Daily Republican., 1888-06-06

in her cream cheeks glowing like tn,
bu' ming heart Of the richest, rsddes
rose.
In oil our acquaintance I had never
admired her 30 much a. / did ct tina
moment. But, remembering the wronf
she had done my brother, felt nc
kindness toward her.
PRAY explain, II you can, Misi
Grandson" / said In my coolest tone,
why you entered this house under .
false character, In which you won my
brothers heart. emily to break 1t. What
have you TO say to that?"
Nothing, except that your brother
knows all have to tell, and don't
feel called upon to disclose my trou.
bles to the whole world. II you deem
me unfit for the position | hold in your
house, Miss Percival, / will go else
where.n
"You may" l answered coldly.
l was ashamed of my unkindness,
even as l spoke, but believing her just
then to be designing woman, the
calm composure OF her manner anger.
cd me until / neither spoke nor acted
like myself.
Every WE'LL" she said, and my
heart smote me at the deathly pallor
OF her face as she turned to leave the
room.
AT that instant servant handed me
a letter from Ralph, and l tore it open
and read it where. l stood. Such q
letterl-explaining why he had gone
away, and declaring that Miss Grandi-
son, whom he pronounced as the best
and noblest of women, was not to
blame for his folly. He ended by beg.
ging me to be kind to her. and not
allow her TO leave our home 30 long
as she needed such position.
Half penitently, / placed the letter
in her hand, remarking that Ralph's
wishes were law TO me, and that l
hoped she would forget my words and
do what was best tor her happiness.
She hesitated minute or so, with
the open letter in her hand, and l
knew that great struggle was going
on beneath that calm, beautiful ex.
terror.
at is humiliating," she said at
length, with little, quivering smile,
ito remain here under the circum-
stances; but l am poor, Miss Percival,
and l must not think too much Of my
dignity. Besides, was sure. If you
had known the truth you would not
have been so unjust"
And 30 she stayed.
Months AFTER, when / had grown to
love and esteem her for the 'best and
noblest Of women" as Ralph had
called her, she told me her story.
Briefly, she had a large fortune
willed to her by an uncle OF her hus-
band, whose other heirs through
jealously and greed, had blasted her
life by cruel ISLANDERS. In tho bitter
ness of their hatred they had estranged
her husband from her, and be had de.
serted her, believing her to be false.
Her enemies had been successful in
ail their plots against her, and she had
borne prosecutions and insults which,
as | listened to their psthetical re.
cital, made me wonder that woman
ike her could have endured them and
lived.
Abandoned by the husband whom
she still loved. better than her own
life, and thrown iriendless upon the
world, she had kept her history to
herself, simply dropping her married
title for the sake OF being less exposed
10 curious questioning.
When winter came around again
we were expecting Ralph, who wrote
hat he was heart whole once more,
md intended to bring friend to help
lin enjoy his welcome home.
How handsome Ralph looked as he |
walked, smiling and happy, into the |
MIDST OF our family circle, and what
plendid looking man was the stranger
Who walked close behind him.
AS 9liss Grandison's dark, beautiful
yes glanced up at them, shrek that
shall never forget rang through the
DOM and she fell iainting into the
arms.
What need to say more. Ralph had
onstituted himself q modern Don
luixote, and had secretly pledged
lmself to right the wrong of the
Foman who had refused him.
He had found Paul Grandson, had
Did him where his wife was, and
What true, pure woman she had
royen herself.
And Paul had come with him to
neel at Flora's feet las he afterward
Did me) and crave her pardon.
l think Ralph wss almost as happy
hen Flora turned those beautiful
rown eyes upon him and murmured,
God bless you my noble friend" as
g would have been could his own
ream of winning her have been full
lied.