Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1896-11-18

aid the woods around Durell Court
were wearing their brightcat dyes.
Little Eudosa had skipped around
NIL day, gathering the sweetest roses,
arranging violets in saucers of Dres-
den china, adding new beauties to the
suite of apartments which had been
prepared for Miss Weldon, the only
ohild Of "grandmamma's dearest
friend"
"For we must enjoy her society oil
we can before my odious stepmother
comes" said Eudora, all unconscious
that she was in. the least degree un-
charitable.
Poor chlldl she only echoed the
chime OF popular opinion, after all.
And when grandmamma's pony
phaeton came back from the trein
with the tall, lovely lady in black, Eu-
dora few into her arms with oil q
child's innocent enthusiasm.
sStand off a little, and let me look
at you," said the child. ioyouslY,
pushing back her ietty ourls-ah, SO
like Sigismund's that Octayia's heart
thrilled within her! "Oh, you are ex-
actly like what I pictured you in my
mind And we are going to be 80
happy together-you and /. and
grandmamma-nutIl-=urtil my step
mother eomesP
Octasia looked wistfully at her.
.Deat Eudoral" she said, .impul-
sively, III love you already. Promise
me that you will love mel"
The warm hearted little girl covered
her cheeks, brow and lips with kisses.
'.Dear Miss Weldon" said she, ~
promise you thousand times over"
And Mrs. Durell led the guest smil-
ingly to her room.
"My darling" snid she, 'sI wont
you to be very happy here. For you
are filling place in our hearts that
has long been vacant--my daughters
place!"
suggested the stranger, coloring
deeply.
The oh lady made gesture of dis
sent.
"I can never love herl |" she uttered,
sadly.
"But me-you will be kind to me"
"My dear jamie, you are like my
own child already;" lovingly spoke
the old lady.
And Mrs. Durell never suspected
the rain of bitter tears which poor
Octevia she'd when she was at last left
alone.
"But will make them love me-"
| she thought; ''aud when once their
Affection is thoroughly mine, / will
mos let them Withdraw it from me,
merely because I am Octavia Durell
instead of jamie Weldoni"
And this beautiful young impostor
had not been week in the house be-
fore she had won all hearts. She was
grandlna's darling. Eudora's confdant,
the pet and sunshine of the house.
And oh, how her heart beat when
Mrs. Durell looked at her tenderly
one evening, and said, with kiss:
"Dear little jamie, was thinking
how many thousand dollars would
give if Sigismund's wife were like
you"
Octavia turned first red, then white.
"Mrs. Durell, she said, hurriedly,
'sif were Sigismund's wife"
And just then bevy Of guests were
shown in, and the words Of confession
were checked on Octavia's lips.
But the secret betrayed itself at
last, as secrets will always do.
It was rosy December sunset, the
snowy folds all dyed with carmine,
the huge fire OF mossy logs cracking
in the tiled fireplace of Durell Court.
The old lady was serenely doing in
the blaze, and Eudora was helping
her guest to arrange roses, fresh gath
cred from the greenhouses, in antique
majolica vases, when the door sudden
ly opened, and o tall, woll-moulded
figure strobe in.
"Well, mother! Well, Eudora-"
The old lady started UP with cry.
Eudora looked with dilatsd, wonder.
ing eyes; but first and swiitest of
them all Octavia was in her husbands
arms.
"Sigismundl |" she cried, aysterio.
ally. sob, S;gismundl"
Old Mrs. Durell recovered herself
with On effort, and looked on in
amazement.
"sigismund, said she, 81 did not
know that this lady"
"This lady, mother, he answered,
brightly, "is the sweetest and dearest
little lady in oil the world to me-my
wife /"
And Octayis hid her face on her
mother. n-law's shoulder.
"Dear Mrs. DurelI," she whispered,
"forgire me for stealing your heart
by strategy, for, indeed, / despaired
of ever winning it in any other way.
jamie Weldon told me that might
borrow her personality. She, too, is
coming after New Year's.
"I'm sure" said Mrs. Durell, ner.
vously whipping her spectacle glasses,
al don't know what to sayl"
''Say q forgive you,' said Octavia |;
"and say also, Il love you, daughter r."
81 love you, dear little daughter, {"
said the old lady, falteringly. "And
as for forgiving-why, I mn not certain
but thai l need forgiveness the most
of all."
While little Eudora clung cIo,ely to
the young wife's side.
81 don't care whether you are my
step.mother or not" she said. 81 love
you, and shall always call you
mamma, nowi"
And then the happy, excited little
group gathered around the FIRE, and
explanations followed MI around.
Octavia had to recount her little
plot, SO often nearly betrayed by the
fullness of her own heart. Sigismund
had to relate the combination al