Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-09-07
A week after Kitty was dismissed

lived with us for six years, and | ask
ed my mother what fault she had COM
mitted.
EMILY has discovered her in some
dishonesty" mother said quietly. Il
don't know what | should do without
Emily"
Evidently Emily was quite usurping
Louise's place, but Lou didn't seem
to mind, and loved her just as well.
One day l asked Lou if she wasn't
jealous. She blushed brightly, and said,
with shy smile, )" Why, Charlie, if |
should ever be leaving home, you
know, I should feel so much better to
have my place filled, so that they
would not miss meI
Il should miss you! / should miss
your l exclaimed, clinging to her,
and half crying. She bent and kissed
me.
"My darling boy, DO ycn think l
should not take you >Flea 3 @pF'l app We
shall never be parted, Charlie. l could
not bear any one to take my place in
your heart p
| suppose when she spoke Of leav-
ing home, she was thinking Of Philip
Rayburn, for had heard several little
hints and whispers lately, which made
nle pretty sure that some things were
settled between them; and he came
to the house oftener than ever.
When the reception-rooms were all
arranged again, my mother disposed
the furniture differently, moving chairs
and tables and sofas to quite different
positions, Emily advising her. One
great, richly carved sofa, with high
antique back, she insisted should be
placed transversely across a corner,
" 1t looks so much easier than to
have it stiff and straight by the side
of the wall, she said. | ctuckled TO
myself, for foresaw a rare hiding.
place, which might remain urBuspected
for long time if | were caleful and
the next chance | had, when no one
was in the room, | collected a few
things in that corner for private dele.
cation. Iput the softest hassock there,
and Scotch plaid to lie Of, one Of
my little chlOroform bottles which !
keep to smell at when | am nervous
and some of my fayorite books. Oh
course l could not read in there, but
just laying my hand or my cheek on a
volume makes it seem like q compan-
ion, and brings its contents all into
my mind. Such a snug LITTLE triangle
as | made Of it, shaded ard secured
entirely by the high back of ancient
carving and the only light which could
reach me there must crawl along the
carpet, under the damask and fringe.
1t was very satisfactory, and all my
own secret.
Emily began to be invited every
where under mammals chperonage
society received her with open arms
boquetS and cards of invitttion kept
our little waitress doing duty at all
hours, and gentlemen made calls of an
evening, inquiring especially for Miss
Grey. My mother scolded her fol
receiving them So cooEy; But despite
the coldness, Emily infused some Lame
less charm into her manner whicl
made them call again and again.
1t was during these days that Louise
and Philip had falling out; why,
did not know, but some trouble there
evidently was. Louise grew sad anC
constrained, but made no confident 0
any one unless it was Emily. | would
have cut my right hand off at any time
to serve Louise, but she never asked
me to serve her.
One day l heard her say TO Emily
"you must see him when he come!
this afternoon. | cannot. And 0 max
him understand that | never coulC
have written those dreadful letters
and tell him that | cannot sec him til
/ he has faith in me again. 1t woul(
break my heart to see distrust in BIZ
eyes, 0 Emily p And my bonni
Louise bowed her head and wept.
1t cut me to the heart, and | was s,
helpless to aid her For the first tim
in my life | regretted my peculiar PIN
siquc, for other brothers were expect
ed to defend their sisters. and did it
but what could |, a poor dwarf, do t.
bold, athletic, handsome Philip Ray
burn? | felt very ignominious, an,
crept away to my corner and my chic
reform behind the sofa for consolation
and there fell asleep in my misery.
l awoke suddenly at last, hearin
voices. | am always on the alert, an
never startled into making a noise, s
. l lay perfectly still and quiet to hea
what was going on. Emily Grey wa
talking to Philip Rayburn in her char
acteristic low, sweet voice, and coul
: imagine just how her lovely pale fac
looked with its great, sad blue eye
and her yellow curls floating over he
: shoulders.
1t puzzles me so" she said, hes
, tatingly; | cannot bear to believ
that Louise wrote them; and yet
what can | believe, Mr.. Rayburn ?
: do not say you are sure of her guilt
! Miss Grey" said Philip, sternl
"your affection must not mislead 70,
The letters were sent from this hous
r and the writing is undeniably that (
Louise. She is afraid to meet the on
/ she has SO deceived and injured. D
4 not let your kind heart excuse her to
! far, Miss Greyr'
S Emily's voice trembled as she r
< piled: 40 Mr.. Rayburn, | cannot bef
|, it! To deceive you-you who are s
G true and noble She could not indee
she could notr
:, Philip spoke in softer tones,-"Yc
: pity me, Emily? The world is not a
false, then"
It A moments silence ensued. o,
l could only have peeped out at the
e unseen, for | certainly believe tn;
s Emily bent her graceful head ov,
e Philips hand and wept upon it.
r was fierce with indignation, but pc
o fectly collected. Perhaps the diva
could help his darling, after all.
n Presently Philip rose to go.
: Z" | suppose, then, we shall not s.