The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1865-03-23

2 ne went away! III ndppeHS III az no Ad
: something to say. But he was in an awful
funk of the governor, SO he thought he't
write.
"And, after all, Elite knows what he
got to say, so he needn't say it even on pa
, per.
Wasn't it good dodge to make post
office of the Christmas cup? He knew wei
enough who would be the first to get holC
of it! But how did he manage to seize TIN
keys, ell, Miss Elite?
''Mind whose health you drink! AnC
wear this locket round that soft, white little
neck, which l should like TO-
''But, Miss Violet; if you don't care about
the party whose hair is inside-dont wear
the locket pray-on any account. Throw il
away, by all means-smash it to atoms-it's
all the same to me. And get MIR. Arthur
Popinjay Prior (the bruteD to give
you another locket instead, 18th one of his
own beautiful black curls in it.
C | am, dear Miss Violet
''Yours very" (something with
two ''Fs'' ia It scratched out family. Then
sincerely" struck through with vehement
blackness. Nothing else added.)
'(Signed) SEA-WEED
'Papa mustn't know" naughty Elite
thought
Papa was wary man, who did not always
allow even his petted daughter to see how
much he saw. And because he wished the
little affair between the young people to take
its natural course, and therefore, appeared to
know nothing about it, they imagined him
to be ignorant of what was, in fact, as pat
ent as a sunhower.
The Christmas dinner came. Poor, home
less cousin Elizabeth and well-to-do bachelor
cousin Jack seemed to enjoy it equally. The
cloth was removed in old style; the null was
brewed and the silver cup charged; papa
had begun to introduce his toast:
1.-The first name shall mention"
An instant afterwards Elite was at her ia
theirs chair What had happened in that
moment?
The angel of death had laid his hand upon
the speakers lips.
How the Christmas glow suddenly died
out of those three faces! That room became
as dismal as CRATE Of dusty, sparkless cin-
ders, as sadly strange as the home of child
hood looked at in careworn age.
The front door was open, for some one had
run for doctor. The hall candles fared
and trickled into mock stalacttes The icy
winter air came rushing in. Little Elite
stood shivering by the door, with clasped
hands, trying to be patient. ooh! when
would he comep'
He came at last; that large grave DOCTOR
with his patient corbel- head, hitherto SO i'm
practicable and remote, had suddenly become
Violets close friend. His words were in
spIred now.
Rt1f hA
After one glance at the sofa, his eye commits
stoned his lips to deliver fatal nessage.-
Mr.. Arnold was dying.
An hour more, he was dead
And Postum, who had been admitted to
the kitchen for Christmas treat, came pat
tering into the dining room, and rested his
faithful, ugly chin on the sobbing girls knees.
She put hand on his hard head, and said,
ooh, Postum poor papa is gone and am
left alone. He will never come back again
never"
Postum whined out solemn oath to stand
by Elite through thick and thin to the last
moment of his existence.
Violet had put away the locket now her
heart smote her about it. She ought TO have
told her father. Oh she would tell him
now if he could only come back and listen
for one minute
So the Blue Boys health was not drunk
that Christmas after all
cit becomes our duty, my dear Violet"
said the bland, faltering Mr. Prior, on the
afternoon of the funeral, while Cousin Jack,
his .co-guardian and co-executor, looked 81
lently on the floor, ''to acquaint you with
the provision made for you, and with the
plans we have formed as to your home"
Elite bent her head, her eyes filling. She
looked fair pale little spirit in her deep
mourning, Good hearty Cousin Jack could
scarcely trust himself to glance at her. She
however, kept bis plain, kindly sensible
face continually in view.
No realized property, but handsome insu-
rances-a probable income for Elite of three
hundred and fifty pounds a year. This
was the pith Of Mr. Prior's statement, SO far
as it related to pscuniary matters. ''And
now let me say he concluded, 1--WE think
it we'll that you should for the present take
up your residence IN my family"
Elite broke down altogether.
81 believe" added Mrs. Prior, appealing
to Cousin Jack that we are agreed on this
point?
Cousin Jack gave a savage nod. and then
blew his nose with such tremendous force
that Mr.. Prior jumped and Elite left off cry
ing
Its best for while Elite" said cousin
Jack as he left her week later. You will
be the happier at the Prior's now, for Katie
is your closest friend. But remember too
am your guardian, and we must correspond
regularly. You trust your old cousin kiss
ing her.)
'Indeed-indeed do"
"And love him?'' Olissing her again.)
''You may confess it to a gray haired old
chap like me.
She confessd it by returning his sulutes
with interest
Good" was cousin Jacks acknowledge
ment. Now he continued, don't you think
you've lost me-you hav'nt I'm at your
beck and call always. Good bye, little
miss Chat was his old name for herr
Good bye dear old cousin
She had terrible cry when he was gone
So the pleasant home at Walthamstow
was left. Some of the dear old furniture
which Elite chose, was kept and put away
somewhere;the rest was sold She went to
live at the house of her senior guardian
MIR. Adolphus Prior, solicitor, who resided in
Cavandish Square. w. She took with her
to London Hannah from generosity, and Pos
sum out of love.
She was not unhappy in her new home.
Although she sdisliked Arthur Popinjay,
she loved Katie; yet for time she was nat
urally sad.
At length her little heart began to recov-
er; Instantlykthe sunshine crept over her
lifs prospect. There came the brighter
bloom upon that girls soft cheeks, and the
maidens step regained its elasticity. Elite
took music lessons again as spring came on
| reopened her portfolio, and revived her Ger
man. Thank God.intense sorrow does not
last long with any of US.
But there was one feeling of her heart
which had uot waited even this short time
for restoration. The locket, after all, had
only been set aside for two daysl The Blue
Boy she often thought of him!
Blue Boy" she loved the name. The
lads new unifnrnn and baarnipor x-o,,,,o. 6, -