Year: 1878

She was very prctty-but there cam,
a time when don't think | cared in thu
least for her beauty-her soul was 81
much more attractive than her body
She was no humble wild flower maiden
but woman who had received a mag
niicent dover Of blue blood, including
talent and the highest attributes Of
character, and all that culture could de-
velop in beautiful and intellectual wo
man was hers; all that wealth could be-
stow upon her she possessed. She had
the good fortune to have no singularity
OF nature, but all was symmetrical and
harmonious whole.


loved her, and l possessed the hum
bleness Of true love. The more init
mately | knew her, she made me con
scious of things that were mean in
myself. Out of this feeling grew jeal
ousy of other men.


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


She could not understand that DR.
Cosgrove was as irritable in private as
he was suavc and agreeable in public
and | would not tell her that Captain
Langdale seldom pays his debts. They
were but two OF her many admirers, and
they were both handsomer and Shower
than myself. In time | was miserable
on their account


| cannot now, in cold blood, accuse
her Of coquetry, but Stephenie ST. Jean
was of French blood on her fathers
side. Besides speaking that language
perfectly, she had the French woman S
secret of fascination. A trihe more in
vivacity, when surrounded by gentle
men, made her utterly irresistible.


/ saw and felt the charm, and could
not content myself with the thought
that in the quiet hours we passed to-
gether | knew myself dear to her. Ma
ny winter evening had we sat together
on the little velvet sofa before the draw
ing-room fire, secure from intrusion, her
beautiful head resting on my breast,
content in her eyes, happiness in her
smile. And yet, swearing her to be the
proudest and most delicate of women,
was madly jealous of other men.


For months | would not see her alone.
She was one of large family, and she
had fayorite cousin, Lilly Lawton, who
was her constant companion.


She was very young, and bright,
sweet little thing; but of late she had
seemed dropping, as if out Of health,
and Stephenic had been unusually pro-
tective and kind


For Stephenie' sake | often took Lily
out to drive, though her exceeding sim
plicity often bored me-


| could not but wonder that Stephenie
associated with her so constantly; but
Lilly worshipped her magnificent cousin,
and the latter delighted in being kind to
those weaker than herself. Kitten, .
she called Lily, and there had been
something especially kittenish in the
girls round, bright gray eyes and play
full, 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 'The May suns
are getting strong and |. too, long for a
country trip. We are going to Branch
vile, and shall be absent for a week
Mind you are Il good boy till we come
back


] smiled, but on the wrong side of my
face.


"A week" murmured.


a week and one day" she laughed.


Il shall be gray headed when you
come back, | said, smiling at my own
veXation.


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


" 1t is for Lilys sake she whispered
Look at her.


Lilly lay on hammock on the piazza
her hands lying listlessly in her lap. not
a shade of color in her cheek.


The thought came to me that the
child was bound for the land of shad-
OWS.


She must have help soon, Stephen
lie said.


Yes" l answered


| saw them off in the morning train,
Kitten with her cheek on Stephenie
shoulder. carried the picture before
my eyes all the week-my magnificent,
generous brunette supporting the fail
ing strength of that pale, fair-faced
child. And | had never loved her bet
ter in my life than in this new phase.


A week and day Stephcnic had said;
therefore had no expectation of see
ing her when, at the end of five days, |
entered the drawing room Of her fathers
house to find an opera glass | had left
there


| had told the servant at the hall
door what my errand was, and that |
knew just where to look for 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 |
discovered that Stephenie was seated
in the alcovc of an inner room beside
a gentleman.


| stood irresolutc \ 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 Stephenie's
beautiful head and Captain Langdale's S
profile


| did not mean to be listener to
their conversation. but as | demurred
about going forward | distinctly heard
Stephenie say:


Il love you utterly. with all my heart
l am not ashamed to say this, because
you will never see me again.


She continued talking, but her voice
fell to a low monotone, and l realized
my position and stumbled backward out
of the room, and found myself in the
street, going dizzily home. Like some
hunted thing, | rushed to my room and
hid myself from all eyes.


| remember throwing myself upon a
couch and then starting up and walking
the room, looking at my pale face in the
glass, taking up books and opening as if
to read them, doing all sorts Of uninten-
tional things in mechanical way, try
ing not to think of the revelation that
had come to me, because it seemed |
should go mad if did But haunting
voice was crying in my ear, "Stephenie
lost Stcphenie!'


" No, no, she is mine!' | cried, in des-
pair. Il have loved her so long and so
well, and she is my only darling! What
could | do without her? O, God what
can l do?"


For the truth would not be gainsaid,
and must be faced With mine own ears
l had heard her say to another man, Il
love you,' and whatever had murmur-
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