New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-08-10

RerceIteE " nat an Odo name eACid4NlS0 a
sympathetic bystander.
Yes. named for young Stuart" some one ex-
planned "Awfully sad about him. isn't It?
Good hearted chap"
What about him?" asked the other
Dead Hadn't you heard? Crushed by the
roof falling in at the Shaws fire. You had not
Why it was all il the papers. Whole house
gone-pictures. furniture. jewels, laces-Lady
Shaws had stunning lot of lace; showed ii me
once. Well. it's all gone now Young Stuart?
Oh yes, Well. he went in after the youngest
boys dog a collie They say the bowls of the
creature turned you sick, and the bOy-lame.
you 6now-insisted going back for it, so
Stuart went. There, don't let's talk about it
crushed to death, and young They say the
crowd worked like devils to get him out-why.
look at that child! Athena. what is it. dear?"
I did not answer. A great black wave seemed
to roar above. around me. lost consciousness.
never owned another doll. I did not wish for
one. Percy was dead. and his gift Percette. I
turned my face away when people, meaning to
be kind. offered to replace her. seeming not to
realize that the place Of the dead may never be
filed. Nurse Margaret learning that Lord Eb-
brides was heir to Percy's large fortune,
mourned openly over the strange ways of Prov
idence
THE f1ow'r ta'en," she complained. the weed
Poor nurse! A year later she was sent back to
Scotland. and had a French maid. I missed
my Margaret sadly.
We had a house in Paris the May / was
thirteen-a large house, that my mother might
entertain. The ballroom was very splendid, and
my mothers boudoir resembled a bonbonniere
with its frescoed ceiling and hangings of green
satin. In it was armoire that thought
beautiful 1t was of oak the tall mirror Of its
door supported either hand by a nymph or
dryad. whose diaphanous drapery. clinging
closely to her graceful limbs. was drawn, where
it foated free just above the head. by an up
curved arm. From under these wells each sister
looked forth upon you if. we'll knowing the
past, she might foretell the future. They fasci-
mated me. and I felt that the sad eyed dryads
were the guardians of my mothers emeralds,
since she kept them on the upper shelf Of the
arnore
Her collection grew each year. My fathers
income had yearly increased since, his former
man of affairs dying. our fortune had been
placed in the hands of a brisk young lawyer.
Then. too Lord Ebbrides added many gems to
my mothers store. These she disliked accept
ing for she could not esteem him and realized, I
feel sure, that they were given only because Of
his friendship for her husband. Lord Ebbrides
was with US always-he and my father had be-
come inseparablc. That May he had apartments
in our neighborhood. and we saw him daily.
Although my old nurse. Scotch Margaret was
very superstitious, she had failed to Undue me
with her quaint beliefs. and I state but a plain
| fact when I say that misfortunes have generally
befallen me in the month of May, and always
! on q Friday. 1t was on Friday afternoon
when. crossing the hall to dress for my daily
ride I met my father, his cheerful, high colored
! face so drawn with pain that I feared he was
! dying
Papa" cried, running to him. what is it?
! Are you iu?'
! For answer he caught in his arms
My poor little daughter he groaned: my
beautiful, helpless little child" and staggered
| as if he would have fallen.
! Just then the door Of the boudoir-on the floor
above-opened. and heard my mothers musical
| laugh
I'm that case might" she said in sweet. low
! tones; but now a truce to your folly-cela men
! mule"
! My fathers heavy sigh echoed through the
hall Startled by the sound. my mother came
! to the head of the staircase, behind her Lord
Ebbrides
Hurry, mammal cried Papa is very i'll"
Slowly. as If deprived OF her strength, she de-
seconded the stairs. Lord Ebbrides would have
supported her, but she thrust him away.
/ oh Millicent, MiIlicentr-my fathers voice
was hoarse and strange-'that damned scoun-
| drel-I trusted him"
| GO away. Athena" said my mother. in
! fierce whisper. Go to your room and-be
SILENT
Without a word I obeyed.
It was, indeed, a great calamity that had
broken my father down. His fortune was gone,
! lost in mad speculation. I feel sure that for
/ himself ruin would have mattered little but the
/ thought Of wife and child reduced to penury-
! a mere pittance remained to us-wrung his
! heart, To a vigorous young creature like my
! self poverty meant little. but. like my father.
| 7 dreaded it for my sensitive mother. She bore
the blow bravely. making complaint, though
each day her lovely face grew more haggard,
| her great eyes more fevershly bright.
/ Lord Ebbrides placed his purse at my fathers
! disposal for immediate expenses. AS soon as
/ possible, everything OF value to go
under the hammer, save the emeralds. These
Lord Ebbrldes offered to buy. The sale was
| particularly bitter to my father. 1t was an ad-
/ ditional blow TO deprive my mother Of her jew
! els, and for that reason, perhaps. ne was eager
| to have them go at II the last
/ Friday in May that. entering the green boudoir,
! heard him ask If they had been sent to Lord
| Ebbrides My mother answering in the mega
| tive. he showed his dspleasure. Il grudge them
! 10 him, of course" he said, irritably, 'but he's
! paid up handsomely, Millicent, and I wish TO
! God you'd give 'em 10 him and be done with it,
las you please. Charles" she answered, coldly,
is he TO have the ring, too?' half drawing the
| intaglio from her finger.
NO, no, Not Athena's Psyche-God forbidr'
He hurried from the room.
! My mother lay back among the pale green
cushions Of her sofa, staring with sombre eyes
!