Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-07-23

the needle still where she set it last, and tiny gold thimble close by the basket.
 From the wall above looked down the pict- ured zAco of the young wife in its gilded framt; . fair, sweet face, the index of Q loving and pure spirit. It was pathetic scene, and Isabel's eyes filled with tears as she looked upon it; she held out her hands to him in earnest sympathy, saying in low, tremulous tones: 'I can never, never fill her place in your heart, am sure."
 CHAPTER W.
 "No," he answered, gravely taking her hand in his, "no one could do that; she, my first love, holds a sacred shrine in my heart that none else can occupy; but, my wife, you can fill your own place, and that is fast be- coming dear one." He drew her to him, and, placing his arm about her waist, pressed his first kiss upon her lips in the presence of the smiling face looking down benignly upon them.
 Love; 1t was the first time the subject had been approached since their first meet ing, and Isabel wondered what love would be like when it came. She had dreamed of love. What girl has not, and thought of it as turbulent, overmastering passion, un. bounded by reason or common sense. At least that was the version of it given by the story-writers, and she was positive there was no such emotion in her heart for Mir. Falconer. "-.
 He was simply friend-a kind, true gem tleman-who had rescued her from her try ing life of poverty, and brought her to all these delightful things, and she respected him above all men whom she had ever seen.
 Friends may exchange kiss, and she raised her lips to his without tremor, and hoped for the day when kisses might be a symbol of a sweeter, deeper feeling than friendship.
 an easy rocker in the housekeeper's room. "Mr. Falooner has given me permission to fit up one of the rooms to suit my own taste, and have come to you for assistance, as of course wish to consult his tastes also, and you have lived with hlm 50 many years that you must know him well. It is to be an evening room, where we can meet for quiet rest after the day is over, and wish it to be thoroughly restful and cozy,"
 "Yes. ma'am, think see what you wish," said Mrs. Montford, with her little courtesy. She liked this new Mrs. Fal- coner, with her quiet ways, so far removed from haughtiness or patronage, though with the rest of the family below stairs she had a little natural curiosity in regard to the sudden marriage; she checked it per- emptorily in the servants under her, and she was by far too well bred to express it, by word or look, in herself, yet she could not help seeing that their relations were quite different from those of the first Mrs. Falconer, whom she had tenderly loved, with her husband. .- In a certain sense this pleased her, for it would have hurt her to see another taken at once into the tender companionship en- joyed by the first wife.
 "Mr. Falconer likes bright, rich colors, ma'am," she said. thoughtfully, 'but he despises fashionable fancy work" and she smiled at the peculiarity. ''The first Mrs. Faleoner never dld any of it. Have you | seen-?" and she stopped, fearing that she had touched on forbidden ground.
 "Yes," replied Isabel, gently, reading her thought; "I have seen it, and it is very lovely and touching"
 "Then, ma'am, you have some guide as to Mir. Falconer's tastes," replied Mrs Mont ford; ''only, of course, you would not follow that as model too closely Mrs. Falconer | always had blooming plants in her room, 1 but they would not bloom for me after she | was gone, and I gave up trying to care for 1 them there," Tears came in her honest | blue eyes as she spoke, and she wiped them | away with the corner of her ample white apron.
 "Mrs. Falconer must have been a rarely sweet and loveable lady," said Isabel, sin cerely and feelingly. "f do not wonder that she was so well beloved"
 "Thank you for saying it." The words formed new link in the chain of Mrs Montford's kindly feelings toward the new wife. "It does you honor, ma'am, to be willing to give the first wife her place ir our hearts. So many ladies that I have known that seemed to think the first wife 1 should be forgotten out of respect to the second"
 "Ohl no, no, Mrs. Montford," cried Isa 1 bel, with earnestness. 'I should desplse myself could cherish such feeling, and honor MT. Falconer and yourself far more than could had you suffered your love fol a stranger. True, hope to be loved ani respected by you, also, but not at the ex pense of your loyalty to her." and, rising she offered her hand impulsively to thu housekeeper, who took it in a friendly clas] which came from the heart, now completel, won over to her by the few simple, woman l ly words.
 "I wished to speak to you also in regart to Gracie," she continued. 'I should no blame you at all if you felt some natura
 jealousy upon being called upon so unex | a step-mother; and being totally unaccus
 toned to the care of children, I do not fee competent to undertake the charge without your assistance" :,
 She could not have chosen her words bet
 ter, and Mrs. Montford's face lighted u]
 gratefully. II will confess, ma'am, that
 did feel it," she said, frankly; "any on
 would with heart, Mrs. Falconer, afte
 having the care of the sweet child from he l A=n EtllEiI[f h..