Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-10-17
II L L Z n
WRITTEN EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE EVENING
STAR By CONSTANCE HAMILTON.

.IS THIS NY AUNT HELEN? AM1REALLY
Il like herr Mabel Mortmore looked long
tud closely at the portrait before her and then
.urEcd to survey herself in a long oval mirror
Iat hung on the opposite wall She made
retty picture IA she stood there. the dark
Sai=scoatinG AMI heavily carved furniture
% the old room forming striking back-
ground for the slender, girlish figure IN the
soft white gown. The sun streaming through
the low windows FURNISHED the andirons IN the
great fireplace and played with the golden
tnts in her soft brown hair. Yes. there was
almost a startling resemblance between the
face in the picture ami the one reflected in the
mirror.
TWAS MabeIs first visit 70 her fathers home,
for she had been born in the gay city of Paris.
Since her birth her father had only crossed the
Atlantic on flying trips. never bringing his
daughter with Lin. When Mabel was in her nine
teenth year he was called to China and it was
iudged wisest to send Mabel to America during
the two years absence. She had never seen
aay OF her father relatives and could not help
feeling a little shy she drew near the cad OF
her long journey. But all shyness vanished
With the first warm welcome. Even the sery-
ants Joined in 1t. Aunt Liza hurried from the
kitchen, where she preparing one of those
hot suppers known only to Virginia, and man.
u
Charles blessed chile" while old Uncle Jake
stood, hat in hand. bowling and grinning with
delight at the sight of Little Missy"
1t had been too late to the place that
night. but next morning she began her investi-
CATIONS Let me find out things for myself,
Aunt Pine, she said. land Ill ask you to ex-
lain them afterward-" She found the home
;ad more quantity beautiful than the bright
est pictures she had drawn Of it. The house
stood on a gentle rising that stretched out on
Oua sif ia inf broad rneadOw bOriared
by pine woods and corn fields, while on the
other it rolled in a gentle slope down to the
white beach, where the waves of the bay Tapped
and rippled beneath the few spruce trees that
dropped over the bank. The mansion was built
Of little irregular bricks, the windows low and
paned with small diamond panes A broad
hall traversed the center of the house and
ended in square porches, one facing the
bay, the other commanding view
of the road winding through the cornfields
until lost to view among the pines. The rest
of the house struggled off into long passages
unexpected wings and great chimneys, break
ing out in the most remarkable places, while
over all climbed the creamy fragrant mycrotilla
roses. winding their clinglng tendrils around
the Old pillars. shedding their fragrance
through the wide sunny halls and peeplng in
al the dormer windows Inside the house was
wilderness OF spindle-iegged tables. heavy
carved furniture and dainty egg-shell china
After fully examining al these charms Mabel
had at last come to the family portraits, before
one of which she now stood. 1t truly
beautiful face. the face of young girl not
more than eighteen. Tine rosy lips were parted
slightly in a smile that dimpled the fair cheeks
but IN the deep violet eyes there was a half
thoughtful. half-sad expression that
strangely fascinating Mabel, yielding to its
influence, stood for some time as though trans
fixed, and turned with start when u shrill
little voice at her elbow said: 'Oh. miss, she
says please fur TO come to You dinner" In
the afternoon grandma went to take her nap
and grandpa nodded In his chair. Mabel stole
out to the porch, where Aunt Prue
knitting. Tell me about Aunt Hefen,"
she said; 81 her picture today and
papa said / looked like her" Her aunt
paused in her work and looked intently at the
tair girl seated on the broad white steps and
then let her eyes drift dreamily out on the blue
waters of the bay. You know, Mabel that
there were four Of u.s. Fred was the eldest
handsome, kind and generous, but proud and
hot-headed; came next. then your father. who
spent most of his time with one of my mothers
brothers in France. and. last of ALL Helen. the
pet and pride of every one OIL the plantation
from father down to the humblest field hand
She WAS the very life of the place, always bub-
bling over with fun, always sweet and care free
as the very roses that dance gaily over your
head. But sometimes there an expression
in her eyes that could not understand, and
even In the midst OF her fun she was far more
thoughtful than the other girls of her
age She was very beautiful and
MANY suitors came to beg for her hand
but she only smiled half sadly, sent them away
and went on her sweet, happy way. Fred was
very proud of her and delighted in bringing
his friends home with him from college 10 see.
his beautiful sister. We had gay times in those
days The house was always full Of Young
people. Great entertainments were given and
they danced In the halls to the notes of fiddles
played by the negroes How IT all comes back
10 me-the blazing tapers shedding their soft
light on the merry dancers; but Nell was the
fairest Of all the girls; of the lads were as
handsome as Fred; no one. unless il was Allan
Rainyea, and Allan was scarcely counted as one
Of the young people, though he was Blu: year
or two Freds senior. strange lad
was Allan, heartily welcomed at merry
making, but never enjoying them
with the selfish enjoyment of youth Was there
any responsibility to be assumed, it always
shifted to Allans shoulders. 1t was Allan WHO
cared for the plain girls who did not receive
much attention; Allan who talked with unfail-
ing patience to the deaf old ladies'; Allan who
WAS the confdant of all He never seemed
like the other young fellows of the country
round, but then his life had not been like
theirs His Office in the village, but he
lived at Pinewood, a lonely old place out on
the seaside, that had once been one OF the finest
In the county. The Rainyeas lived there and
whenever Dick, their only child, was at home
from his northern college there was one con-
tinuous round of entertainments. presided over
by Madam Rainyea. his mother, beautiful
french woman OF noble descent
The year before Dick took his degree the old
judge died, and when his son returned in June
lie brought with him his young WIFE have
seen her picture, Mabel. She was tail slender
aud graceful as lily. A New England girl
Trail and dainty. The madam was bitterly dis
appointed The delicate fairness of her
daughter could not be compared with the glow
ing beauty Of the young southerner: her shy.
reserved manners aid not please the warm
hearted French woman And then too that
Dick! Dick with his handsome face and his
noble blood, should have married a poor little
school teacher was more than her proud spirit
could bear. 1t was poor welcome that the
hide bride received when she crossed the
threshold of the home that Dick had described
Il. such glowing terms. Dick was furious at
tie cold reception his mother gave his wife and
there were hot words between the madam and
hcr SON As for Margaret Rainyea. she became
E.ore quiet and reserved than ever. She had
been a friendless orphan when Dick married
Ler, and now she lived only for him and for
her little boy When Allan was i've years
Old his mother died, and then his father wild
over her loss. sought to drown his grief in
Grl2k- The madam became more sour thsn
ever. heaped reproaches on her son and ne
G.eeSed his child Her death followed one
year after her daughters. and then tie only
occupants of the great house we're Allan. his
father and an old negress. Mother tried to see