Year: 1878

oue was very pietty, out euelc Camo q
time when [ don't think cared the least
for her beauty, her soul was SO much more
attractive than her body. She was no
humble wild flower maiden, but widow
who had received a magnificent dover OF
blue blood, including talent, and all that
culture could develop in a beautiful and
intellectual woman was hers; all that
wealth could bestow upon her she pos
sessed. She had the good fortune to have
no singularity Of nature, but was a SYM
metrical and harmonious whole.


/ loved her, and I possessed the hum
beness Of true love. The more intimate
w knew her, she made me conscious of
things that were mean in myself. Out
of this feeling grew a jealousy Of other
men.


a bitter jealousy. She was of too sunny
and generous temper to pick for flaws,
nor could she know man as other men
knew him.


She could not understand that Dr. Cos
grove was as irritable in private as he
was suavc and agreeable in public, and
would not tell her that Captain Lang
dale seldom pays his debts. They were
but two of her many admirers, and they
were both handsomer and Shower than
myself In time I was miserable on their
account.


connot now, in cold blood, accuse her
of coquetry, but Stephenie st. Jean was
Of French blood on her father s side. Be
sides speaking that language perfectly,
she had the French woman's secret Of
fascination. A tritic more in yivacity,
when surrounded by gentlemen, made
her utterly irresistible.


l saw and felt the charms, and could
not content myself with the thought that
in the quiet hours we BASED together
knew myself dear to her. Many winter
evening had we sat together on the little
velvet sofa before the drawingroom fire,
secure from intrusion, her beautiful head
resting on my breast, content in her eyes
happiness in her smile. And yet, swear
ing her to be the proudcst and most del
catc Of women, was madly jealous of
other men


For months I would not see her alone.
She was one Of large family, and she had
a favorite cousin, Lily Lawton, who was
her constant companion.


She was very young, and d bright, sweet
little thing; but Of late she had seemed
dropping, as if out Of health, and
Stept.enie had been usually protective and
kind.


For Stephenie's sake frequently took
Lily out to drive, though her exceeding
simplicity often bored me.


could not but wonder that Stephcnie
associated with her so constantly; but
Lily worshipped her magnificent cousin,
and the latter delighted in being kind to
those weaker than herself Kitten
she called Lily, and there had been some
thing especially kittenish in the girls
round, bright and gray eyes and playful,
graceful ways.


Her special charm was gone now. She
was a pale, faded spiritless little thing.
Stephenie kept her constantly under her
wing.


Kitten must have green fields and
pastures new,' She said g The May
suns are getting strong, and l, too, long
for a country trip. We are gong to
Branchyille, and shall be absent a week.
Mind you are good boy till we come
back"


! smiled, but on the wrong side Of my
face.


A week. I mumured.


A week and one day she laughed.


"a shall he gray-headed when you
come back" / said, smiling at my own
vexation.


She laughed more gayly than ever,
then shadow fell over her face.


1T is for Hiy's sake,' she whispered.
F" look at her"


Lily lay on a hammock on the piazza,
her hands lying listlessly in her lap, not
a shade of color in her check.


The thought came to me that the child
was bound for the land Of shadows


''She must have help soon,' SAID SteDh-
ene.


''Yes,' I answered


saw them off in the morning train
Kitten with her cheek on Stephenie's
shoulder. / carried the picture before
my eyes all the week---my magnificent,
generous brunette supporting the failing
strength Of that pale, tair-faced child.
And / had never loved her better in my
life than in this new phase.


A week and aday Stephenie had said
therefore | had no expectation of seeing
her when, at the end of five days, l en-
tered the drawing room Of her fathers
house to find an opc:a-glass l had left
there.


I had told the servant at the hall door
what my errand was. and that knew
ust where to look tor the glass. But on
the threshold Of the apartment my steps
were arrested by the sound Of Stephenie' S
voice.


A rush Of delight went over me. |
was about to spring forward, when I dis.
covered Stephenie was seated in the alcove
OF an inner room beside a gentleman


stood irresolute. A curtain of blue
silk fell across the upper part of the fig
ures, but upon it their shadows lay, as
they sat against the sunny windows be-
yond, and plainly outlined stcphenie's
beautiful head and Captain Langdale's
profile.


did not mean to be listener to theil
conversation, but as demurred about go
ing forward, l distinctly heard Stephenie
say:


II love you utterly, with all my heart
| am not ashamed ito say this, because
you will never see ne again.


She continued talking, but her voice