Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 1.djvu/156

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��ETHEL'S PRIDE.

��as the wife of the wealthy and truly good Mr. Lee, she had fancied her trials to be ended. She little thought that her mar- riage would be the means of bringing about the greatest sorrow of her life. But not long did she give way to the grief that tilled her heart, and when, an hour later, she glided into the sitting room, there was no trace of the sorrow she felt visible on her lovely face. She was dressed in a handsome brown silk, with flowers in the jetty braids of hair and in the laceon her bosom. Her black eyes were filled with a tender, loving light as she approached her husband, who sat looking out ot the window, a troubled look upon his thoughtful face. He turned as his wife approached him, and drawing the little form to his side, said gently :

"Emma, I trust my wayward Ethel has not wounded you past all forgive- ness."

u No, William, indeed, she has not. She will learn to love me in time, I am sure."

Just then the housekeeper, Mrs. Ray, entered the room, and, bowing low be- fore her new mistress in answer to the introduction from Mr. Lee, she conduct- ed them to the spacious dining room, where refreshments and plates for three were in readiness.

Lily met them there and endeavored to brighten the meal with pleasant words and a cheerful face, but there was a re- straint felt if not seen, and they were all glad when the meal was ended. When they arose from the table, Mr. Lee con- ducted his wife out upon the broad piaz- za which surrounded the entire mansion. Around the house, at various intervals, stood the large, magnificent trees from which the place derived its name. It was a grand old place, of which its own- er was justly proud.

In the meantime Ethel had sought her room. Her very soul was filled with resentment towards the lovely lady her father had married. In the brief glance she had deigned to bestow upon her, she had been struck with the beauty and grace in every movement of the little lady. Had she been old and plain, her resentment would not have been so bit

��ter, perhaps, but she realized at once that her dominion at the Elms was end- ed, and a bitter, intense desire for re- venge upon her who had thus come be- tween her father and herself filled her heart. Standing there beside her win- dow, she registered a vow that in some way she would cause her beautiful step- mother sorrow and woe equal to that which really filled her own wayward heart to-night.

She stood there hour after hour. The moon arose and the stars came forth, but to her troubled breast there came no whisper of peace. She had been the light of her father's home — her beauty and grace had filled his heart with pride. The fair Lily had ever been second in his heart, but now it seemed to the jealous girl as if she was cast entirely from his love.

Let us pass over several weeks, during which Ethel kept aloof from the family circle, where Lily's Avarm heart and pleasant ways had already won a way to Mrs. Lee's heart. Ethel but seldom spoke to Mrs. Lee ; never, when it could be avoided. Matters were in this un- happy state when a letter was received from Mrs. Lee's only brother, a young collegian, stating that he would arrive at the Elms in a few days. Ethel heard the news from the housekeeper, and from that moment her resolutions were formed. She well knew that Mrs. Lee nearly idol- ized this only brother, and that previous to her acquaintance with Mr. Lee Elwyn Landelle had been all in all to his sister. They had been left orphans when Elwyn was quite yonng, and his sister had clone everything in her power to fill the place of their departed mother and make his life pleasant.

The evening after the letter came, Ethel dressed herself in pure white, and twined some sprays of myrtle amid her brown tresses, and descended to the sit- ting room, where the family were assem- bled, and, with a pleasant goou evening, seated herself at the piano. She was an accomplished musician, and Mrs. Lee, who was passionately fond of music, sat listening, longing to say some kind words to the proud, haughty girl. At length, Ethel arose and was leaving the

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