The Arkansaw traveler. (Little Rock, Ark.) 1882-1???, 1888-12-08

a few days-Dr. Dayton was still standing BY my
bedside, and close by the window sat a slender
figure i'm black-it's face turned away
"Who is that?" | asked, huskily, pointing toward
her
"Mrs Farnham" he answered
"Why does she wear that black dress?" | ven
tured, after moment Of silence.
"My poor child ,"he gently responded, "your own
mother is no longer alone in heaven. lie left you
his blessing-and one day you will surely meet him
again"
"Was-wss il smallpox"
"Yes," was the reluctant reply
"And have been ill., too7"
Very i'll, my poor girl-so near the valley of
death that its shadows alls but encompassed your
ife?"
Bring me n looking glass"
| stared breathlessly into its crystal depths
Thank heaven was pale, worn, haggard, but not
SCARED with the hdeous prints OF the disease had
been battling with
allow does it happen that am not marked?"
asked, with deep respiration of thankfulness
Through your mothers underwriting
care, day and night? Isabel, you ought TO love
her very, very much, for if ever guardian angel
dwelt in human form, she has been one to you"
Was my heart moulded out of adamant instead
of mortal flesh and blood? For | hated my step
mother still! | thanked her, it is true, but her
gentle sigh told me that she was not deceived by
the empty form of words
| was just convalescing sufficiently to set up
when Colonel Tresselyn came to our house. lie
had been an old school friend of Estele Raymond's
before she married my father, but il CHANGED
that had never seen him.
He tall and handsome, with large, dark eyes.
rich brown skin, and face and figure like the
sculptured representations of Apollo. And the
soft southern grace of his was as fine ii
was attractive to me.
The lrst day that knew that | had fallen in
love with him, was the day that first fancied his
manner had deeper shade than its wont toward
my stepmother.
The light flashed blndngly bewilderingly in
upon my soul! My beautiful, hated stepmother-
she not then content with stealing from the
motherless girl fathers treasured love, bnt she
must tain to take away also the dearest jewel OF
woman's life-the heart OF the man she loved most
dearly.
| had recourse to my usual panacea for a sore
heart-sOitude! | sought the lonely depths of
the autumn tinted woods, to think and dream and
burn in upon my heart the passionate consciousness
oPmy own grief and isolation. And | could not
have told whether had been three hours or only
minutes when voices in the shaded aisle beyond
were fOated gently TO my ears-my step mothers
tone mingled with the sweet deep accents Colonel
Tresselyn. They did not know l was there, but
had neither the spirit pride to reveal my pres
ence
at is useless, Ralph" Esteles sweet voice spoke
81 know that am still young in years, but such
things as love and marriage over for me-"
"And you will not be my wife?"
"No, Ralpb-but ii is not that | do not esteem
and respect you"
"You send me away from you." he said, in a
somewhat piqued Tone"
"There you are wrong again, Ralph | would
fain keep you by my side, a dear and valued
friend. Ask Isabel to De your wife-she is young
and beautiful, with rare richness of nature and a
heart which will appreciate you you deserve.
AS Isabels husband you scarcely fail to be
happy, for"
And here the growing distance between us, and
the rustic of the leaves, drowned their receding
voices and sat there with exultant throbs in my
heart. Ought to have been indignant? Should
have spurned the adulation which had been laid
first at another's shrine? | can only answer that
loved him
In that hour my manner, as well my heart,
altered toward my stanmofhar-and ON the even