The record-union., 1891-05-17

told you to come be his wife. Is it not
SO? Tell me, won't your
You little WITCH" said Amparo.
Nv no told you such nonsense?n
Il said the truth then. see you call
me witch. You must think know all, :"
said Judietta, laughing and showing all
her pretty even teeth. like~rows' of pearls.
Amparo, glad OF sympathizing conf
dant, drew her to the sofa and told her il
was so. She loved and was loved by Mr..
Winthrop, and some day she might marry
him, winding up her confession with
the query:
Don't you think he is handsome and
noble-looking?"
"oh! yes," replied Judietta, innoeently.
"But not so handsome as Elmer Stone,
and not quite so nice to me-"
At this Amparo laughed mischieyously,
but forbore teasing, thinking the less
said in this case the better. They then
chatted over the ball till 4 o'clock, when
the Greek boy announced Guy.
As he entered he frowned slightly at
Judietta, for he had anticipated his re-
ception by Amparo alone. Sonow he could
only greet Amparo aS a friend, for OF
course he did not hn, ~ she was in his
loves confidence. However, Judietta
soon left. He then took ker place on the
sofa, and drawing AmpaIo 10 his side, he
whispered, May I not have just one
kiss?'' Shyly the pretty mouth was
raised as the golden head bent near the
dark one: After this happy condolences
were exchanged, vows rendered and the
nours new by, Amparo's mother hearing
Guys voice, could scarcely keep her
tears back, but nerving herself as if for
an ordeal of fire, she came in the salon.
Guy arose with Amparo's hand in his,
saying:
Sonora, won't you give me your
daughter and your blessing?' kneeling
gracefully before her.
One glance at her daughters happy
face seemed to give her courage as she
murmured ''yes.'' Then she strined
them both to her heart in worldless
blessing, and unable to trust herself she
left them. Throwing lace mantilla over
her head she stood by the door fighting
for composure; and, as the bells of maria
del Fiore" pealed out, she walked to the
cathedral there to bend her knees and
pray for blessings on her daughter and
| for peace for herself.
She thought of her own past youth and
first love, that she had given up fond
mother and home for. Could she expect
less Of her own flesh and blood? 1t was
only nature, and really, after all, love
was the only real good thing in all this
whole dark, weary world.
But was he worthy of Amparo? Would
his love last after the first flush of passion
had faded? She knew from friends over
the sea that he was all he represented, for
seeing his interest in Amparo from the
first she had asked, made inquiries from
reliable sources, and now she knew
all she needs must do was to give her to
him.
Give her up!-the girl that, as baby,
she held to her warm heart; as a child
| she cared for through all the diseases Incl
dental to childhood; the daughter who,
| for the last few years, was so companion
! able to her; whose every thought was
known to her; whose every want and
wish she tried to crafty, and was repaid
in the warm love of this best of daugh-
| ters.
Well, Amparo must never know of this
jealousy, this struggle. All, no! She
would hide it from her and try to be rec
onciled, for, after all, marriage was the
true lot of every woman. Whether she
missed it or not her vocation for life was
all planned by Providence that "doeth
all things we'll" A woman's heart was
made for the resting place of dear little
children; her hands and feet for willing
| service for them, and her mind to teach
| them the laws of life and how to keep
them; woman's prayers, the magic
mantle that keeps those little ones safe.
| What true woman would shirk this vo-
| cation?