken by sur
| prise.
| was silent for moment after she con-
cluded. Though | tried to speak, lump
rose in my throat and prevented me.
She looked up quickly.
why do you look so sad? You like
| Arthur-you have told me so-dear Mar
ella, you rejoice with mc?"
'Surely yes to both questions" | re-
piled, straining her to my breast with
| clinging arms.
But you do not understand why,
though am happy in your happiness,
| grieNe as. well. Estelle, your marriage
means only hope and joy to you--to me it
will be separation from her love best in
| all the WOrldp'
Not so, not sou she cried. 'My home
will always be yours, We cannot be
| pared!'
| But though she wept and tried by every
| fond means, even drawing her lover into
acting jointly with herself, my decision
was not TO be changed.
| ! would remain at Belvoir until her
| marriage should take place, and then |
| would return to Nine. Dupoy's.
| Twelve months more, fun of activity
| and preparation, and then came the we'd
| ding day. For the first time in many
| years ] was to form one of a brilliant social
| spectacle.
| Despite my shrinking and unwilling
ness neither Mr.. Meade nor Estelle would
| take any denial. | was not alone TO Join
| in the festivities, but was to be an i'm.