The Evening post. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1888-1889, 1888-12-18
A BAFFLED BEAUTY.

after she hud SHOWN ner 1rlenu out Oh
the parlor, aud she felt that good cry
would make her feel much better Ada
had Just informed her in the most dis
interested way that her brother Burt, for
whom she had formed 50 many ambi-
tious schemes for marriage, was even
now in love with a shop.girl.
Ada informed her further that the
store where this person worked was
opposite her brothers club, and that
Burt was always seen waiting in the
neighborhood until the shop girl finished
her work, when she joined him outside.
The news was terrible shock to Kate
Netherby, who thought that no woman
in the world was quite good enough for
her brother. When he came home that
night, and they sat down together at din
ner, she lost no time in berating him for
his conduct in no measured terms. He
waited calmly until she had finished her
accusation and replied with some dig
nifty:
IL will not deny, as. you seem to think
/ will, that the story with which some
meddling busybody has filed your ears
is true. 1t is, every word Of it. Two
months ago, by the merest accident, ]
saw and fell in love with the loveliest
girl ever set my two eyes upon. That
she was honorably working for her main
tainance only made her the nobler in
my estimation. procured an introduce
ton, not without difficulty. AS you have
heard, did 90 to the store often-I
may say frequently; and several times
/ insisted, when the weather was
Kate, it never entered my
mind that you had any of that low
bred pride that would deem it derogatory
to person to be obliged TO earn her liv-
ing. You complain that have deceived
you. 1t was not deceit, but reticence,
for until learned my fate 1 did not care
to speak to you about it. And so prob
ably you would never have heard any
thing about it had it not been for your
informant, for my fate has been learned
Ito my cost"
The conclusion of his sentence brought
Kate to her feet.
ITO your COST Burt, what do you
mean?"
simply" ne replied, "that your
brother has had his self-esteem pretty
effectually crushed out of existence.
The girl I love cares not the least for
me, save" bitterly, las friend"
With the last words Burt's head sank
into his hands,
Kate looked at him aghast. Never be-
fore had she seen shadow upon her
idolized brothers frank, merry face, and
now it was no mere cloud, but tempest
of suffering that convulsed his features
She went to him and put her arm about
his neck, anger and pride completely
routed.
my poor brother, is II as bad as this?
Forgive, oh forgive me If / have wounded
you. 1 never will again"
And so they are reconciled, and for a
time everything goes on as before. Then
something happens that has the finger of
fate impressed on it. Burt, who has al
ways Justly prided himself upon his
horsemanship, while riding in the park,
is thrown.
The Netherby household is a sad one
that night, for in his darkened room
Burt lies, now delirious and now lapsing
into inconsistencies In his fall his
head had come in contact with a sharp
stone, and a grave injury had been the
result.
One morning small, richly dressed
lady enters Mr.. Hensels music store al
though her figure is far from stately,
there Is in her bearing that unmista kable
something that tells of social Importance
and refinement.
"May speak with Miss Leonard for a
few minutes in private?" she asks, cour-
teously.
Her wish is granted, and little later
Kate finds herself alone in the proprietor s
private Office with the young lady she
had come to see,
AS her eyes rest upon the pure, noble
face, with its soulful eyes and sensitive
mouth, Kate's wonder at what she had
n. Al. e., 10, har ind L.,
fatuation" dies. Taking Miss Leonard 8
hand, she abruptly plunges at once into
the object of her visit.
az am Mrs. Netherby, Burt's sister, y
she says. "He has told me of his love
for you and of your refusal. have come
to satisfy myself as to why that refusal
was given-if it could possibly be that
where my brother loved he was not cared
for In return-or if there we're not some
other underlying reason. He is very ill
perhaps dying, Miss Leonard-and upon
your reply his fate may rest
''NIr. Netherby dying Oh, do not say
sou
"Have you, then not heard of the &C
cident-of his being thrown from his
horse2"
mo. Obi unsay your wordsl he may
be very i'll, but no!-not nopelesslyW
'Time alone can tell that, but you
agitation convinces me of something that
/ have felt must be So 1t was not be
cause you did not love my brother tina
you refused him."
A wave of crimson sweeps over thu
lovely face, and as she raises her eye
Kate sees that they are full of tears.
"You are right" she answers, softly
sit was not lack of love, but my stub
born pride. / had heard OF his wealth
and high social position. l was poor
working for my daily bread, 1t nigh
have been said that ! married for mer
cenary reasons; SO / hid my heart ant
said-'No.'"
but you will unsay it--you will COM
with me and save him Oh, listen Il
me, for what / ask is as much for m,
own sake as for Burt's, for, like him,
have fallen in love with you at first sight
Sister, will you not Gomez"
What gentle woman-heart could resis
such pleading.
Burt lives; whether It is the sight o
Faith Leonard's lovely face that cure,
him or not, II is certain that from. tn
moment he felt the clasp of her soft
warm fingers, and heard her sweet voc
recsll the decided words of their partin
he grew not better, but well.
The doctors may prescribe for tn
body; but there Is only one physician
whose name is Love, that can heal tina
most deadly of all ails-h eartsickness,
"You did me good service after all