Myra's Mistake

Gilbert Gorham, at the ago of 10, was left orphaned and destitntè, and was taken into the tender care o his loyiiig -'. graiulfather, and his Aunt Jane, ti erable spinster, whöse severity was a most wholesome restraint upon his grandfather's extreme indulgeuoe. Old Mr. Gorhambeinganranof enormons wmlHi, : his grandson and heir was the most vored of boys aud youths, every whim oí lus boyish and youthful fnucy beiug gratifie'd as soon as expressèd. And so, when Gilbert had attnined the age of 21, ainl blushingly annoüneed his undying love for Miss Myra Wilhur, the belle of many watoring places aud ■ sons, and soine five years his sonior, his ' grandfather only nodded and said : "Suit yourself, niy boy; suit yourself." So a magnificent diamond was slipped on Myra's finger, and Gilbert entered into a fool's paradise, blind to the tact thnt he was the dupe of an accomplished coquette, whose whole hard nature was incapable of the tithe of the love laid at her f eet. - ., For, being sensitive, ppetical and over-indulged, the boy made unto himeelf an idol, and, calïing it Myra, worshiped it. And the actual Myra, being eminently practical, worldly and mercenary, erected a gold idol of' unliniited indulgence, and, calling that Gilbert, worshiped it. Mr. Gorham, although he was old and feeble, took a cíirriage and drove trom' Fern Nook, the family country seat, into Poolsvüle, the town honored by Miss Wilbur's presence, and made a formal cali. After he was goue, Miss Wilbur, turning to her mother, made a strange speech for a maiden just betroühed, for she said : "After all, mammn, a ricii widow is better than a rich wife, for she can spend the money then imcon trolled." "Well, my dear?" "I was only thinking that Gilbert told me once he was entirely dep.'ndent upon his grandfather, having nothing of his ovm while the old man lived." "It would be well, tlien, to keei in the old gentleman's favor." Evidently Myra was of that opinión. She worked a pair of soft quilted slippers for the aged feet, she sent flowers and little dainty dishes to Fern Nook f or dear Mr. Gorham, and she made lierself a huudred-íold dearer to infutuated lover by her delicate ajtenüqiie to his relative. _ Business ce-nnected Trith the "Sfttloment of a claim of his grandfather's againat the Government called Gilbert to Wasliington, early in. the winter fullowing his betrothal. There was the usual pathetic parting, and, with assurance of Myra's undying love, the young man left Fern Nook. After two months' abisence, when he was preparing to return home, a telegram reaehed him : Wait ïu New York to sce me. Will put up at the Grand Central. Jank Gorham. Of all strange experiencc this was the strangest. His Aunt Jane leaving her home to visit the metropolis! Gilbert vainly tried to remember if ever she had been absent from home before, and, thoroughly bewildered, hurried to meet her. His first surprise was to find her tle and kind, all the grim seventy ol lier nianuer g-one. Her kiss upon liis lips was tender as Myra's oWu. "My boy," she said, "I have news for you tliat will di stress you, but bef ore I teil that I want you to listen attentively to some business details that were never of any special interest to you before. You have always supposed Fern Nook and the wealth that sustiiyj(yt tu , be your grandfather'a. " " And are they not ?" "No, rny dear, they are mine. Your grandfather holds a life least; only of the house and half the income: The property was all Lis wifi 's aud lei't to me, with the lease, as I said, to my father during life. While we were all one family and you the heir, it waa quite unnecessary to iniiko any t2Ük or uiy fuss about the matter ; but now it is m well to understand my rights and yours." r Cr r aP'H "Now?" Ullij CiJJUUlJ "Your grandfather, my dear, being, T charitably believe, in his dotage, hs married- M.vra Wilbur !" . It was a crushing blow. Gilbert swayed to and fro in his chair, nul thrn feil insensible; His ideal poetio life was ïaoi-o. rdhT& him than the actual world about lJCï and he suffered aoutely. Bul his aunt was the best of comfortors, for, öle Hbo was full of tender sympathy, she was ominently praotical, and witli olear, foreible wordB abe made Mm realizo t'nlly how unworthy was the idol he hal ■worshiped. With hor owu personal proporty slie had alfio broqght ( rilbrafjs Jrom their old home, arul bIic took a house in New York, wherc both soon feit, at liom-, returning no more to Fcni Kook. Then, Vitli tnie practi!al rnaness, she persitaded Gilbert to allow her to buy him a partnership in a light bnsmfefes, and rouse him from bis dreamy, sensitive mooda, to active, natural lite. He might have become soumi and hard but tor the love of this old maid, wljo hiuí nv-r bel'ori! lot IjÍiii i-iaiil Mm"I. iid.TiH-ss ol' lioiu-f.. Hul wliil" f sutl'-Tcil kecnly liift mnnhood flévfilÖiliT, and lic w:ib a BWBgéQ Iipüci' man (ol bis disappointniciii. A I AVhen Myra'n name ceaseil to be a turo, Aunt Jane made fcerself kuowu to oíd friends of her girlhood, and gathered about her a pleasant social oircle, whore Gilbert was soon a favorito. There was no hint oí' the spinster's hope when 8Êé saícl quietly, " Any atteation yon xjan pay to Ella' Bayburn will be very pleasing to me, Gilbert. mother luis been my warmest friend in past years, and we have ronewed the oíd times rñost pleasanÜy. If Ella is like her mother she is a pure, sweet, unselfisli wonian." And Ella was likehnrmother, and was Hoon taken into Aunt Jane's close intirnae.y Still smarting ander the past pain, Gilbert was merely attentive to his aunt'S young trien!, and nol vet realizing that a mility iilling liis oíd ideal was near hini. And wliile these old residente of Fern Nook vrere quietly gatlu'ring up broken threads of lii'e, to we.aye a more perfect wel) oí content, Myïa. Gorham was eating ont her henrt in bittnïucss. [nstead of ajl old, indujgept hnsband, ready to humor every whim, to prive her idolatrons devotion, she iotmd hfcrself lied to a queralous ir.y:lid, ivh had been accntitoDied to the i,u ueBtioning obedience aud devotion of his daughter and grandain, and who exacted a similar care from his reluctant wil'e. In place of balls, eoncerts, and .opera, the gay lite of the metrópolis, MfSv Gol-Ikiui found herself islmt up in a country house, certainly suiliciently liandsome and well appointed to meet the most fastidious taste, but Jonely beyond endurance to the woman -kilos away from her own friends, and .gpldly ignored by the friends of the Gorhamn, fully aware of her mercenaiy tiv,;uiiiery. Yet sho endured as patiently as jíofsíble,-tül the old man, pining for Jane ánd Gilbert, aiukened und failed visibly. It was when all hope was gone that the youag wife euutioufly, but very plaiu'ly, nrged the necessity of making i wiïl. l't seemed to her as if all the mitiéry of .Ijfo coiicentrated in the peevish reply : 'I have notliing to wil!. All he propei-ty ht'longs to Jane ! I only hold a life lease in my late wife 's estáte." " Jane ! " gasped Myra, remembering the insulting terms in whieh she had intimated to that spinster that she preferred to reign alone at Fem Nook. ""Öertainly! If Gilbert's father liad üved he.wouid have sbared in the property, luit it all revert.s to ilbert if Jane dies unmarrrctj. ! All Gilbert'H ? And mi glit have been all hers. Myra feit too stunned and miserable even to cry ! To think tliat all her base seheming, her feigned devotion had led her only to this, the boggared widow of an old man. But af ter Üie funeral was over Mrs. Gorham made a few diseoveries. Firöt, all the déep black of ler dress, witli the fine white line of her widow's cap, the somber crape aud soft Hnowy tai-ïetp.n were most becoming -to her brilliant blonde beauty. She .stndied her dress to it-s minute detail, and when it was perfect fornied her ncw plans. In her late liusband's desk she found $5,000 whieh she appropïiated, leaving Miss Jane and Gilbert, who carne to the funeral to dei'ïay all expenses. Blie accepted Miss Gorham's offer of the use of the house for i year, and wheu she was lolt in possession unse.rupulously gold riiany small T)ut valuable articles there. Wli;n the was over, ana iuiss Jane Gorliam once inore opened her house to lier friends, she was mute with consternation when one fiay a Barriftge, lieavily laden with baggage, drove up to Bei door, i'rom which nlighted her father's widow, wko threw hcrself iuto her iinns, sobbiug. " Do not seña me away. I am dymer in the gloomy seclusion of my 3ear lmaband's home. Let me stay with you !" Iwé stayed, of course. Miss Jane's oldfashtonednotions of hospitality were too skoiig to pcrmit lier to turn a guesfc away, even if urunvited and unwelcome. But she Bmiied grinily to see liow Gilberto i'aco feil at_the annmnoemeut of the visiten'. "She is my fatlier's wiclow," tlie spinster said gravely. " So we must endure herfor a time." She was a niüst faseinating widow whou" she appenred at the late dinner. i ii a tliib, l'Lick dress, all jet and triniming, with some knots of black ribbon in her profusión of golden ourls. Her color was softly tinted as ever, her blue oyes as babyish and winsome; yet when lier tirs: cveiiiug was over she knew she had gainr.l nothing in her effort to reoapture the heart she had thrown aside. But she did not despair. She sang the old songs tliat Gilbert had once henrd with rapture. Slie vuried iver ilret-s wit!) locos, riblmns and jowelry, till its pretenso of mourning was a mere jnoekery. She put herself in Ciilb rt's way with every dainty device of feminine needle-work. She entreated permission to prepare hia favorite dishes with her own white hands. And, as if to try his oonstancy, Miss Jane aided and abetted this scheme for her nephew's fortune, and spolsc but little "f lilleu, never invitiiü;' Iiit uiiiv to tlie lionse, so that Gilbert was foroedto seek her more and more in her own home, and found her ever more lovely and wiusome t'rom the contrast with the idol he had proved to ;n clay. It was six months afterthe arrival of Mrs. Gorham in her step-daughter's house, when Gilbert, returning from a drive with Ella, met his aunt in tilt; hall, and, clasping her in a close embxaoe, wWsfiered very softly: " Ella is mine ! Wish me joy " 'Trom iny heart," she whispercd lack. ■ Í.1ÁJL SSJfL" Badiant with joy and hope, Gilbert, aftcr cliiiiigiiif? Liis driving-dress, buri-ied to he sitüiifi-ropm, to teil Aunt ,Tiu(! " all alxmt it." ili1 had absolutcily forgotton their guest, and it gave; him an unpleasant slioi'k, when Eë föun'd her, seated in e lmv lmiv, bu'sied about some wool work, that Rhowed to gvent advaiitiige her tiny white hands, glitterilig with jewled rings. She rose to greet him, and then, to his cmbarrassed surprise, she elasped her jeweled bands, and, Imrstmg into teara, sobl led. "Oh, Gilbcrt, itö not look at me so Boldly. I cuunofc bear it. 1 kuow I deserve uotliiug rom yon lmt contempt, but if you káew íiow soroly ray mbtber urgod me, Iioy: iinjiortuiKiti' your granilftuor was, you would forgivc ma 1 was iusaue witli tlieir perseeutions, and T thoTXtiht in my miscry that 1 ctrnld still see yon, and perliaps - söare1 day - wben I was ffeé again - I - I " And here even her effrontery. gave out, md sho only sobbed convulsively. Tfkni by mirpris, every gputlemanlj iiiütiiict 'ui'gcd (iilbcrt, to conitort this ra so ivckic.-.sly rrffering biii) hui ft w.is onco 1i!k íon-list linpo lo ppssras. i IJuL bis wiiole Boul Bliríink iïvia lui', lis manly, truc heart was oniv outaigfJÖ by I h. r unwomanly advanccs,, Gravely he stooil, lflokíng down upon her as she shrank into thechair, sólïbiug and covering her face, and yet furtively watching him. ' ' Gilbert, speak one tender word to me," slie implored ; " sayyou do not utterly despise me." But lic did, He songht for words to eonvey liis meaning kindly, and they would' not come. Blushing like a boy, in liis confusión and pain, he said, gently : "lam very sorry, Mrs. Gorham" "It used to be Myra," slie sobbed reproachi'uUy. "True, but those werc days tliat eau never be recalled. " " You are cruel." " I do not wish to bc so, but I must be frank with you. The past is dead ! liever can "ve revive that love that was once so very trifling to you." "No, no ; you wrong me. Alas for me it is my misfortune that I cannot conquer my love." " But mine died wlien it was insulted and slighted. " HereGilbert drew a deep sigh of relief at the appoaranee of Aunt Jne, entering the room behind Myra's chair. Mrs. Gorham did hothearlièr lightstep, and sobbed : tiJJL 1 1 " Your love cannot be dead, Gilbert. It will live ngain. Pity and forgive me." "Iboth pity and forgive you," said Gilbert, very gently. "But"- " But," said Aunt Jane, in her hardest tone, and with her face set in rigid lines, "you forget, Mrs. Gorham, tl law does not permit a man to marry hig grandmother." With a cry of rage, Mrs. Gorham sprang to her f eet, but something in the cold, grave faces checked the torrent of wratli upou her lips, and she left the room. The next day she terminated her visit, and loftily declined an invitation, sent three months later, to be present at the wedding of Gilbert Gorham and his gentle. bride-