Los Angeles herald., 1890-12-25


The lights were out, but the fire still
blazed up brightly in the ample CRATE.
By its light saw the misty outline OF Il
white figure thrown full length upon the
sofa. From The wavy outlines aud the
soft fieecy effect of the subdued light it
might have been an Undine, or some I'M
substantial srrite.
Hooked closely; it was only the White
Mouse. Her face was buried IN the
cushion she clasped in her arms, md the
fragile figure was swaying and racked
with heavy sobs. The wavy masses of
fair hair hadafallen loose upon her shoul-
ders, and the sleeve. carelessly drawn
back, displayed an arm that matched
Bette Blythe's for roundness and sym
metry.
As the fitful freight rose and fell,
seeming to dilato and contract the con-
tours of the delicate figure, wondered
why | never had noticed before how
graceful and willowy it was.
She did not hear my abrupt entrance.
Her sorrow had full possession of her,
and she sobbed as If her heart would
break. What the matter was knew
not. It might have been tiff with the
Ancient Griffin, the death of pet poodle
or the trouble about her auriferous
affianced.
At all events, she had my perfect SYM
pathy. She was miserable, and was not
l likewise: Poor child Every sob went
straight to my heart; really never be-
fore believed could feel SO kindly dis
posed toward her. But felt my presence
was an intrusion, thought sne did not
see me, and ! started out. Just then a
heavier sob than ever seemed to rend the
poor child, and shiver ran through her
from head to foot.
1t was too much: the softness of my
heart conquered. could not go with
out one word to tell her how pitied her
grief.
In the tenderest manner l took her
hand; in the gentlest tone | said: "Do
not be unhappy; do not weep So"
She started up with a stifed cry On
seeing me vivid flush passed over her
brow and neck, and she quickly with
drew her hand Then the color fell out
of her cheeks, leaving them deadlier
white than ever, and she dropped her
face into her hands as she murmured:
''Oh, you here! You to see mel"
didn't understand the emphasis On
the pronoun, but only answered;
"Do not send me away before tell you
It was accident brought ne here and
sympathy detained me. You seem very
miserable"
She glanced shyly at me from under
the swollen lids.
II was little while ago. But l don't
feel so now" she whispered.
The deuce! Here was an odd return
for my sympathetic interference. |
rather liked it, however, for / seemed to
do the poor child good, and / felt SO
wretched and alone in the world.
"But, oh! what must you think of
mel" she cried suddenly, and again the
face went into the hands and again the
blushes mounted up to the eartips.
Il think-I-that isl am very, very
sorry to see you suffer-" answered,
somewhat inconsequently.
but to think you of all people But
you will never tell him?"
Why I, "of all people," couldn't con-
ceive, but it was very safe to promise
about him." as had never set eyes on
the grief producing Goodwin. Therefore
l answered honestly:
"On my word, never!"
"But then you kxpw all! Oh, how
forward, how unmasdenly, how bold
you must think me!'
What in the deuce the girl meant why
l should think her bold for not wanting
to marry her grandfather l could not
conceive. So I only shook my head
sagely. In medic tutissimus ibis.
"But then this never has seemed like
home," she went on "Auntie tries to
be very good, but she doesn't know
how. And then young girl may have
strong feelings, and oh, do love 80 ut
terlyp
"Wh-atr' I gasped, surprised out of