The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1892-12-29

VIII remember until the day OF our
death.
Aunt Iris had long been a puzzle to
us. She was always sad and gentle,
scarcely ever laughing heartily. and
that seemed very strange thing to us
merry, chatting girls. Although she
was so very quiet, we all loved her very
dearly. 49,.
This afternoon we were outdoors
lazily reclining under the shade of
great oak tree that threw it's friendly
shadows far away, and very cool and
pleasant did they seem this hot day.
We had been having very lively
discussion about the life of noted man.
But for nearly half hour scarcely
word had been spoken. Each one was
busy with her own thoughts. Suddenly
the silence was broken by little Mary.
the pet of us all, enchanting: "A penny
for your thoughts, Aunt Iris!'
Thus addressed. my aunt turned her
large, dark eyes upon Mary and smiled
very sadly lit seemed us if her smiles
always had tears back of them) and
said, slowly: "Well, girls, if you will all
he very quiet and not condemn me too
much. will try to tell you what was
thinking about. 1t has never been told
by my lips, for it is very sad story.
But, perhaps, it will help you never to
sin as did,
At this we drew a little nearer to her,
and we opened onr eyes in amazement
when she uttered the word sin, for it
did not seem to us that Aunt Iris could
sin, she was always so sweet and gen.
tie. She smiled as she saw our look of
wonder, and then proceeded:
eyes, girls, it was an awful sin, and
can never be forgiven in this world.
Your discussion just now Sc: me to
thinking about my own life. 1t was
many years ago when was not yet out
Of my teens that all this occurred and
yet it is as fresh in my memory now as
if it had happened yesterday. All, yes,
little one, you have had your revenge
hundred times over, although you
can never know it, she murmured,
sadly. moment she seemed lost in
thought, but presently resumed, with 4
far-away look in her splendid black
eyes,:
Girls, yol>all remember that picture
in my album called little Kitty Hart.
You can plainly see what beautiful
creature. She was-beautifpl as an
angel! Clustering golden curls, sur
rounding face exquistely fair and in
nocent, a pair of heavenly blue eyes
that seemed to look truth into the very
soul. How Owed that girl then, and
little did think should be the one to
ruin her young life. l was exactly the
opposite of Kitty. had hair dark as
midnight, wicked, black eyes that could
flash with hate or grow soft and tender
with love. 1t happened that we had a
picnic about this time, and there we
met and both fell in love with hand
some Harry Ray. Oh! how loved that
handsome boyish face! l swore then
end there to win him or die in the at
tempt.
Il can see her now as she looked that
day, clad in pure white and wearing
modest daisies. The moment Harry
Ray bowed before sweet Kitty Hart,
his heart passed from his keeping into
hers. saw it, knew it, yet my pas
sionate, jealous nature decreed to win
him ut any cost. .
''As l saw them move away from NE
toward the cool and inviting luke
my wrath knew no bounds. 1
could have ground her beautiful
face into an unshapely mass with
my heel, and have felt a savage
delight in doing it, had it been in my
power. But this was the first of many
just such scenes. Never would Harry
notice me when Kitty was near, and it
SO filled me with wrath that almost
believe that the love I bore him was
turned into hatred. I longed to have
revenge. Time passed on until at last
the marriage day was set, and still 1
had found no plan to part the lovexs
Eat last an idea filed my brain which
! now think Satan himself must have
prepared for me. l began slowly to
carry it out.
''Fate seemed to work for me this time
Kitty received letter from distant
aunt, begging her to make her a weeks
visit AS her aunt's health was very
poor, and she was not expected to live
very'long, gentle Kitty did not have the
heart to refuse her request, much as she
dislilxed to leave Harry even for so short
IL time. I, in my jealous hatred, used
all means in my power to get her away,
telling her it would be such short
time and that she could write to Harry
every day if she wished. l told her it
might be the last chance she would
have, for her aunt was liable to die at
any time, and then she would be sorry
she had refused her last request. o,
hypocrite that I was, trying to get her
away so that might destroy her happi-
ness and secure my own!
THE evening before her departure
Harry came over to bid her good-by.
Never will l forget that evening. 1t
seemed as if she had a forebodinS of
coming evil. She seemed SO very quiet
and unlike her usual merry self. Moth
ing could have been better for me. I
had planned it to make Harry think she
had something else on her mind. But I
very we'll knew it was the separation
from him that made her blue eyes SO
misty and sad. Soon they left me and
wandered away by themselves 1 fol-
lowed, and hid myself where 1 could
overhear every word. that passed be-
tween them. 2. = -. T.: ~
Harry Kitty's soft voice was say
ing, Il am sorry wrote auntie would
come. ! know am very foolish, as it
is for so short a time. But l. feel all
the while as. if something would hap
pen while am away. I have tried to
shake off the feeling, but cannot
Nonsense, little one,' said Harry.
You have grown as whimsical as an
oil woman. What can possibly hap
pen? Six weeks from to-day you will
be all my own, and then nothing can
take you from me for even a week. So
cheer up; tomorrow you will laugh at
your own fears 80
Il could see by the pale moonlight
that Kitty smiled sadly, and shook her
curly, golden head. They then. passed
on and could hear no more.
Il laughed in fiendish glee to myself