Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1886-04-14
ALICE ARNOLD'S DESPAIR.

Mark saw it before I did. I have
wondered today, looking back, if
could have controlled myself sufficient
ly to prepare him for the shock if ]
had read the newspaper first this
morning. Twas passing Marks cup
of coffee to Jane, the waiter
girl, when 1 caught sight OF
his face. It was as white and
rigid as it can ever be in it's coffin,
and his eyes were dilated in stare,
horrible to see.
"Mark!'' cried, in terror. "what is
it, dear? Are you ill?''
was beside him as l spoke, and
saw that his eyes were fixed upon a
certain place in the paper he had been
reading. Then l, too, read the fatal
paragraph, only few lines, but full
of horror for Mark.
do not blame her!' he said, in a
whisper, shuddering as he spoke. 80,
Bessie! Bessie! my heart is broken.!'
put my arms around him and drew
his head down upon my breast, where
it had so often lain in childhood, when
my orphaned brother came to sister
Bessie to be comforted in boyish woes.
He was my only brother, though l was
sixteen years the eldest. Little graves
in the cemetery marked the sorrows OF
my childhood, as one after another
my brothers aud sisters had dropped
and died, until Mark was left. Aud he
was but four years old when our
parents both died.
We were not poor. owning our own
handsome home, and a comfortable
income; so Mark had every advantage
of education, studied law, and had
gradually won his way to position in
his profession. And had married, lost
my husband, and returned, after an
absence of only three short months. to
resume my place as my brothers
housekeeper, only my widows dress to
tell strangers had ever been away.
1t was just after Mark had finished
his studies and been admitted to the
bar that he met Alice Arnold. She
had come to Claymont to visit her
aunt, near neighbor and old friend OF
ours, and we called to welcome her
amongst US. She was about eighteen
years old then, and her beauty won its
way to my heart as surely as it did to
Marks. She was the most timid,
gentle creature ever saw, her color
fitting if you spoke to her, her shy
blue eyes dropping, and her voice low
and almost plaintive in its timidity.
Miss Arnold, strong, energetic old
maid. seemed to actually terrify her by
her short, brusque manner, but she
chung to me from the first hour of our
friendship.
Children generally like me, and she
was little more than child. Yet,
when she became more intimate, and
came often to pass whole days with
me, found that below the frightened,
timid manner there was clear brain,
an intellect that had been carefully
cultivated, anC sweet womanly
nature. She was an enthusiastic mu-
stefan and fine pianist, but could not
sing. Nothing delighted her more
than to play for Mark and myself, to
sing duets. or if was tired or busy, to
hear Mark sing, in his rich baritone
voice, the music he loved.
asked myself, after she had ended
her summer visit, if she was coquette,
a cruel, heartless flirt, who would win
mans heart only to cast it aside.
And, in my bitterness, then l thought
she was. In later years l acquitted
her of the crime. l believe she had
no suspicion that Mark loved her. He
was always grave and reserved, and
although he was but twenty-three at
the time, had the air and bearing of
much older man. And being really
so much his senior, think Alice looked
upon US both as rather elderly people.
and was far more free and confidential
than she would have been if she had
looked upon Mark as a young man and
lover.
But Mark, who never cared before
for any Of our girl friends, gave to AL
ice Arnold all the store of love his
uSaIb COu1O cSc1 OAOAs AAS" ~, AOA
Mark had made mo his confidential
friend all his life, and seeing her sly
pleasure in his presence, the interest
she took in all his pursuits, her gentle
acceptance of his grave attentions. |
thought his love was returned. and
was happy in the expectation of q
nearer, closer tie between the sweet,
loving Girl and myself.
But, Just before she left Claymour,
Mark, telling her his love, was
answered by the tidings that she was
engaged to be married. She was
dreadfully distressed, coming to me to
sob out her regret that Mark loved her.
but Loyalty asserting her own love for
her betrothed. After she left us Miss
Arnold took me into confidence.
She told me that her neice was an
heiress, and her mother was fool. l
am quoting Miss Arnold! She said that
Henry Parker, the man who had won
Alice's childish love. was a snowy,
handsome fellow, of whom the family
knew nothing, but who was distrusted