Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1889-12-19
WHAT DECIDED 1T.
By WILLIAM A. JARVIS.

Shibh lONGlyt
"Outwardly she is go, but under all
that Iiuk-aud- white loHellness have you
found anything but sellshness and vanity
eVeri Ray, don't spoil your life by a
mistake like that; don't let your fancy
for pretty face blind you to the worth
and beauty Of life like Elaine Ar
nOld'sp
Raymond Powell looked at his mother
with slight pucker between his hand
some brows.
lie was a tall young fellow Of four and
twenty. the darling and only child OF his
widowed mother.
The girl he had called Every lovely"
was II cousin Of Elaine Arnold, who was
spending all the summer in Elalne's
house as her guest.
As the Powels and Arnolds were very
close neighbors, and Elaine had, sincs
she, tiny mite of three, escaped
from her nurse, and toddled merrily
over Mr.. Powel's Threshold, boon dear
az daughter TO that gentle lady, and
muck like sister to lay, Miss Leila
Crauston bad soop male herself quite ut
home in the rambling old building which
was Mrs. Powels pride.
Why 1t ehafed her to see the welcome
that shone in Rays eyes for that dainty,
pretty, polished stranger, Mrs. Powell
could best have told; and also why she
grew so tender towards Elaine as the hot
days dragged along and Miss Cranston
showed no signs Of departure.
Perhaps sue saw how that rare, delicate
lovellness Of Lelg's made the sallowness
OF hlaiue's check show more plainly.
Perhaps sue understood why the CAROL
ing voice that bad grown 50 necessary to
hf.- 4 I,..N
why, the great gray eyes OF the girl she
loved had caught an uuRccustomed
shadow; whatever the Tesson ehe saw,
with mingled fear and pain, Rays grow
Ing interest IN Leila Cranston, and she
could not help saying what was In her
heart, as through the hush OF dying day
in the late summer, she saw the two girls
walking up the path.
"Mother," he said, at last, very gently,
81 know that Elaine is as sweet as a
flower. as true Us tho angels, aud she is
dear to me as though size were my sister;
but when love comes to man, mother,
it makes the object OF 1t something so
rare, so precious, that"
My son, has such love come to you for
this stranger?''
"YPs."
she made no reply;a choking sensation
In her throat prevented her, and mist
gathered over her gentle eyes.
"Poor Elaiuel" She thought, rising and
moving forward to meet the two girls.
As she passed her son he put out his
hand TO stop her.
"Whstl Not a word OF kindness not a
good wish for me, motheri" he said, re-
proachtully.
She bent aud kissed his cheek, but said
nothing.
A keen palm had dartel through her
temples more than once during the day.
Now q dull, heavy pain was settling
there, and a stranSe Weariness was steal
ing over all her limbs, but she greeted
her guests cheerfully, and drew Elaine
close to her as size resumed her seat.
81 am not very well, dear" she said to
the girl.
Aud when Ray and Leila presently left
them and wandered away to tho orchard,
she put out her hands, drew the girl's
face down 10 her and kissed 1t.
II would have thanked Goi for such q
daughter" she said, sadly noting with
plying eyes the scorchng color that
swept Elaine's dark face at the words.
When Raymond led Leila from his
mothers presence, he fully mesnt to try
his fate aud aak her to be his wife.
But he did not; why, he could not have
told; but when he led her back, with the
light OF the setting sun on her pretty, por-
celain-tlnttd face, and glittering in her
shining hair, he had not spoken, aud the
red lips, smiling goodbye, had given him
no pledge.
After that, Mrs. Powell was slck for
week, aud Elaine spent most of the time
with her.
Ray saw, with grateful heart, the girls
tender care OF his mother, and his snx-
iety was such that he rarely sought Leila.
At the end OF week his mother was
convalescent, and one evening In the
cleaning, she babe him take message
e ON her to the girl ne loved.
Tell h0r that, my son loving her, she
must be dear to me-" iaiterel the inYa.
ill., "Bii her come to me, Ray; | fear
that have not been Just to her, because
-hecause | so wanted you to wed
Elaine"
ITO wed Elainep'
The words rang IN lis ears as lie went
out to the failing night. eomehow they
brought him u vision of Elaide's tender
face as II bent above his mother They
brought him memories OF the sweetness
of the g!rlish lie which had grown 60
near his own, and yet he was going to
otter his band and heart to one whose
laco lie had not seen one month before.
lie entered the Arnold grounds, and a
low musical laugh struck On his ear
Liitiug lis eyes, he saw two girlish
figures directly aLead, and fastened his
steps that hs might come up with them
Leila was talking, aud her voice, clear
and musical, hoatei back to him:
"Better, is shol thought abe was
going to die She is a hatelal old woman,
and l. for one, should not mourn her."
OF whom wns she epeakingl
He was not long left in doubt. Els'ne'o
voice, with ring In 1t lie had never
heard before, cut the still cir about him
GLOW can you talk in such q manner
about Mis Powell She ia as dear to me