The Eddy current., 1899-02-11


picture they made IN the chastened
golden light. and how renectlvely my
wlfe'a dark tumbled locks threw out
the smooth corohet oi Furnished gold
that crowned Edlth's stately head.
She was most beautiful woman
tall, felr with soft blue eyes heavily
lashed, and faultiesa profile. Never
before had seen her look 40 attract
i've as she dld on that evening while
she directed Helen's little clumsy
brown hand across that square OF oat-
meal cloth on which such wonderful
birds. butterflies. aud towering voge-
tatlon were 10 blossom into life. Her
dress. OF llght blue stun, trimmed
with delicate lace. fitted her exquisite
ly. and there was a suggestion Of grace
ful poetic perfection about her general
appearance. her every movement, that
was most soothing 10 the senses that
lazy summer day. felt az n could
have watched her with unaatiated
pleasure for hours at stretch-"a
daughter Of the gods. divinely tall aud
dlvinely falr"-whlio Helen, my wife,
small. dark haired. dark-eyed, with
Uniformed babylah featurcg. and skin
which. though pure and healthy. lacked
the delicate peach bloom OF the other
Was she ordinarily pretty or almost
plalng ! still asked myself that ques-
tlon after nine months OF matrlmony,
and could arrive at no satisfactory So
-. maNA
same. either In mind. manner. or looks,
two hours together
One hour she would look. even In
the most partial eyes. dun. common
place. hopelessly unattractlye-th
next. for no apparent cause. her APP
pearance would change, her cheeks
glow, her eyes CLEAN with a light that
! vaguely felt for a moment would, In
most mems opinion, dim Edlths placid
beauty into insignlecance. She had
| certainly very strange eyes-I never
could ascertain their exact shade.
| Sometimes they were deep. dark. still,
| like water In heavy shadow-again,
they we're all life with filekering tawny
! lights, us they we're that moment, when
raised 10 Edlth's in rueful cxpostula-
tion.
"oh. Miss stopford. please don't ask
me to change my wool again Let
me finish TO the stalk In this browny
yellow"
MY dear Mrs. Dennys. impossible!
You have only three shades In the leaf
~ yet. and have changed my wool
M many as thrcc-and-twenty times In
a single spray OF virgin vine"
Have you? Then III never be an
artist IN crewols!" laughed Helen. tho
cloth dropping lazlly from her hands;
wheroupon Jim. her little terrier,
thinking the lesson over. jumped
brlskly up on her lap, upsetting her
workbasket the contents OF which
rolled over he waxed boards scissors,
tapes, needles. bodkins went right and
left 4 stout reel OF black cotton
Travelled languldly my way. and. s,oop-
ing to pick It up, the golden hair OF
the only woman ! ever loved brushed
my forehead dellclously.
Meet me at the end Of the cedar
walk In half an hour" she said In q
quick whisper. with downcast eyes
fumbllng for the reel that !. In my agi-
tatlon, had dropped again. Il have
something to say TO YOU"
/ nodded. lay back IN my chair, and
instinctiyely held up the paper L
shade my face from observation
When my wife called me over to drink
cup OF tea, glanced apprehenslyely
into mirror 60 see II the color had
faded from my temples yet No q
was still there. burning brightly, ever
through my tanned skin.
Meet me at The end OF tho codal
walk in half an hour" repeated
stupidity. again and again, as | strolleC
across the lawn towards Breton Hall
tho residence OF General stopford
Edlth's uncle, and my grandfather
brother what does II meant Wha
can she have 10 shy TO me? can
understand IT,"
lTa ha UnuftutaN