The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-01-16

Even heiresses of noble blood are
subject to the disappointments and in.
copveoiences of destiny. Adele had
had to acknowledge this vexatious
truth, when her maid--a trained fem
me de chambre and a French woman
fell Ill and perversely died, Just as they
| were about to start for PHILADELPHIA
Her place was temporarily Supplied for
the journey, but until she could find
maid in the city she should be quite
in despair, as she had confded to her
hostess the night she arrived.
The lady of the mansion at once
conquered the dilemma by transfer
ring poor Ioes services to her cap
tious and exacting guest, and, for the
first time since she had been received
under the protection of the Walnut
street lady, the poor young orphan
found cause for complaint.
They were very nearly one age,
these young people, out there similar
ity ceased. The Southern girl was
jealous, passionate, unjust and capri
cious. The immense gulf between
their social estate, the totally different
order of their beauty, seemed natural
barriers to petty envy or personal
pique on the young ladies' part. It
did not prove 90. Adele was proud
enough, but of dignity she knew moth
ing. Zoe possessed artistic skill in de-
vising styles suited to her own fair
face, and would appear daily with
some new and becoming fancy in the
dressing of her hair With cool inso
lence Adele would order its disarrange-
ment at once and the reproduction of
the tabooed style in her pretty locks.
When Zoe obeyed in gloomy silence
the young tyrant was nearly always
disappointed in the effect and sure to
visit the chagrin on the pretty blonde.
No wonder the latter was an utter
skeptic as to the charms of the heiress,
whose caprice rendered her wretched.
No matter what her thoughts, how
ever, gratitude to her benefactress
sealed her lips. She bore, what she
hoped might be passing trial, in 81
lence.
But tears and pallor only increased
Loes beauty, and one night (the fam
lily had just rolled away in their car
rage to some fine party in Adeles
honor, the toilette for which was so
grand as to cost the poor maid many a
stitled heart-pang ere it was pronoun-
ced perfect, she stood in the grand IL
brary, discarded wrap of crimson
satin and white down thrown upon her
arm and her eyes by chance upon the
opposite mirror.
What saw she there?
sweet reflection smiled upon her and
warm heart-thrll of pleasure al
most consoled her for all she had
borne
Was Zoe so vain All, who can
say how great the temptation is for
poor girl to prize the beauty that is
her only dover!
That was long, loug ago, and it
would puzzle anyone to trace in the
dull walls of the upper end of the
present bare dining room Ia this Wal
nut street house any likeness to that |
grandly furnished, richly decorated |
apartment; yet it has happened, so it
is whispered, that more than one be-
lated boarder, groping his unlightel |
way toward the ice-pitcher, that stands
where she once stood, fees something
like a chill blast strike him, and sud.
denly nebulous vision of girl with
shining hair and darkly wistfu eyes,
holding some richly colored drapery on
her arm, glides by aud is gone even
before he fully feels her presence.
The mirrors of half a century since
were either rarer or finer than those in
use to-day Ioes image, as shown in
the fine French plate, so pleased her
eyes as to absorb her other faculties.
The stopping of carriage wheels, a
ring OH the bell and footsteps close be-
side her were all unheard till deep
rich voice cried joyfully, "Adele, my
charming cousin, what marvel of
beauty you've grown to be" and the
arms of an admiring stranger were
thrown around her with brotherly free
dom, "Oh, sir; you are mistaken
Zoe murmured, as with bushing
cheeks and downcast eyes she slipped
through his clasp; "the ladies are alb
sent and lam only poor dressing
maid"
Some persons place great value on
their first impressions. Evidently the
son and heir was one of those. He
never changed his opinion of Zoe's
grace and beauty from that night
when he came unaunounced for the
purpose of enjoying family surprise
(unless, indeed, it increased as he
watched her from day to day and saw
how unsuspectingly she yielded to the
spell of his skilfully displayed fasci-
nations)
The old story of the charmed bird
was revived in this weak girls strug-
giles against a power her frightened
conscience vainly bade her fly from.
But she was friendless, homeless,
without aid or shelter ii she left the
place where every vile of her own
blind love and the collegian's admiring
eyes and tender voice were holding her
bound like an enchantment.
"a ueNollon luoJ usutpS luc place Ol
reason had seized upon her. The son
and heir had already told her of his
love and she believed him.
She listened when he reminded her
of the effect produced on him by her
beauty. He had thought her lady
of birth and fortune. 1t was the blind
blunder of Fate that she was born in
seclusion and poverty and it was his
privilege to correct the gross error and |
place her where Nature had meant her
to shine.
Not in moment, nor without some |
strategy, for there were absurd pref. |
udices to overcome, difficulties to sur
mount, obstacles to conquer and recon,
cile, etc.
He had a plausible tongue, this
handsome collegian, aud when he ex-
planned his plan for private marriage,
a year spent with him in study and
polish on the continent, during which |
his cousin Adele would be no doubt