The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1859-11-12
we're not thwarted, but ill-tempered and un-

Annie's position was scarcely altered by
her fathers death, three years before our
story opens. He was an easy, unsuspicious
man, and his wife had long swayed him
completely by her superior art and stronger
will. He trusted her completely and be-
fore his death, made no separate provision
for the children but, by his will, both
they and his considerable property, were
left to her sole guardianship.
Now, as before, Annie was not as one of
the family. In the frequent family consul
tations, she never was consulted. All their
arrangements were made without the slight
est reference to her wishes or convenience.
There was an additional reason why An
ME was unwilling to return home this par
ticular day. She expected to find there
Mrs. Lothrop, an old and valued friend OF
her fathers, who had written three weeks
before that she was coming to make them
long visit, and that, on her return, she
should invite one of the young ladies to
make an indefinitely long visit.
The widest hopes had been raised in
Mrs Rathburn's bosom by the reception OF
this letter; for Mrs. Lothrop was possessed
of an enormous fortune, without a single
relative in the world-save great-nephew,
who was also heir to a great property, as
much as any reasonable man need wish to
have. Her grandson and destined heir
had died three years before. What so prob
able, then, as that she was about to choose
an heiress to her wealth, and had thought
as it was proper she should think-of the
children of her most valued friend
Great were the preparations made for the
expected guests-for Mrs. Lothrop's neph-
ew. Mr. Kirkwood, was to accompany her.
and many the hints given to Edith and Eva
concerning their bearing to both-for Mrs.
Rathburn Lad her designs on both aunt and
nephew.
From childhood Annie had heard of Mrs.
Lothrop. She had been charmed with the
stories told of her great heartedness and &C.
centricity, and cherished the most exalted
opinion of her character but much as she
would have liked to see and know her under
other circumstances, the knowledge of her
step-mother's designs, made her apprehend
that the visit would be productive of too
much unhappiness and modification to her
self, in her step mothers fear that she might
find favor in the eyes of her fathers friend,
to desire it.
Slowly, therefore, she assembled the steps
The trunks yet in the hall, the unusual bus
tie that prevailed, and confused murmuring
of voices, admonished her that the expected
guests had arrived.
When she entered the parlor, short time
after, Mrs. Rathburn said-t'This is An
ME, " in tone that told her at once she had
been the subject of previous conversation
and she knew full well that whatever her
stepmotEer might have had to say about
herself, could not have been to her advan-
| tage.
The smile seldom seen on Annie's face,
which had lighted it at the anticipation OF
seeing her fathers friend, faded away at
this something in her mothers tone but
still, with more cordially than she was wont
to show, she advanced to the lady. What
was her establishment when she perceived
her to be the stranger who had accosted her
in the street. With start, and bright
smile of recognition, she held out her hand.
With modification she saw that the lady Ell
Their did not or would not recognize her,
Her hand was just touched, not taken, and q
very brief enquiry made after her health in
business-like tone, to which Annie, in
stantly relapsing into even more than her
usual iciness of manner, replied laconically,
almost haughtily.
Annie was then named to the elegant and
distinguished-look stranger. conversing
with Edith Hartley in the bay window, and
who was so engrossed with her fair com
panion, he barely gave her bow, scarcely
a glance.
Mrs. Rathburn was delighted at Armies
cool reception from Mrs. Lothrop, so differ
ent from what Edith and Eva's had been.
Annie was not mistaken in her apprehen-
sion of annoyances and mortiications-they
were, indeed, innumerable. She never OPP
posed words to injustice, or condescended to
| explanations. When, at last, she took ref
uge with Willie the greater part of the time,
Mrs. Rathburn with a panied air, chopped
MES incivility in neglecting to render the
absenting of herself from her presence
She had ventured to hope that Annie would
at least treat with respect SO dear friend oil
her fathers. As for affection-she had
long since despaired of her feeling that for
any one."
| AS Mrs. Lothrop listened to this and 9TH
er like remarks with attention and in silence,
Mrs Rathburn became sure of her sympa-
thy and grew less guarded in her manner
of speaking to and of Annie.
One morning, Mrs. Lothrop, who had
come in her own carriage, said she would be
happy to have two of the ladies accompany
Mr.. Kirkwood and herself to short ride
Annie, who was present, seemed to be
entirely out of the question. Mrs. Rath-
burn saw Mrs. Lothrop glance at her, and
replied to the look, by saying, in low
voice, but audible to all:
81 should have proposed Annie's going,
but could not bear to infict her upon you.
You know she does make herself so disa
greeable She would not enjoy it herself,
nor suffer any one else to do so.''
els the girl an idiot % thought Mr..
Kirkwood. CHANGING at Annie's inanimate
face during this speech. 1t was the first