The Wilmingtonian., 1886-10-16

enchanting.
The particular dress was for evening wear.
Itwas Of some silky fabric in changing tints
of pink and lazuli blue, with cloudy drap-
cry of tune looped here and there with clus-
ters of velvet peach blossoms.
The dress fascinated me- l fancied
should like 20 behold myself arrayed in the
exquisite garment with those lovely pink
pearls cleaning on my neck and wrists.
For once my interminable stitching was
ignored The housekeeper over at Pumper-
nj :kel villa might wait for the hemming of
her table linen and if the handkerchief
monograms were not embroidered, the mis-
tress of the St. Glare palace might grumble
If she liked For once proposed to enjoy
moment of leisure, to have little masquer-
a lie with myself for spectator
And SO l dotfsd my worn serge gown and
cloth slippers, and donned the evening cos
tune, the peach blossoms and pink pearls,
and even the dainty kid boots.
| As turned to the long, narrow, swing
mirror Of my sitting room, | started invol-
unfairly. Was it really myself-Marinna
Carew-who moment before had enyied
fair Lilias her youth, her dainty bloom, her
stately loveliness
"We are surpringly alike and after all, !
am but very few years older than she"
was my mental comment made with keen
thrill of satisfaction, ending the next instant
in a yet keener pang that for me, even, the
gift of beauty was for naught
| RrauIy IN upmD and btauty in RAGS are
two very different tbings-the world bows
in homage before the one; the other is scorn.
ed, or pitied, or unheeded | Could the sim
pie knowledge that |, too, was fair satisfy
me when all my soul was thIrsting and hun
gering but for drop and morsel of the good
lavished on Lilias, aud of which | was de-
MED?
turned from the mirror with a sigh and
with a movement so abrupt that something
"a small box of parlor matches-was dis
lodged and fell to the floor.
And just then became aware that some
body had pushed back the open door and had
paused upon the threshold.
As looked up could feel the hot blood
crmsoning my cheeks, for there stood Cyril
olIoth, smiling-amusedy, | fancied-at
my inconsistent borrowed plumage.
With some mortified and inarticnlate ex-
clamation stepped hastily backward, One
dainty kid boot crushed down upon the fall
en box of treacherous matches there was a
sound as if a magazine of torpedoes had ex-
ploded beneath my feet, and the next instant
tulle and silk and velvet peach blossoms
were all in oLe smoking fame from my
shoulders to the hem of my skirts.
1t all happened so suddenly that scarcely
realized my danger. / only knew that Cyri
was springing toward me that his face hat
become as pale as MARBLE that the smile hac
vanished beneath his golden mustache, aut
that his blue eyes had darkened with an aw
full fear. And then | was enveloped, smoth
cred, gasping, within blanket he hac
snatched from the bed of the inner room, anc
SO | knew no more.
When / regained my senses l was on a
mass of rugs and cushions among the drip
ping flowers of my weak, but | felt mysel
almost unscorched and quite unhurt. Shawl
and blankets sheltered me from the thicl
drizzle, and Cyril was bending anxiousI,
over me. | was conscious of curiously crack
ling noises in the air, and strange red glar
about me-
: "What is itP" said, struggling to uplif
, my throbbing head.
i Bat the question was superfuous. | il
stantly understood what was happening. NJ
little house, stored with the meagre fruits 0
/ my years of toll and sacrifice, was burning
i, crumbling into ashes before my sight.
n Cyril put his arm about me. His blue eye
! were tender, his face was grave.
> 81 did what l could, he said gently. "Bu
i everything in the room was blazing before
had you out of danger. sent for help in
0 mediately, and something has been saved.
. / could not utter syllable. My sense {
v loss and homelessness stuplhed me.
r "Let my love comfort you, Mariana.
a have loved you 30 long, DEAR" Cyril sait
u tenderly, as he drew me toward him. "Lt
me build BONNER house-a home of whiC
i you shall be mistress-a wife ever loved"
; And so it was not Lilias : it was I,lowly
N who was to be blessed with the love of Cyl
J. Wolroth.
m In the wonder of it all, in my grattut
,e and infinite coptent-I was only capable
,e some sobbing incoherency but he unde
rs stood, and his grave face frightened as
10 bent his head and kissed me on the brv
and cheeks and lips.
IL, A half hour later, was reposing on so
~ in the yellow stone house among the gree
f. oak tress.
he 81 had expected you with Lilias. NJ
If. sending Cyril back for You was really pro-
ri dential," Miss Isabella said, with sympatl
III and sincere kindness. II shall keep y
IA. now, dear Mariana, until you and my broth
4. are married"
''That won't be long" smiingly interpt
nv ed my lover, who was already assuming pl
| prietary airs where l was concerned.
he And we were, indeed, married very so
dis afterward.
nd 81 knew very well it wasn't daffodil bul
lie aud rose cuttings which brought him SO
~. to see you" Lilias remarked mischievous
me eBut he is nice-Cyril is And envy "
declare do, Aunt Marianna."
all Lilas would never know how bitterly
lid had envied her in that one dark hour j.
in ''before the dawn"
ad "But then," Cyril declares, with proyol
pr- eg ltism, "to have envied anybody on my
count shows how much you must have
all preciated my many excellent qualities"
ere Knew How 10 Catch Her.