Mohave County miner., 1890-02-15
AUNT ESTHER
"Where have you been7"
ITO the lake Atint Esther ,

young.
The aunt, grum. unlovely, wrinkled
and shrunken. as . withered leaf os
autumn, sat among tho soft pillows
that lifted her time wrecked form ia
an invalid chair
The niece, fresh and bright, with
sunny touches on the brown Of her
hair, and . somewhat daring spirit
shining from her dark eyes, stood near
tho fireplace. where ruddy light
flashed up and swept across her and
showed the slim. girlish figure clad Ia
heavy cloth and fur.
What we're you doing At the lakeg'
Skating. The ice is like RIass
thero. aunt, and was Praeticing for
tonight You know We are TO have a
skating party on the lake tonight,
mot going! WhyT
Because you are under my caro-
and my control, and I forbid you
to goF' cried Esther Claremont
sharply.
"But I have promised-I will bo
called form began Vera Claremont
piteously.
who 10 10 call Tor you ?"
The bent figure of the old woman
Strengthened suddenly, her shrunken
hand was put out and laid on the
girls arm. while her fierce. untender
eyes traced the fair young face, in
which slow color was futtering.
"You need not tell me. i know I"
cried Esther Claremont, with passion
ate anger In her sunken eyes and
showing In the unsteadiness Of her
wrinkled lips.
Il am lying here day after day
helpless and crippled. and you would
fain deceive me; but you cannot! I
know who Is playing at love with you,
who is teaching you that love Is sweet
and youth Is sweet and truth and hon.
esty only words-idle words That
fair young face Of yours has brought
you what fairness and youth brought
me ct your age; but your life shall not
be wrecked by II as mine has been.
will save you though I have TO use
bolts and bars TO keep you safe One
Claremont is enough TO be blighted by
Damarel, and the lying lips OF the
son shall not bind you to him heart
ard soul, ~ the false lips Of the father
bound me when was credulous
young thing like you -
She paused. painting. Vera had
grown pale. but she could not remove
her eyes from those burning ones be-
low her; nor could she free her arms
from the grasp OF those thin. fierce
fingers.
''Speak!" cried her aunt "Is not
Lee Damarel trying TO win your love?n
''Yes"--slowly and falteringiy. "IIe
has said he loves me-,
'.And you believe him? Tell me!''
II believe him"
Esther Claremont laughed--a quick,
mirthless, mocking. bitter laugh--and
suddenly l0osing her hold OF Vera,
pushed the slight figure from her.
So" she cried. jeeringly, II am
too late! You love the son OF Conrad
Damarel! You haye given me no con-
fdence; owe you no consideration
you. you, whom took into my house
when you we're a homeless child; You,
10 whom have been kind for ten long
ycars!''
"Never Kind, Aunt Esther,n spoke
out Vera, clearly. 'Y0u clothed and
fed me. you allowed your roof TO shelter
me. but never 10 all those ten years
have you even spoken one kind word
TO me-"
'lngrafer' hissed the woman.
'.Not that, Aunt Esther. for I am
grateful! 10 you for what ! have receiv-
ed"
..Prove it! Prove your gratitude.
them" cried Esther Claremont, fierce
ly. give up this lover OF yours;
never see his face again.
Poor, pale little Vera! Where did
she get the strength to stand, straight
and fearless, before the woman whom
she had always feared before?
/ would rather die~ she said, below
her breath.
Die? As II 1t would be hard 10 die,
her aunt exclaimed, harshly. ITO
live requires eourage-to live loveless,
friendless. unable to put faith in one
human being. But let me tell you
why the name OF Damarel is hateful TO
me. You never heard the story?'
II have heard it, but not from you,"
answered the girl gently.
And she stood In an attitude OF deep
interest, as. with the brief winter day
dying. and the shadows gliding TO her
chair, Esther Claremont told her story.
II loved Conrad Damarel." she
said. her voice puising with feeling;
II loved him with my whole heart
And he--he played at love. He never
truly loved Ine, or he would not have
made few impatient words OF mine
sufficient excuse for breaking with
me. did not mean them-God knows
I did not! But they we're spoken, and
no made them his excuse. He left me
standing in the sun light out there"
She lifted one thin, tremuious hand,
and pointed 10 where u vast sheet of
white-covered lawn might be seen
through the window.
THAT was the love OF Damarel!
He went away and forgot the girl he
had won. and married some stranger;
and !. through all the years that have
gone by since. have remembcred-rc-
fnembered till. heart and soul. l grew
soured and warped.
The girl went and knelt beside the
invalid-chair, and drew one OF the
thin hands to her cheek. On that
soft, fair cheek tears were lying.
Aunt Esther, let me tell you What
Lee told me--iet me tell you what his
fathers dying lips told him." she said.
brokeply. .sYou were so wronR-so
wrong! Conrad Damarel loved you all
his life"
at il false! He left me because OF
3 few angry words. He was glad TO
bo set free!n cried the woman, ferce!y.
AL 1nyad vot1. htIt vOtl babe him