The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1897-04-15

of the outwardly smiling widow.
How Ethel had enjoyed the drive!
How kind the major had been, and how |
interestingly he had talked. How hand
some he was, with isstrong, noble face,
his graceful, well-knit figure, and his
finely-turned head, with its iron-gray
hair. Poor Ethel! It had indeed been
red-letter day in her calendar.
She was aroused from her reverie by
the sound Of her cousins voice at the
door.
IT wish you would go into the music
room at once, Ethel" she said, hurried
ly, "and play some of those soft, dreamy
bits you were practicing yesterday"
Ethel was we'll pleased, for the one
pleasure her dreary life afforded was
that Of keeping up her music. Ii was
one of the few things on which she and
Mrs. Staunton were of the same mind.
She did not give 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 sopgs
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 a 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 eyes,
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 OF her long lashes. How kind
ly his brown eyes, and how strong his
arm to lean upon!
With a 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
q home know Of which needs mistress
to brighten it; heart which has SILENT
ly chosen one, but feared to make
known it's desire lest it's owner fell too
far short Of 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, tremulously.
II see have panied you. was wrong
to think one so young and fair could
entertain regard for one as old and
ugly as l."
Suddenly he started. A little hand
was laid timidly on his arm, and a sweet
pathetic voice was speaking.
sold and ugly!" it said. "Not to me-"
He turned swiftly and gathered her
into his arms, pressing kiss on her
lips.
II know now," she whispered, shat
have almost worshiped yop 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 I, dearest" he responded,
looked upon you as something to be adj
mired only at a distance. Whenever
called here it was-let me whisper a
secret to you-with hope of seeing
you. To-day, as I sat alone, heard
| you begin to play, and it was almost
more than I 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 could not re-
sist impelled me to go to you. saw
| you crying and knew that, as I had
often suspected, your life was far from
happy. And now let us think no more
of the cheerless 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 q
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
| ~ "a