Thomas County cat., 1886-03-04

more and more by myself-lt was such
torture to hear his praises. As for Sim
clair. he idolized her. l had never in
NV most romantic dreams imagined
such love as he gave to her.
Every thing she said or did, every
garment she wore, was perfect in his
ewes: and he could not refrain from
talking of her wonderful virtues to me.
Ihad to listen and endure it, although
it was slow torture.
l felt a perfect hell in my breast often
as l listened.
She was constantly thoughtful for
every one about her, and seemed to
live only to make others happy. [
never saw so unselfish nature as hers.
At first she used to make me her con-
fidante, and tell me of her happiness
in Sinclair's love, and dwell upon his
virtues and goodness. But after q
time she ceased that, too. l think she
intuitively felt that did not enjoy her
confidence, and she drew more within
herself
As for myself, used to actually hope
and pray for some unhappiness to come
between their hearts. believe now that
/ did admit an evil spirit to my breast,
who constantly whispered devilish ideas
in my ear.
Finally Sinclair began to build.
Millicent was radiant with delight, and
they were constantly making plans and
talking of the new home, and Sinclair
would ask me every now and then for
a suggestion; but l always had some
excuse to take me away.
One day we stood before n tall mir
ror together-quite by accident. | was
struck by the difference in our faces.
We were just of an age, but my selfish.
mercenary, jealous and enviOus feel
ings had marred my face, until looked
almost ten years her senior. Nature
had made me much the handsomer of
the two, and yet could see that she
possessed tenfold the attractions did
1T that time.
This only increased my hatred, and
if | could have marred her features
then and there with some terrible scar
l would have done it. Always in pres
encc of Sinclair, tried to appear kind
and cordial, for did not want him to
read my mortified pride and wounded
love, though now my love for him had
turned into dislike. Since he belonged
to her he was hateful in my sight.
BY and by a new cause of misery to
me was added. There was to be ere
many months passed another tie to
bind her to Sinclair and Colonel Mon
roe.
When 1 realized this + felt a madden
ing fury take possession Of me.
Little by little, unconsciously yet
surely by the force of her own worth
and her many virtues, sbe had crowded
me out of the place i had grown to
think was my own.
My stepfather worshiped her; Sinclair
loved her to idolatry; and even the SER
wants and the neighboring people could
talk of nothing but ''sweet Lady Milli-
cent l was thrust aside, slighted,
Yet it was my own fault.
can help loving a sweet, smil-
ing, unseltish and amiable person in
preference to black-browed, frown-
ing, cold, selfish being. l had not made
myself worthy of love, and l hated her
because she had; and now she was to
bestow last priceless blessing upon
the race. blessing which l had been
denied the right of bestowing.
One evening just in the cleaning I
walked down the garden toward a rus
tic seat near large rose tree. In order
to reach the seat had to descend sew
eral steps. They were fiat steps-cut
from quarry stone, and brought and
laid there. As placed my foot on the
second stair it tottered and tipped un-
der my weight. There had been a Sc
we're storm recently, and the earth had
washed away, leaving no foundation
Tor the slab to rest upon. l fell as the
step gave way beneath me and bruised
my knee.
II must tell John about this to-
night, l thought, land he must attend
to it tomorrow. It's dangerous
place.
| sat down on the rustic bench. l
had scarcel Y seated myself, when l saw
Millicent approaching with her basket
and scissors; she was coming to gather
roses to decorate the house
As she neared the steps was on the
point of calling out to her to be careful.
when the devil in my heart bade me be
silent
''Let her look out for herself" he
'It's none of your busi-
ness. If you had not come down here
you would not be responsible for what
to her, and she can. not eX-
pect you to follow her about to guard
her from Danger
While the evil spirit whispered. it all
happened.
She stepped upon the treacherous
stone, it tipped under her weight and
her forward upon her face.
ran to assist her to her feet, now thor
oughly frightened and Mortified at my
own wickedness, but she did not seem
badly hurt, only slightly bruised.
THAT is dangerous place." she
said. John must attend to it to-mor-
row."
Even then at that moment it made |
me anpry to hear her sneak in such q |