The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1897-01-07
AMBER.


Der, the little daughter of his only init
mate friend, who dying had intrusted her
to his care.
chased away the ghostly echoes from the
lonely old hs1se and the light of her happy
eyes bright3ned every room. Her looks
strewed the tables, her flowers filed the
long unused vases, her gowns made bits of
color against the dark walls as she fitted
up stairs and down
Gradually all became changed because
of her. New furniture replaced the old,
new carpets covered the floors, the con-
servatory blossomed with rare plants and
a grand piano lit up dark recess of the
library with it's polished ivory and rose
wood.
By and by the little girl became maid
en- to whom every door was open, and
whose smile was a favor which men con-
sidered as we'll nigh precious and all the
time that Amber was growing winsome
and sweet and graceful John Sarles was
growing old and wrinkled and gray. But
his heart was young as ever, and he loved
Amber with all the pent up force of his
nature and he suffered agonies because of
that love, feeling that she could never,
never be his.
One day a handsome boy of good family
came to ask him for Amber hand. Poor
John! He gave his consent and his bless
ing as we'll What else could he do, not
knowing but Amber loved him? And
while the boy was pleading his cause John
sat in his study with as bitter a heartache
as ever man had.
Presently the door opened, but he didn't
look up And then came sweet sobbing
voice and the pressure of two soft arms
about his neck from behind.
ooh, guardy, guardy, are you tired of
me that you try to get rid of me so?''
He was suffocating with surprise and joy
and terror, but he managed to draw her
around where he could see her face, which
was rosy with bushes and persistently
averted.
s'Amberv' he cried. "Tired of you'll Want
to get rid of you, AmberV"
And then, treasured by his tone, she
burst out passionately:
eyes, you must be, else you'd never sent
him to me when you know hate him
hate them all but your
He drew her down on his knee at that
and held her close in his trembling arms.
His face was near hers, but he did not kiss
her He could only look at the sweet, wet
eyes and childlike mouth the round, soft
cheek and gold brown hair, wondering,
doubling, hoping all atonce-he could not
have told which the most of the three.
That was two years ago-two blessed
years. Amber loved him, and Amber was
his wife.
But of late shadow had fallen between
them-the shadow of Lawrence Kendall.
He had grown cold and austere in his
manner, causing Amber many tears and
much worriment. Once he had been posi-
lively harsh toward her. What else had he
been tonight?
Dear little AMBER He could feel the
tears in her eyes and the CULVER of her
mouth, though he could not see them.
All, Just wait till she came in, tired and
cold and sleepy Then he would make all
right. She would forgive him---of course
she would, the darling! And they would
be happy again.
The freight would dance on her hair
and bring out the soft color in her face,
and she would laugh and smile in the old
Joyous way. What a fool he had been!
How cowardly and unreasonable to doubt
his innocent darling even for one moment!
It was 2 o'clock, and Amber ought to
have been home an hour ago. What was
it made John start and pale and tremble
as he glanced at the clock? We're his fears
confirmed? Had his doubts become truths?
Hark! Was not that the sound of car
riage pausing at the curbing? What occa-
stoned this unusual confusion in the hall
below?
John Sarles seized his crutch and limped
a few PAGES toward the door, but stopped
as it was flung open, and the figure of an
old serving man appeared on the threshold
Master - he began.
John Sarles' lips moved, but no sound
passed them.
"Master, have come with sad news for
you There has been an accident The
horses ran away-and Miss Amber
He caught John as he reeled and fell,
and answering the mute, awful appeal OF
those agonized eyes, he concluded:
Els hurt seriously but not fatally.
They have just brought her home "
Three months afterward, when bursting
buds and freshly sprouting grass pro
claimed that spring was at hand, Amber
was carried into her husbands study and
propped up by pillows and cushions on the
sofa there Her face had lost it's roundness
and it's dainty color, and the beautiful
brown gold hair was cut close to her head.
Presently he came and sat down on the
edge of the sofa-all their differences had
long since been made up-and took her
hands in his. There were tears in his eyes,
though Amber's were clear enough.
"You dear old John, " she said, smiling,
II believe you feel worse about it than
do
He sobbed.
"Well, you needn't, you silly boy" She
was silent a moment and then she said
musingly, "Do you know, believe I'm
half glad
"Oh, my darling, to be lame all your
lifep'
eyes, for don't you see we shall SYM
pathize with one another more than we
ever have? And, oh, joint
eyes, Amber. -
IT never realized before how patient
and dear you were until I was hurt. /
think I love you better than ever, if that
can be, and l am sure-quite, quite sure
that this has been a blessed lesson for both
of us. Aren't your
And John, in his newer and clearer wis
dom, dared not deny it. -Waverley Maya
zine.