The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-05-06

cnt circum
stances. In the eighteen years during
which we had grown from infancy to
womanhood, Saul Metcalf, Dasy's
father, had made one of those main
moth fortunes that result from success
full modern speculation. My dear
father, on the contrary had been tread
ing the path that leads downward in
the race for fortune, and we were poor
folks, compared to the Mctcalfs.
Daisy, being an only child and little
beauty, entered society as n belle and
helrcss; her costumes imported from
Paris, her jewels of the most costly de-
scription, her carriage, horses, sur
roundings of every kind those that only
wealth can procure.
When say that we were poor folks,
/ do not mean that we were reduced to
suffering poverty, but we lived in Il
very quiet way, kept only two servants,
and while economical in the house
keeping department, Fred, my only
brother, worked ut clcrling in n whole
sale drug store, and helped my over
worked father in the family expenses.
we were invited out and had our share
of gaycty, but my costumes were the
work of my own fingers, the same ma
tcrial often serving for two or three
dresses, and my jewel box was my in
hcritancc from my mother, and but Il
slender stock of pretty trinl1cts.
don't know when l first suspected
that Fred was in love with Daisy. We
three had been SO much together, Fred
being only three years older than Daisy
and myself, that it was matter of
fn1 fNy. lDt1. ..f -.
Fred MS an escort, and to fulfill the du-
ties of brother TO Daisy as well as to
his own sister. One block only lay be-
tween our modest dwelling and the
superb brown-stonc front of Saul Met
calfs stately house, and not day
passed that Daisy's feet or mine did not
trip over that block to bring us togeth-
or for girlish chat and exchange of con-
fdcnces
think it was the winter when we
both came out" AZ party given by
Mrs. Mctcalf. to Introduce me as we'll
as Daisy to society, that first noticed a
change in Fred. He began to plead an
other engagement quite frequently
when was going to Mctcalfs, or want
cd him to act as Daisy's escort rs well
as mine. He no longer hurried home
when Daisy came to dine and spend Il
quiet evening at our house. The duets
they had learned together lay un-
touched for weeks upon the music rack
and no longer saw Frcds name upon
Daiays ball programmes for four or
five dances. And as he grew gravcr,
and some OF the gay, boyish light died
out OF his eyes Daisy, too lost some
thing of the old girlish brightness, and
hcr step no longer danced and sprang
as if from mere overflow of ioyousncss.
might have noticed more if my own
heart had not gone out of my own keep
ing during that winter, and the manly
destinations of Harry Wilmer cngrosscd
my own dreams. This is not my love
story, so it sufliccs here to say that ut
Easter | became Mrs. Henry Wilmer
and took possession of handsome
house and shared the large income of Il
wealthy husband. Daisy was one of my
bridesmaids and looked lovely in cream
white cashmere and richest lace, though
l fancicd Il look of pain came into her
soft brown eyes ut the formality with
which Fred filled his position of best
man, avoiding rather than counting the
opportunities offered to pay special at
tention to Daisy.
1t had FASTENED my wedding little
that my father and Fred had had n
most favorable offer to go together to
Sacramento to open a branch business
for the firm who employed Fred.
There seemed to be every opportunity
for making money, and they were both
anxious to avail themselves of the Of
fer. So the old home was broken up,
and week after my wedding father
and Fred started for their new home
On the last evening, Fred took me Il
little into his confidence, not frankly
and fully as he had in many less impor-
tant matters, but letting me guess
much OF the love filing his heart, the
pride binding him to silence. by such
half-confidencc, l felt sure that Saul
Mctcalfs great wealth and his own I'M
certain prospects kept him from letting
Daisy see the love he cherished, al
most without hope, for he thought she
only felt the sisterly affection of long
intimate friendship for him. Even this
little he would not have told me, but he
did not dare to trust himself to make IL
farewell call, and intrustcd to me his
message, of imperative business pre-
venting his saying good-by in person.
Daisy will think You very unkind
not to spare her five minutes" | said.
You do not understand" he an
swcrcd, impaticntly. Il am not
unllind; am only miserable. There.
don't want any pity. 1t is all right;
but there are some things fellow can
not stand and not bctray himself To
bid her farewell, for years, perhaps,
calmly, quietly, as mere friend, is be-
You'd my strength"
But why not tell her you love hcr?"
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