The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-07-31
SELECT STORY.
LOVE AT SECOND SIGHT.

~" w yOu it'l hOW, llolutt
dear!' asked tender young voice.
"ls your head any bct,eri"
mo, Mable. 1t aches and aches,
until almost wish that | could die.
Lay your hand here"
Mabel's cheek paled as her mother
took her hand and pressed it against
her temple.
Such fire would soon burn ont life's
flickeling taper.
She wet cloth and bound it round
the fevered head. AS she did so the
sick woman gave sigh of relief She
opened her eyes and turned a grateful
look upon the girl.
'Do You know, Mabel" she said
feebly, 81 dreamed last night of the
dear old home where we lived before
your father died. You were a wee
toddling baby then. 1t seems TO me,
If | could have some of the flowers
that grew in the garden in front of the
house, the very smell of them would
cure me-
Tears rushed to Mabels eyes. They
lived in the great crowded city, and
they were poor. Mabel could not
spare from her scanty hoard even the
trifling sum for which she could buy a
bunch of flowers from the venders who
were stationed at so many different
places along the street.
How could she get some of the fra.
grant flowers for her mother?
Suddenly came thought of an old
fashioned mansion a little way out of
the city. 1t was embowered in a will
derness of bloom.
Surely it would be no harm for her
to 60 and ask for some flowers, they
could but refuse them.
She bent over the Invalid and kissed
her.
"Mother,' she said softly, "if you
will be content to stay alone for a few
hours think l can crafty your long
ing if not for the blossoms that grew
about your old home for some Just
like them. | will ask Mrs. Gray to
come in and give you your medicine
regularly
Mrs. Gray was kind-hearted
woman who occupied part of the
house in which they lived, and she
readily consented to minister to the
invalids comfort in any way she could
during Mabel's absence.
1t was not without tremor that
Mabel at last found herself in broad,
neatly kept path which led to the
Gwinnc mansion.
A huge mastff sprang toward her as
she neared the house.
"Down, Nero! Down.
The speaker was an old gentlemab,
who evidently feared that the approach
of the dog would intimidate Mabel.
But Nero conten.ed herself with a
good-natured sniff, reserving his fercer
side for more suspicious party.
His master looked pleased to see Ma
bel pat his head fearlessly. The truth
was, now that she was in the pres,
ence of the stately.o)d master of the
place, her heart failed her, and she was
glad of an excuse to defer asking for
the flowers.
"Well, Miss" he said courteously,
"can | do anything to put you in the
way of finding the person you are
seeking?"
at is you sir. came to ask you
for flowers for my sick mother"
"Pick all you want. The more the
better You are welcome TO all you
can carry"
Just then Mabel heard clear, ring
ing voice shout; "Grandfather !" and
out of the cool, tiled hall, of which an
enchanting glimpse was visible through
the open door, came youth who
looked to her like some prince from a
fairy land.
She was not accustomed to the lux.
urlous habits of the rich, and his dark
blue dIessing gown, fastened by its
shimmering, woven gold, and the richly
embroidered smoking cap which rested
on his curly head, seemed to her alto
gether too gorgeous toilet for a
mortal like herself.
But the illusion only lasted for a
moment. A pair of brown eyes, Just
the color of ripe chestnut, glanced
at her curiously as their owner came
down the walk.
"You are just the one l want,
Chauncey. Get my pruning-shears
and basket off the table in the lower
hall. and bring them to me.
Chauncey soon returned with the de
sired articles, and Mabel found herself
following Mr.. Gwinne into the garden.
She was soon laden with fragrant
spoils, and she was sent home rejoic-
ing with kindly:
"Come again when these are faded"
from Mr.. Gwinne.
When Mabel reached home and her
mother saw the flowers, she put out
her hands with a delighted exclama.
ton.
"Giye them to me, child, quick
The very sight of them gives me new
strength !"
And when Mabel put the fragrant
cluster in her hands, she held them to
her face in a mute caress.
After a while she turned her eyes on
Mabel, with a look in them that start
led the girl by its intensity.
She was not like Mabel, who was
slight and pale, and who looked even
more childish than her years, with
only her heavy mass of ripping curls
and her dark, appealing eyes to re-
deem her face from absolute plainness.
She had evidently once been woman
of form and magnificent beauty.
Even now her great fever-bright eyes