The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1897-06-02


W 'You remembe
what beautiful
child Amy was?" Mrs. Grantley said
"the prettiest of all we saw, aud W
were-how long, making selection?
Dear mel l cannot recollect,
said Mrs. Dinsmore. ave vlsite,
every orphan asylum and home W
heard of, l know. Yes, Amy was
perfect little beauty"
"And l was SO careful in my direc
tion at every school where l hav,
placed her that she should be watched
and prevented from getting freckleC
or spelling her complexion in any
way. She has been most faithfully
cared for, and now, my dear, when
come home, expecting to find lovely
girl to introduce to society, l au
fairly stunned! Amy is positively
ugly p
at is too dreadful said Mrs.
Dinsmore, with a sympathetic shud.
der.
"Of course, must do my duty by
her." continued Mrs. Grantley, plain.
lively, latter giving her the best edu-
cation money could procure and all
the tastes and accomplishments OF a
lady. l cannot turn the child away
for what is really no fault of her own.
OF course she would be beauty If
she could! But it is q bitter dIsap-
pointmentl"
And it was. Mrs. Grantley was n
woman OF society, bound Up in the re-
quirements of fashion, lady manager
for dozen or so of popular chart
ties, pRtroness for many benevolent
schemes, keeping open house for balls,
parties, private theatricals and festiyi-
ties of all kinds all winter, and lead
ing society in n great measure at
Saratoga, Newport and some other re-
sort of fashion all summer. A child
less widow, with large income, very
handsome, highly educated and re.
fined, she was very queen in her own
circle for many years. Then, feeling
that her own beauty was waning, she
resolved to give new charm to her
house, a new interest to her life, by
adopting a child.
The first, the most essential, requis.
ite in her eyes was beauty; the next
intellect, and with these she also re-
quired a child who was absolutely
friendless-one who would have no
relations claiming &C.
quaintance at some future date, how.
ever remote. 1t was not easy to meet
all these con litions, but the child was
found at last. she was very fair, with
a bloom like q peach blossom upon
each delicate cheek; she had fair, soft |
hair that curled naturally, blue eyes
full of sweetness and delicate features
her feet and hands were of aristocratic |
and her figure slender
and graceful. A street walf, she knew
oi no home beyond the asylum where
Mrs. Grantley found her, and had no
relative Of whom she had ever heard.
There was no difficulty about the mat
er, and Mrs, Grantley adopted the
'hild, calling her Amy Grantley, and
to exhibit her in the dain-
lest of costumes to her admiring
riends.
When Amy was twelve years old,
having proved herself an apt scholar
With good nursery governess, Mrs.
irantley decided to go to Europe.
'he left her adopted child in a good
chool, and corresponded with her
seeing with delight that the
hild's mind and heart expanded and
bowed cultivation and sweet, maiden
J beauty as her education advanced.
For seven years Amy remained at
chool, conscientious student, de-
ghting in music, and showing always
gentle, lovable disposition.
In her heart there was one shrine
here, next her God, was one object
f absolute worship-Mrs. Grantley. J
he had never been deceived regard
lg her own position, knowing that to
er adopted mother she owed every {
leasure and every advantage she en- c
Eyed. Every action of her life was J.
lauenced by her gratitude. Loving z
udy for its own sake, she threw fresh I
lergy into every accomplishment to |
lease her friend, her kind adopted
other; she made music an absor bling \
lrsuit, because Mrs. Grantley loved C
usic, and her teachers assured her G
or strong, pure voice must give pleas II
70 to any true lover of singing. I
Year after year the strong hope OF Q
n life was that Mrs. Grantley would i
on return, and she might in some Il
ny repay what she owed her. The n
y the summons came to her to meet {
rs. GrantleY in what was to be her S
ture home, the child was almost i'll c
tn excitement. ?
Educated by lady who considered b
a duty to check any vanity in her 6
pills, Amy had never given much d
ought to her personal appearance. 81
hen scarlet fever robbed her of her 8
rls and left straight mass of pale, "
Ken hair in their place, she thought 81
ly of the temporary badness as an y
and the care OF the IL
aight hair less troublesome than the &c
rls. She did not heed the fact that u
, same fever deprived her of her ex- fe
isite complexion, and left a sallow,
orless one in its place. OF
Her second teeth were uneven, and 10
very white, though sound and ia
oful. She was graceful in figure, vC
y in movement, refined in voice u
i tone, a lady in every impulse and
ion, but Mrs. Grantley's first ex- st
lmation was; vi