Year: 1879

! pleasure oil congenal intercourse. For the
first time she heard stella's voice ring out
in joyous peal Of oflaughter over brilliant
witticism Of Franks. Eor the first time she
heard her sings not with any marvellous
power of talent but with q clear, sweet
voice, as pleasing as the carol of bird


The next day, and the next, and every
day,as the hot weather stolo away Gertrudes
strength little by lttlo, these two were thrown
into constant intercourse. By Gertrudes
request, Frank taught Stella to ride upon
her cousins own gentle horse, aud fasci-
mating little horsewomau she made, in the
becoming habit provided for her, with the
broad. brimmed hat shading her lovely face.
Her life was not altogether an idle one, for
Gertrude called upon her often to aid her in
the control of her large income, carefully ex-
planning to her all the details of the busi-
ness necessary for on heiress of large wealth
to understand Every day she learned
something new of Gertrude's charities, both
open and secretj of her care for all depen-
dent upon her care or her custom. Even the
arrangement of wages and household sup
plies was fully explained to her, though Mrs.
Cresson had long been sole housekeeper.


Yet every day found Frank at Went
worth Place for morning drive, an after.
noon stroll, or an evening visit. He was
spending a few idle weeks, stolen from ac-
tive business life, and devoted to Gertrude
But Gertrude enjoyed but little ofhis society,"
There was ever some business, some excuse,
or that never feigned plea of i'll health 10
keep her in her own room, during the great
er part of every visit.


And while the noble generous girl watch.
ed over her young cousin with fondest care.
she seemed strangely blind to the danger Of
this constant intercourse between her be
trothed and one so beautiful and winsome
as Stella, strangely Indifferent to the fact
that Stella was learning fast that lesson that
opens every youthful heart to drink the joy
Gus influence of affection.


No thought Of laithlessness ever troubled
Frank. lie knew that Gertrude was queen
of his nmost heart, and there was no power
to move her from her place, He knew that
by love, and love alone, they two were firm
ly bound for life, and he sorrowed deeply
for the falling health of his betrothed, hop
ing that cooler days would restore her
strength, and he be permitted to see her
again as he had before this prostrating wea-
ther had so weakened her.


Yes, while Gertrude was not to be seen,
this fair cousin was surely the sweetest of
comforters, 1t was no small part of her
charm, that she gave such frank admiration
and worshipping love to Gertrude. If his
betrothed was invisible, it was surely conso-
lation to Frank to talk over her manifold
perfections with so an enthusiastic an ad.
mrer as Stella. And so they would talk of
Gertrude, and glide easily to other topics as
innocent as children in the freedom of their
intercourse, aud utterly ignorant of their
part in the scheme of life that Gertrude had
planned. And if Frank was winning a
place dangerously near the inmost shrine of
a
would have sped away back to her old bon
dage, had one thought wrongng Gertrude
ever entered her mind. But the cooler
weather. upon which Frank had built so
many hopes, brought no strength to Ger
trude. Every day the fair, noble face grew
more spirituelle IN expression, more purely
pale and tender. Every day the hours she
passed in the secluson of her own room
were longer, and traces of suffering deeper
when she joined the others.


Mrs. Cresson alone, and bound to sccrosv,
knew of the tortltres endured in those long
hours. Mrs. Cre.son alone knew of the rare
ly perfect life fading slowly but surely from
all carth's cares and happiness. She alone,
the tender loving aunt,who had given Cert
rude all she had ever known of mother love,
knew perfectly what Gertrude hoped for
the future.


As physical suffering increased, as the
hold upon life grew weaker. Gertrude's
mental conflicts grew less frequent and more
easily subdued. No longer she prayed wild.
ly for resignation, for perfect resignation had
entered fully into her pure soul. No longer
she besought Heaven to take earthly love
from her heart, for already Divine love
filled it, More sanity and lovely with
every day that passed, Gertrude was lifting
herself above earth's suffering and nillicton
by the might Of spiritual publication.


October had come, when Mrs. Cresson,
with palIid face and dim eyes, sent one
morning for famous New York doctor.
Gertrude had been all night seated in an
arm chair suffering the most frightful toI-
ture, but there was cessation of pain, far more
terrifying to her aunt than its continuance.
Already upon the pure, noble face was felt a
seal strangely solemn.


Even Stella from whom the worst had
been carefully hidden, knew that there was
a new light, not of this earth, in Gertrudos
blue ewes, She had come in with some late
fruit heaped upon plate, but she put il
down quickly, and, with strange awe upon
her face, drew near her Cousins chair.


"You are very, very il2" she faltered
with tears in her eyes.


No dear; l am better. have not been
free from pain for many months; now !
have no pain"


"You arc better, then7" Yet hesitating,
as if too doubtful to be joyous,even with this
assurance.


Il am better. Soon, very soon, I shall be
quite Well"


And yet, Stella gropod her way from the
room, blind with tears, unable to control an
agitation she dared not let her cousin see.


Just little later the doctor came, and
when he left the patient, Mrs. Cresson, af-
ter a few words, low spoken, led him to a
room whore Frank Wraymore waited, and
left him with him. An hour passed before
he came out and drove to the railway station.


Mrs. Cresson watched him leave the ave-
nue. apd went softly to the room he had leii.
No sound came to her listening ear fora long