Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1899-03-23
CHAPTER L

10 my nOIneT III II NuICt tI4ti OlNil4pISN
somewhat. Notwithstanding all my eff
forts to render it calm and even.
Here it is, mother dear" | said, with
a foolish little laugh that meant moth
ing. and vet concealed much. Il have
searched long enough for it. in all con
science"
For what. my dear?" my mother
asked. with innocent surprise in heI
pretty, faded blue eyes.
For n response TO the various ap
peals have made to the future" ]
replied. She looked bewilderment IL
self.
You mean" she began, and
paused in helpless perpleXity.
Il mean that those few lines that
! have lust read in You represent the
only attention that Fate has ever
vouchsafed to ri to my incessani
applications for assistance in unraye!
ling the tangled thread of my destiny,
| answered in a tone of solemn sig
nificance.
But | don't see. Dorothy
NO. of course you don't. you un
superstitious little soulr' l cried, with
a laugh that was really now the proper
thing. the precious little woman utter
lack of comprehension was so genuine
and amusing You We're born geneF
alton too early for endowment with nj
the marvellous physical gifts which are
the birthright of r'y era. We OF TINS
age can look into the future as wen as
divine the thoughts of our fellows, ana
in this bit of typographical matter |
can see what life holds in store tol
me as if ! were a the end instead ol
the beginning of existence. l see AIS
met written all over this advertise
nent. where you see but the eApressco
needs of fellow-nortal
She still looked dubious and uncer
tain.
"What is it you mean?" she asked, a
little impatiently for her.
Her want of sympathy with my
mood somewhat sobered and steadleo
it. Mother and daughter as we were
loving each other fondly though We
did we were of such absolutely con
+rastinr natures and temperaments
+hnt we rarely understood each oth"t
nv intuition: we never fully entered iu-
to each others joys and sorrows.
went over TO the low chair where she
sat with her sewing lying idle in htl
lap. and knelt down beside her. l took
her small hands, Worn with much lapol
and ceaseless industry. into mine ana
raised an earnest and serious face to
hers.
Dearest" | said, you are going to
be annoyed with me again; ypu are
going to feel again that you have just
cause to consider me foolish and IN
consequent Forgive ME tlrst and then
| will explain what cause there is for
your pardon.
She smiled indulgently at me, for, In
deed. she was never very fierce even IL
her most intolerant moods, and leaning
forward she kissed me lightly on the
brow.
The touch of her lips almost undid
me, there seemed such sort OF hnat
ity in the caress. 1t was as If she We're
giving sanction TO my own thought
that was about to pass for ever from
close and intimate contact with her
self. the familiar, il uncomprehending
companion of this first chapter of my
life. which | felt was swiftly nearing
its conclusion. l drew in my breath
sharply TO restrain threatening enc,
ton. and obeyed h..r injunction to pro
ceed with my explanation.
Mother" l began, you will say that
It is only one of my ridiculous fanci2s
when | tell you that | have an impres-
sion which amounts to conviction that
some strange tie is already forming
itself between me and this lady of the
initials who needs a companion. 1t is
no chance that has brought her neces-
sity to my knowledge; it is the natural
drift of that subtle agency which gov.
erns our lives. | can almost hear this
1,ap 4 70, y
that she has long been waiting for
me; | long to share her strict retire
ment': | feel the mysterious bond that
exists between us tightening itself and
abridging the distance that parts us.
| shall reply at once to her cry for com.
panionship, which know to be a sum
mons directed at me alone of all the
world. and when the doors of The Ivies
open to me, as open they surely will,
they will receive within them not n
temporary guest, but lifelong inmate.
who shall finally leave them only to
enter upon a new sphere of existence
which battles even the most advanced
psychics."
/ tried to round out my period with
another laugh. but the attempt was
a wretched failure. My voice broke.
slid quite down upon the floor at MY
mothers side, and burst into n really
hysterical fit of weeping. which. better
than any verbal appeal. deprecated the
material resentment, for the thin.
worn, loving hand quickly stole for
ward and rested soothingly upon my
head
why, Dorothy, Dorothy love, whai
Is it? There-there! What ails my
child to-night?" and my downcasi
head was raised from its position and
tenderly pillowed on the loving breas'
which had been its earliest resting
pace For a while l let it remain
there, for il was borne in upon me, in
that strange prophecy of spirit which
had come upon me, that not often il
the days to come would it recover that
dear place of repose. Yet, ineXplicably
as il may seem, the attitude vaguely
constrained me, and ! was glad afteI
n brief assumption of it to withdraw
from it, for, even then, scarcely five
minutes since | had learnt of the eX
iStence of such person as this lady OF
The Ivies, | felt myself rather of hel
world than of my accustomed one, anc
was conscious of a dawning but force
| full aloofness from an environment Ia
which | had become habituated by
necessity rather than through accord
! of sympathy.
There would be little use in my max
| ing comment upon, or attempting ex
| PLANTATION of. the singular and, to my
mother and matter-Of-fact married
| sister Marion. provoking vein of subtle
| influence which ran through my ma
| ture, frequently and irresistibly de
termining me in n choice of ways in
| compatible with what they considered
the dictates of good judgment ant
sober common sense. 1t is an element
| of character or temperament too meta
| physical in its nature for my analysis
but it has done my mental balanc,
much injury in the estimation of those
who are nearest me in blood, and has
placed me without the bar in the mat
ter of family councils That my in
tuitions have generally proved correct
weighs little against the fact that they
are wholly spontaneous and formed
without logical sequence, for my kind
red are as rational in drawing theil
conclusions as am unreasonable. A.
| sprang to my feet, determined to re
gain my self-poise. my mother sanl
4 wit f.rf,