The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1897-04-09
room at once, Ethel" she said, Hurried
ly, land play some of those soft, dreamy

room at once, Ethel" she said, Hurried
~, "and play some of those soft, dreamy
bits you were practicing Yesterday"
Ethel was well pleased, for the one
pleasure her dreary life afforded was
that OF keeping up her music. 1t was
one OF the few things on which she and
Mrs. Staunton were of the same mind.
She did not give a thought to her
cousins strange manner, but, sitting
down at the piano, did as she had been
hidden.
After awhile her thoughts strayed
away from the music her fingers were
producing and she fell to dreaming of
the halcyon days when, in the dear old
home, her father sitting near with book
or paper, she had sung to him in the
twilight.
Her fingers wandered slowly over the
keys, striking mournful chords here
and there; then, without her volition.
they strayed into one of the old songs
her father had most dearly loved. A
wave OF emotion swept over her, and the
tears welled into her eyes and fell slow
ly one by one. She ceased playing sud-
denly, and buried her face in her hands.
o, what change has come into her
life since those happy days! The dear
father gone! So little to enjoy at pres
ent, nothing to look forward to in the
future.
She did not hear step behind her, and
1t was not until gentle hand was laid
upon her bowed head that she started
up and saw Maj. Horton, whose ewes,
bright with tears, were bent upon her.
My dear child" he said, taking her
hand and drawing her gently to him.
"what is troubling you? There is some
thing wrong, | am sure. Ihave noticed
your sadness before. Tell me. have |
guessed Alright that your life here is un-
happy?"
She stood at his side in silence, a
delicate flush on her cheeks, the tears
shining on her long lashes. How kind
ly his brown eyes. and how strong his
arm to lean uponl
With sudden movement she hid her
face on his shoulder, the tears falling
unrestrainedly, and told him all-all
the trouble, the unhappiness. the griev-
ing for her dead father.
Ethel" he said, excitedly, there is
home know of which needs mistress
to brighten it.; heart which has silent
ly chosen one, but feared to make
known its desire lest its owner fell too
far short of a young girls dream of a
lover. That home and heart are mine,
and you are the one on which that heart
is set"
She started back quickly and gazed at
him in wonder. He released her hand
and turned sadly away.
Forgive me-" he said, TREMENDOUSLY.
II see | have panied you. was wrong
to think one so young and fair could
entertain a regard for one as old and
ugly as l."
Suddenly he started. A little hand
was laid timidly Oh his arm. and a sweet
pathetic voice was speaking.
"0ld and ugly!" it said. Not to me"
lie turned swiftly and gathered her
into his arms. pressing a kiss on her
lips.
Il know now" she whispered. 'that
l have almost worshiped you from the
first. But it was the worship one gives
to heroes. scarcely dared own it to
myself, you seemed SO far removed
from me; so brave and strong"
And l, dearest" he responded.
looked upon you as something to be ad-
mired only at distance. Whenever l
called here it was-let me whisper a
secret to you-with hope of seeing
you. To-day. as l sat alone, | heard
you begin to play, and it was almost
more than l could do to refrain from
stealing in and catching a glimpse of
you. When you played that last sweet
song | could restrain myself no longer.
for it was one my dead sister used to
play to me. Something l could not re-
sist impelled me to go to you. saw
you crying and knew that. as had
often suspected, your life was far from
happy. And now let us think no more
of the cherries past, but rather of the
joyous future"
Mrs. Staunton, after bidding Ethel go
into the music-room, returned to her
own boudoir. After what seemed a
judicious wait she stole down, entering
the drawing-room with one of her
sweetest smiles on her lips. She stared
blankly, for the room was empty. 1t
was then, too. that she noticed that the
music had ceased. She sank down
weakly. Whatever did it mean?
Suddenly she rose and went to the
door. Surely. issuing from the music
room she heard voices. With swift
steps she crossed the hall, entering the
room just as Maj. Horton had finished
speaking.
He stepped forward, his arm encir-
cling Ethel. Congratulate me, dear
Mrs. Staunton," he said, ION having
won for my wife the sweetest woman
the sun shines on"
To say that Mrs. Staunton was
stunned would but family express that
Iady's feelings. Suddenly she rallied.
Tor her own sake it would not do TO
betray her establishment, so. with q
bravery worthy of much commentator.
she did congratulate them both.
Ethel. in her happy home. cherishes
no i'll will toward her cousin, nor do /
think, even were she aware of how that
lady designed her for tool to accon..
plish her own ends. she could find 1t III
erheartto condemn her, since through
1t. by a jest Of fate, she gained the
noblest husband in the world: -