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

). heart felt as if heavy hand hat
Q crushed all sweetness out of life. The
g cold kiss, the few forced words of vel
+ come, added TO her pain, and, lifting
= streaming eyes, she faltered;
81 am so sorryl l will try to be
r good !" like a grieved child, harshly
! reproye2 for fault. She did try to
, atone for that involutarY crime, the
3 loss OF her childish beauty, and while
Mrs. Grantley mourned over it, spoke
often of her bitter disappointment,
and vainly tried by every art of dress
to recall the lost charms, she yet felt
creeping into her heart day by day a
love and respect for this homely girl
she had never felt for the beautiful
} child.
Sometimes she sat and thought OF
Amy with a wondering admiration, as
OF some strange specimen OF humanity
that had never before crossed her path.
"She is like n flower" she thought,
chat gives out its sweetest fragrance
when it is crushed have let her see
too plainly how she disappoints me,
and she is humbly conscious of my
chagrin, and yet she is so tenderly
loving, so anxious to please me, that |
believe shall end by loving her as
we'll as if she were beautiful. Leonard
Gresham says she is the loveliest wo.
man in society this winter And yet
she is positively homely !"
And Leonard Gresham was not alone
in his opinion. To Mrs. Grantley's
amazement, Amy was the centre of
circle In society that looked beyond
beauty to find attraction. A circle
that hung entranced upon the pure,
highly cultivated voice that was al
ways at the service of friends; circle
that found charm in conversation
that could touch higher topics than
dress or the merits of the latest prima
donna. Mrs. Grantley made dress a
fine art, and Amy's toilettes were per-
lection, while the intellect visible IN
her large blue eyes and low, broad
brow, the sweetness of her smile,
atoned in a great measure for the want
of beauty in face and complexion.
But her greatest triumph was not in |
society. No praise there, no love Of
fered her by the many who sought her,
made her beart thrill as did Mrs.
Grantley's gradual admissions of her
power to win love.
Leonard Gresham, q man of whose
love any woman might be proud,
sought her for his wife, and when she
gently refused his SUIT she was far
prouder OF the adopted mothers pleas
ure than of the offer of one of society's
most eligible parts.
"My darling, I cannot spare you
yet !" were words that echoed gladly
in her heart long after they were
spoken, with an emphasis that proved
they came from the heart.
There were times when Amy won
dered if the pain the rejection of
Leonard Gresham left in her heart
was not caused by deeper love than
she had realized she felt when she gave
it, but the girls whole mind was bent
upon proving her gratitude to her
adopted mother.
1t was n revelation to Mrs. Grantley
to ind IN so many ways her comfort {
and happiness increased after she once
allowed Amy to manifest her love. 1t ,
was long time before this was accom- ,
plished, for the girls sensitive nature {
shrank from forcing her affection {
where it was not needed. But, little 3
by little, the humble offers Of service s
dictated by intense gratitude became I
iaily duties, and the loving heart soon I
'ound new avenues of devotion. Well |
servants took every mental f
care, but no servant could make Mrs. /
irantley's life overflow with new hap
1lness as Amy's devotion soon did +
t seemed as if her heart would break r
With Joy the first time Mrs. Grantley {
rev her to her heart, kissed her lips I
md said, ferventlY: h
'My darllng" G
No lover ever gave his beloved a "
moment OF purer, more rapturous de. A
light than Amy experienced in that e
Iour. For two years after life flowed d
n in pleasant stream. Society be- |,
anne secondary to home. "Dear t,
became familiar title upon |,
-mY's lips, and no mother was ever
lore fondly loved than Mrs. Grantley Il
y her darling"
linen sorrow came in CHASTITY shape.
lrs. Grantley was attacked by can.
erous affection that, despite skill and
are, became an incurable disease, u
1athsome to the sufferer and to the Il
urse. No hired care could ever have g
cen as tender as that given by Amy's II
i've; no paid nurse could have so +
ought fatigue or disgust, All day, sill W
light, the most watchful care embodied V
le patient. Every amusement her b.
ate could bear-music, reading, m
hating, were given with such love as "
ro7ed them an offering from the "a
cart, and when the suffering was too 10
reat to bear any recreation, Amy was &C
avoted in nursing and soothing the fe
lherer. Her touch, firm and vet OF
sntle, never added to the pain, and y
lille she was slender, she had the
rength OF perfect health. Mrs
rantley insisted upon having
aimed nurse to assist Amy, but it was "a
her adopted daughter she looked for ~
e many attentions that alleviate suf- fo
ring. ~
1t was Amy who read precious words te
comfort from the Holy Writ, too pc
ng neglected in life of frivolity aud be
shlon. 1t was Amy who lifted her
ice in simple childhke words OF In
aver daily and nightly. n
Not many hours before the last OF
-uggle life makes, Mrs. Grantley fir
IS with Mrs, Dinsmore, and, lifting eli