The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1896-11-11
AMBER.

Al the sound or FOOTBALL IN the
corridor he laid down his pen and
leaned YEARLY back In his big arm
chair.
Presently a hand thrust back the cur
tain from the doorway and bis wife
entered. She was gowned Tor the even
ing In her fayorite color-dull yellow.
There were diamonds at her throat
and In her gold-brown hair. She looked /
radiant with pleasure.
"Shall / dor she asked. coming for
ward and leaning upon the desk with |
her hands. palms downward.
He Inspected her dellberaiely-crltlc-
ally. she thought.
you win do very we'll" he said AZ
last. "what Is Il tonight, AMBER
"'Faust' am going with the Ken
dalls. LAwrence-'
lie took up his pen with q slight ges-
ture OF Impotence that effectnaliy "
fenced her. Half the joy died out Of
her face. She stood a moment watch
lng as he wrote; then she went round
aud laid her hand timidl' bis shout
der
john" wistfnlly.
"WollT'
She hesliated. hoping that be would
look up or say something more; but he
did neither.
81 am going now. Good-by."
"Good-by."
II was the tone. not he words, that
brought a sudden dimness into her
eyes. She fingered siill with her hand
ON his shoulder. Then she slowly re-
moved Il and stole out of the room.
As the curtain ceased swaying be-
hind her Che pen lrOppod aud John
Sarles covered his face With BIS hands.
. lie heard n carriage stop az the rrfb'
ing and the front door close with
bang. lie heard q mans voice and
mans gay laugh-both Lawrence Ken.
dalrs: then there was rumble OF
wheels and he lifted his head with
Jerk. Something Ike q sob escaped
him.
Lawrence" she had said. II had
come a. that them Lawrence, John
Sarles knew him wcll-kncw how MS
handsome face and winning smile en-
deared him 10 the hearts of women
how he was sought after, petted, al
mircd
An. well. Il was something. after al;
% b. born with handsome face ana
straight. strong limbs. John Safies
looked bitterly at the cruich leaning
against the chair and thought that be.
cause Of Il life had withheld much Of
is sweetness from him. Wealth and
even a powerful Intellect which pui
him In touch with the brightest think
ers II the day failed 10 make up %
him for that.
He had been on the point u sinking
into the self.impnsed Isolation ~ 4
proud. morose nature when Amber
came-Amher. the little daughter Of hi.
only intimate friend. who. dying. had
lntlusied her 10 his care.
Soon the music Of her laughter had
chased away tho ghostiy echocs IRON
the lonely Old house and the light Of
her haupy eyes frightened every room
Her books sirowed the tables. her How
q ers filed the long unused vases, hei
! gowns made bits Of color against th'
, dark walls rs she fitted up stairs an'
down.
Cradualiv an became changed be
! cause OF her New furniture replace'
I the old. now carpets covered tie floors
5 he conservatory hlossomcd with rar
] plants and a grand piano ~ up car
. recess ~ the library Win Us p"li1he'
. ivory and rosewood.
By and by the little girl became
. maiden. 20 whom every door was opel
= and whose smile was favor which
2 men considered a wei nigh precious
r and All the time that Amber was grow
: ing winsome aud sweet and graceful
! John Sarles was growing old and wrin
Killed. and gray. but his heart wa
voune as ever. and he loved Amhe
e with M the pent-up force OF his ma
; ture. and he suffered aronles hocaus
70 ~ That love. feeling that she coull
o never. never BE- bis.
, Ono dav a handsome boy ~ good tam
I, Ilv came to ask him Tor Amhers hand
u Poor John! lie gave his consent am
J. his blessing as we'll What else coull
r he do. not knowing hut that Amhe
4 loved him. And while the boy wa
A nleadlng his cause John sat In his stud
. with As bitter a heartachc as ever ma
y had.
u Presently the door opened, hut h
= didn't look M. And then came
y sweet sohhlnr voice and the pressur
a Of two soft arms about his neck froI
behind.
"Oh. guariy, guarty' are you tire
OF me that you try 10 get rid OF m
soT'
He was uffocatlnr with surprise an
" Ioy and terror. hut he managed 10 Ora
her around where he could see her fac
y which was rosy with bushes aud pc
z slstently avertcd.
J. ~Amberr' he cried. Tired az yoI
Want 10 get rid Of you. Amber"
And then, reassured by his tone, N
~ burst out paeslonately:
eF sYes. you must be. else you'd nevs
he have sent him 20 me. when you knO
i hate hlm-hate them all but your
IA He drew her down on his knee
that ana held her close IN his tremhlir
~ arms. His face was near hers, but
y" did not kiss her. He could only LOO
n al the sweet. wet eyes and chlldiil
mouth. the round, soft cheek aud gol
or brown hair. wondering. doubling. no
he ing all nj Once-he could not have %
he which the most Of the three.
=, That was two years ago-twO hless'
~, years Of such happiness that N.
nj seemed 20 him like long delight
u dream. Amber loved him and Amb
was his wife.
AZ But Of late a shadow had fallen /
,er tween them-the shadow " lawrcn
Kendall. The fear that had numb
Johns heart when he iirst hchcld q
iu Young mans admlring gaze upon J
zen wife had rlpened into fierce jealousy.
he He had grown cold and austcrc
his manner. causing Amber many tea
an aud much worrlmcnt. Once he III
- been positively harsh toward h'
"e What else had he been tonIghts Al
an the time his proud. sensitive nau
az was suffering to ita utmost capacity
irk Dear little Amber, Tie could feel q
~ q ~. ..H.