Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1893-01-30

wild animal to its cover. She could
not open that letter with other eyes
upon her. She felt that she must
treasure it to herself, like one who has
discovered precious jewel.
On her way home from the mill that
evening Isabel Islay stopped at the
little house where the tin sign: mil
linery and Dressmalzing," swung
crealing in the wind. The window
blinds were fastened back, the parlor
was opened and busted. Miss Gene
We've was moving to and fro in her
best India silk gown, with flower
pinned Enthusiastically in her hair.
A round red spot glowed on each
check; her bony fingers trembled with
excitement as she laid down her spec
tacles.
Can you press over my leghorn hat,
Miss Seaman?" asked the beauty.
"Oh, my dear, I'm afraid not?' said
the little woman, with hysterical
laugh. Haven't you heard? I'm
to be married very soon! Capt. Ed
ward Gleason-you may perhaps have
heard of him-hc used to be resident
of Milltown-he has made fortune, it
seems, in New York, and he is coming
back almost directly TOTO claim an
i
ago. My dear, he has loved me-
twenty years!" Her eyes shone, her
voice faltered with the ecstasy of her
soul. "And tomorrow he is coming
back to me. Oh, Miss Islay, it seems
almost like n dream"
She laughed again, but her eyes were
| full of tears Isabel moved uneasily;
| she was almost frightened at what she
had DONE The joke did not seem half
so iocose as it had at first, since poor
Miss Genevieve accepted it in such dead
| earnest
| She took advantage of the entrance
| of n customer to slip out of the little
shop.
Girls" said she to her conspirators,
1--WE must tell her that it is only a
| joke"
Tell her" echoed Lucy FELTON,,
"What for? She'll find it out soon
| enough. She needn't have been such a
silly, anyhow!
at will kill herr" pleaded Isabel
mo 1t won't. People don't die so
easily" laughed Lucy.
"Heard the news about Miss Genny
Seaman" said Mrs. Webb at the
boarding house breakfast table the
next morning as she poured the coffee
and helped the eggs and bacon around.
Isabel looked guilty up.
mo" said she. "What is it?''
"Fouud dead in her cheer" said Mrs.
Webb. ga smilin' as happy as a child.
Some heart trouble, the doctor says. "
Isabel drew 3 long breath. So She
had died and never knew how cruelty
she had been deceived She drew
| NTo.,- on1 NT;ee Ea1to1,
Girls" said she, you must never
breathe n syllable of this to anybody.
Let the secret die with this poor little
woman"
"Dut she died happy at last" said
Mary, with the tears running down hel
cheeks, believing that her old sweet
heart was coming back to her."
eyes, but that doesn't Justify oul
cruelty" whispered Isabel. And ther
and there the three girls entered into {
compact of sc crecy.
Miss Genevieve was buried in a shady
corner of the village cemetery, and OF
the very day of the funeral Isabel Islay
met n tall, bearded stranger walking
along the street, scanning the houses
with keen. troubled eyes.
Can you tell me-" said he, 'wher,
Miss Seaman lives-Miss Geneviev'
Seaman"
Isabel started.
''Miss Seaman was buried this morn
Ing" said she. ''Oh, Pm SO sorry! Wa
she friend of yoursT'
They had stopped opposite the it'll
gate where the wheel tracks of TIN
hearse were yet visible. The sigl
"Milliner and DressnAll<er'' yet crealze
= in the wind, the red sun was sinking
r behind the low caves, and Miss Genny'
cat rubbed itself against the door sill a
if begging to be let in.
"a friend p repeated the stranger a
he drew an old-fashioned miniatur
from his pocket. See, here is he
+ picture! I've waited all these years
make home for her and now-she
dead!"
Isabel looked at the picture. Goo
heavens! had Gcnevicve Seaman locke
as fair and dimpled and smiling as that
J. And the thought flashed across he
mind that it was we'll that Capt. Glea
son had not been undeceived. Eyes.
:, she repeated softly, ''she is dead"
"And were you her friend2"
Eyes, was ner friend-at least q
o much as anyone here" falteringl
5 owned Isabel, feeling like an impostol
- Then perhaps you can tell me some
thing of her. l wanted to surprise he
% and now"
y His voice was choked, he turned h
face away
Isabel told him. in low, sweet voic'
all that she could-all that was GOO
and cheering and hopeful-and Cap
: Gleason went back to the village hote
- walking with his hands behind h
- back, and his head dropping on h
breast.
y For the time he truly mourned tt
70 sweetheart of his youth, but no Oh
can grieve forever. Moss grows ov'
". the fallen tree; violcts bloom over IL
~ new made grave. Poor Miss GenevieV
~ was dead and buried, and when Il
~ next summer blOSSomcd over the lar
y Capt. Gleason was married to Isab
Islay.
- eff death was really so near her, L
glad l wrote the letter that made h
- happy" thought Isabel. And Edwa
=, will always think of her as young al