The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-08-05
AT BLAMPHIN WOOD.
By SARA B. ROSE.
Roses that whisper OF love,
LILIES with netals nure White.

ing flowers and MOSES VIII WHICH 10 ueco-
rate her home.
Ora was daughter Of the Flower State"
and had no need of conservatives and
greenhouses from which to gather flowers;
they were ever ready TO b and, the generous
semi-trOpical blooms of our own sunny
South.
She paused in her song to gather snowy
lily with flaming heart of gold, when the
thrill of mucking-bird fell upon her ear.
She ever listened to these, her favorite
songsters. with delight; but this morning
the clear wayering whistle brought to her
sadness which but one short year before
she had not known. and there were tears in
her eyes as she lifted her dark brilliant
face toward tile foliage of the palmetto tree,
in the branches of which the merry songster
seemed to be.hiddeu.
InnumeraDle, indeed. were the limitations
of which this hidden bird was capable.
THAT is trained singer" she murmured
to herself. her beautiful face deepening its
interest, 81 believe that is my own lost
bird, Patti"
Her doubts were solved almost at once,
for following close upon catbird calls and
the cooling Of the gentle dove came in sharp.
clear notes the tune Of Yankee Doodle"
that concise composition which had been
taught pettcd bird Of her own the summer
before by one whom Ora was now doing her
best Ia forget.
lit Is Patti" she thought TREMENDOUSLY.
Patti, Patti! Have found you at last?"
She ran around the palmetto tree several
times, and then turned her attention TO its
mnss-dTaped neighbors.
1t WAS not long before she discovered
Patti; but he was not The same free bird that
had been wont 10 alight upon her shoulder
Int n imUriSOnpO SOnrStpr a hinge ca Of
golden wire which was suspended on the
branch Of q fluffy nine tree near at hand.
IAN, l knew it!' she cried. You never
would have stayed away from NE of your
own free will-yOu were true to me! You
were stolen. as l thought. Patti Patti!'
She set down her basket of flowers, and
was taking prompt measures to liberate her
bird. when the mustacned, delighted face of
4 handsome young man pushed its way
through the fragrant pine tassels, and
voice said
"Ah, Miss Blamphin. am most happy TO
meet you. Dat gathering flowers like my
self, are You not?'s
''Mr. SewelI! calculated the young girl,
stepping back hastily; then she added apollo
getlcally, Il didn't suppose you were within
u thousand miles Of me. Yes, | am gather
ing flowers, and l have made a discovery"
The young man wiped the earth from the
tTowel in his hand with handful Of dead
leaves, and looked downward guilty.
Imprisoned In this cage"
And / am his jailer," he replied ruefully.
What an uDlucky mortal am! am for
ever displeasing you, Ora-Aliss Blamphin,
l mean"
Il suppose You mean that YOU are unlucky
in being found out" biting her lips as she
spoke. But even l really did not think
that you would take things"
Tie young man laughed out merrily.
Il am worse than you thought, am | not?
NflVn T.le I,,4 4
must have something belonging To you, and
50, after our quarrel, l allowed Patti to fol-
low NE north"
Follow YOU? know better"
''Ies, s0emnly, Ora, the bird followed
me at first, ana then | rad cage made for
it. and attempted to return it to you; but
you sent back my letters, and refused to
see me when l called-abSoluteIy ran away
from home TO avoid me. You must be aware
that l have been proprietor OF the Ocean
Breeze Hotel during the winter months"
81 know nothing about it." she replied in
differently. 81 supposed that you were still
at Ontario Bluff"
Ne" lie replied quickly. 81 shall only be
at Ontario Bluff during the hottest summer
months hereafter-wh4n Florida is per-
% feeily unbeaTabe. Ocean Breeze is begin
ming to be appreciated by people who dread
the long, cold winters North. It's the ideal
life, Ora"
Ora remembered the time when she had
kHONSuL 10 suSE6 Will THIS e1IeTDTlSlnG
young fellow the delights of his summer re-
sort beside Lake Ontario, as we'll as his win
Ter whtering-place in FlOrida-nOt more
than twenty miles from herOwn home-only
TO be, alas! cruelty deceived.
i suppose your wife enjoys it with you?"
she asked rather sneeringly.
My wife? Ora, Ora, was that what was
the matter? Did you believe such thing as
that Of me? l have 10 wife. l never had a
wife You cruel girl, yon have nearly
broken my heart"
Ora turned as white as the delicatelv en-
broideTed null robe which enveloped her
How could l do otherwise than believe
1t, when your wife came to me and warned
ME of your treachery-when to-day she is
an inmate OF my home, q poor, demented
creature, deserted by the one who should
have been her loving protector even in her
madneSsP"
The face Of the young man showed how
her words had affected him.
Ora, | thank you for giving me the rea-
son for your unprecedented action even at
this late day. You say that the woman who
made this charge is an inmate of your house
to-day. An insane person, if l understand
you rightly"
Ora bowed her head in acquiescence.
ut Is not often that one is called upon to
Tefute the charges of maniac. Her story
IS not true. | never welded any woman.
But believe that your words may lead to
the clearing away of cloud which is OBJ
scnring the life of very dear friend of
mine. | will tell You his story. Clement
Osmond brought his demented wife to Ocean
Breeze little more than year ago. Sud-
denly she was missing. Did you not read of
the suspicious which wers aroused against
him by her disappearance? They led at
length 10 his arrest and trial for the murder
OF his wife; for the woman was not to be
found, and it was supposed by some that he
put her out of the way. He is to-day in
prison, serving out life sentence"
How terrible! l read part of the trial,
but did not notice it particularly"
"Ora, believe that the missing woman is
now under our roof She was filled with
such decisions. She used to call herself the
Princess of CANDIDA"
81 am inclined to think that you are
right replied Ora, relenting little. Mrs.
Sewell sometimes imagines herself the
Princess of CANDIDA"
Do not, beg of you, speak of Mrs.
Sewell' again. No other woman shall bear
that name save yourself. p Am l SO far for
given that may carry Patti home for you,
and see this demented guest of yours?"
1t Is only your right, Maxwell" she said
gently. Poor Patti he has been forgotten
for more exciting topics"
1t was but short walk to the Blamphin
mansion. After Patti had been attended to
Ora sent for the demented woman. She
came in attended by one Of the old black
mammles OF the section, looking deIicately
beautiful and frail, without one apparent
trace OF her malady about her.
Here is an old friend of yours" said
Ora.
"Oh, yes!' she replied, bowling gracefully
to Mr. Sewell. 1T is the proprietor of the
Ocean Breeze Hotel. Have you friends In
this vicinity, Mr.. Sewell?"
- hope So" replied the young man.
glancing rougishly at Ora. was botanic.
Ing this morning In the Blamphin Wood
every Summer l take some Southern plants
North with me for my conservatories-where
met Miss Biamphin. who kindly brought
me home with her to see YOU"
woman, joyfnlly. You have brought nv
memory back. Where is my husband,
Clement Osmond?'
HE is WELL" replied Maxwell Sewell.
Rrardedly. 81 saw him but short time
ago."
"Oh, remember it all nowl ran away
me?" "a
~" He is certain to forgive you anything,
Mrs. osmond," replied Mr. SewelI, gently.
a cha Ca.