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��ETHEL'S PKIDE.
��ETHEL'S PEIDE.
��BY HELEN M. RUSSELL.
��A fair, queenly girl, with brown hair and eyes, tall and slender; her dress of the richest silk, and hanging in graceful folds about her perfect form, is standing beside an open window, gazing with rest- less impatience down the broad carriage way, sheltered by grand old elms. Ev- ery thing in the room seems in keeping with its occupant. From the velvet car- pet to the rare pictures which adorn the walls, all seem to partake of the elegance peculiar to the queenly girl standing by the window. The sun was already set- ting, and his last rays were just visible above the blue of the far oft* hills. The breeze which came in through the open window stirred the lace curtains, and lifted the silky brown hair from the girl's forehead with a tender, caressing touch.
At length, with a sigh, half of ennui and half of impatience, she turns from the window and seats herself beside a work table, resting her head upon her hand. Soon the door opens and a young lady enters the room, throws herself into a large easy chair, and rests her head against the crimson velvet with a look of intense weariness. The delicate features are pale in the extreme, and the blue eyes are raised with an eager, ex- pectant gaze, as her sister arises from her seat and once more approaches the win- dow.
"Are they never coming, Ethel?" she enquires, at length.
" Are you then so impatient to meet the woman papa chooses to place here as mamma's successor, that you feel your- self ill because they do not arrive as soon as expected? Lily, I trust you are not intending to welcome her with a kiss," she replies, with a flash of the eyes and a gesture of indignation.
" Papa insults the memory of my mam- ma in marrying the woman he has. A governess, bah!" she continues, after waiting in vain for her sister to reply.
��" Ethel, sister, I wish you would not be so unkind. Surely papa had the right to marry whom he pleased, and I think we ought to meet her kindly. She is young, and report says very beautiful. Shall we not give her a welcome, Ethel?"
U A welcome, indeed! Yes, I think she will feel it to be a welcome!" sneer- ed Ethel Lee. " Lily, I am not surprised at this. You have no real stability, no real love for anything except ease and quietness. I do wish you had a little pride. I will not lecture you, however, for it will avail nothing. Give Mrs. Lee a welcome, if you choose. As for me, I hate her, and the very name she bore," she replied.
A sound of carriage wheels, up the graveled carriage road, caused Ethel to retire hastily from the window, while Lily sprang quickly from her seat and ran to the window, just as the carriage drew up in front of the mansion. A gen- tleman and lady alighted, the tall, manly form of the gentleman, and the short, slender one of the lady, contrasting strangely as they walked slowly up the flower bordered pathway to the door. Lily cast an eager glance toward her sis- ter, who had seated herself quietly by the little work-table, and was busying herself with her worsteds, and then has- tened to greet the new comers.
" Papa, I am so glad to see you," she cried, as she received and returned his fond caress with equal warmth. Her fa- ther then turned to the lady by his side, saying, '-Emma, this is Lily, my eldest daughter. Lily, this is your new mother, and I trust you will ever be the best of friends."
Lily's face, flushed a moment before, became pale again as she turned to ack- nowledge the introduction. She extend- ed her little hand, saying, quietly :
" I trust we shall be. Mrs. Lee, I welcome you to Elm Ho use," then turn
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