Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-06-30

AZ last Tie uudl pdylueHt Was maui
As Mabel turned to go, after thanking
her benefactor, his voice recalled her to
his side.
Little Mabel" he said, II have been
an interested spectator of your manner OF
life since you and | made our bargain.
| have seen your cheeks grow pale for
want of the food you have persisted in
denying yourself, that you might bring
your weekly hoard to me, and | wondered
if one so young would be able to carry
out so high resolve. You have succeeded,
and all your life long you will have it to
remember. Now, your part is done, and
mine begins. Give me your hand, my
child, for Randolph Gwinne repects you.
More than that, he loves you well enough
to ask you to be his adopted daughter.
Come and make your home with me. You
shall have every advantage that bountiful
means can provide. You will have no
objections Chauncey, my boy, viii you?"
as his grandson came into the room.
A few words explained his meaning,
and Chauncey turned his handsome eyes
indifferently toward the hesitating girl.
1t was not the first time they had met-as
Mabel was conscious in every fiber of her
sensitive being, but Chauncey did not
remember her.
So the careless but good-natured "Of
course, grandfather, one more or less does
not matter in this great house" sank deep
into Mabel's memory, to rise again to the
surface and influence her future long after
Chauncey had forgotten them.
So it was that Mabel was domiciled at
the Gwinnes. 4 goyerness was engaged
for her, and music and painting lessons
soon occupied the time not engaged in her
studies. Thus year passed OF.
One morning the daily paper was
brought rs usual to Mr.. Gwinne, as he
was sitting at the breakfast table slipping
coffee
Suddenly an exclamation from him ar
rested Mable's attention
He had read a notice asking for the
knowledge of the whereabouts of one
| Rachel Freeland, whose married name was
| Wynne Her only surviving parent had
died, and she, if living, was sole heiress to
large fortune; if dead, her children
would inherit.
Well l remember poor Rachel said
Mr.. Gwinne musingly. She was the
handsomest girl | ever saw. She gave up
all for love, and made clandestine mar
riage with man of whom her parents
dlsapproved. Poor Rachel. l wonder if
she is aliveW
Mabel rose from the table, and went to
Mr.. Gwinne. She was very pale, but her
eyes shone with excitement.
Rachel Freeland was my mothers
maiden name. Oh, my kind benefactor,
how little you knew whose child it was you
were befriending But for you she would
be sleeping in nameless gravel
Truly, the ways of God are mysteri-
Gus p said the kind-hearted old gentleman,
taking off his spectacles to wipe away the
sudden mist that blurred them.
Mabel had no difficulty in proving her
claim, as her parents marriage certificate
was found among some papers slowed away
in an old chest. SO the orphan waif
adopted by Randolph Gwinne was now in
dependently wealthy in her own right.
Mabel was now fifteen. She had not
changed much in personal appearance
during the year of her stay at the
Gwinnes. She was still slight and rather
understood. Her complexion was rather
sallow, and though her features were reg
ular, she was undeniably plain. Her lux
urious shining hair and lustrous eyes were,
however, sufficient to redeem her from
positive ugliness.
Chauncey was still student, coming
home only for his college vacations, and
then burying himself in his beloved books,
so that he was only visible at meal times.
Suddenly Mr. Gwinne's health failed, |
and he was ordered abroad. Mabel and
Miss Clay, her governess accompanied
him. They remained away from home
two years.
Then word came to Chauncey that they
were coming home. They were tired of
travel and Mr. Gwinne had quite recovered
his health.
Chauncey met them at the station. He
was handsome and indiferent-looking as
ever, but was truly, In his whole appear
ance, king among men to Mabel's partial
eyes.
AS the little party he had come to meet
drew near, he gave his grandfather cor
dial shake of the hand and turned toward
Mabel to find himself confronted by tall,
stately girl, with flashing dark eyes, set in
face of such loneliness that he was, for
moment, daZzled.
81 beg your pardon, | thought it was
my cousin" he said, turning to the other
lady.
But when Miss Clay's familiar features
met his eyes, he asked:
"Where is Mabel? Have you left her
behind?"
Don't you know me- Cousin Chaun-
cey" asked merry voice beside hir2, and
the beautiful apparition he had mistaken
for stranger put out her gloved hand in a
halfplayful, half-friendly way.
From that time the young students tor
ture commenced.
Mabel, who had left home half-grown
girl, had gained with maturity the rounded
suppleness of form as well rs the uueenly
dignity of a young Diana; and with the
rich color, which had chased away the
pallor of her cheeks, had come that de-
licious, delicate complexion so rarely seen
with dark hair.
An older and more experienced Judge
of beauty would, years before, have seen
its promise in those regular features, and
straight, though at that time, angular out
lines-but to her adopted cousin it was
surprise.
He looked upon it as upon miracle,
and every new glimpse of her bewitch-
ing face served but to deepen the impress
sion.
But Mabel had greatly changed in
other things besides beauty. She was in
W llAui; III llSI NdTlSu
moods.
Now grave-now gay-now majestic as
princess-now gentle and simple as a
child.
Chauncey knew not what to make of
her. But he was fully conscious of one
truth-that he loved the very ground her
tiny feet had pressed. He was her shadow |
At last he grew desperate.
She should not thus hold him aloof and |
play with his feelings any longer 1t might !
be amusement to her, but it was making
his life torture.
So he captured her in the library one
morning, before the rest of the family had |
made their appearance, and pressed his |
suit with an earnestneSs which would have |
moved a heart Of stone.
But to all appearance it had no effect |
upon Mabel. She answered with care
less smile:
81 In house like this, where one more
or less doesn't matter it would be well for |
you to think twice before offering yourself |
to me-" and she swept ftom the room,
leaving Chauncey lost in a maze of be-
] I