The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1869-04-16
They are so crossp pouted Emma.
The old Vandals!' Interjected Mr.. Fair.

| am very miserable, and when you are
| gone
| Don't fret, MIA CARA | shall come back to
claim you soon, and then they may scold the
end OF their tongues off! There; smile again
my little queen of hearts. don't like 10 see
the least shadow eclipsing the light of those
eyesr
And Emma did smile again. Somehow
in the glamour Of his presence she forgot all
the questions she had meant to ask-expla-
nations that should have heen demanded
| At length he rose to depart
Il have fingered too long already, Emma;
but could not bear to tell you that | am
going back to New Y ork to-nonow morning.
Tomorrow morning.
| Sidney Fairfax would have been more than
mortal had he not been gratlfed with the IN
conscious flattery conveyed in Enma's paling
cheek and dilated eyes! And, striving to
sooth her, he almost forgot, 70 the time be-
ing, that he was playing part.
1t was nearly Il week aiterward, when Amt
Thyrza Roydon-the kindest soul in the
world, bat little preudiced and opimona-
ted withal, as kind souls often are-brought
her knitting work into the porch where Elm.
ma sat, idly pulling the honey-suckie cups
apart
Child, what are you dreaming about?'
Nothing! answered the girl, little petu-
lautly.
You've grown SO shftless of late! Do 60
up stairs aud bring your new calico; you
might Just as well run up the brcadths as to
be doing nothing!
L am not in Il hurry for the dress, aunt,
| Then finish altering my brown foulurd.
i don't reel like it, aunt
Mrs. Roydon eyed her niece keenly through
her silver-rimmed spectacles.
Emma. what on earth ails you"
Nothing, aunt!
and what's the reason Thorne Miilington
don't come here any more?'
i am not Tholne Milington's keeper,
Aunt Thyrza,' answered Emma, with spirit
Mrs. Roydon was about to require an eX-
plantation in full from her caprcous niece,
when her impending torrent of words WAS
checked by the appearance OF Uncle Mathew
coming up the walk.
I've been to the post Office. quoth Uncle
Mathew, tanning himself with the wide brim
of his straw hat; and here's a letter for En-
ma, with the New Y ork post-murk. Who's
1t from, my girl?' rs Emma caught it from
his hand. ruddenng and pallng alternately.
'It's-it's from Mr.. Fairfax
From Mr.. Fairfax, eh?' Uncle Mathews
brows contracted gloomily. And it's from
that good-for'nothiug puppy you've thrown
Ihorue Miilington over, eli? Give ne back
the letter. Emma; let me return it 10 HIM.
| don't like my girl 10 be corresponding with
such as he!
But Emma held tightly on to the precious
misslve
Its my letter, Uncle Mathew! aud you
must not speak so slightingly Of Mr. Fairfax
am engaged to him!'
Aunt rhyrza dropped her knitting-work.
Uncle Mathew stared
This won't do Emma; you must give him
up! Why, what do you know of him? a
mere city adventurer; while Thorne Milling
ton
I'm tired of hearing of Thorne Milling
tom interrupted Emma, trying desperately
to keep back the Indignant tears, i will not
give Sydney up"
'Emma!'
No! l will NEVER give him up"
Then you must give us up, child, said
the old man, graveiy; Il will be obeyed.'
Emma ran up to her own room, flushed
and sobhing to read her precious letter.
On. if Sydney could but knew how she was
tyrannlzed over. aud in her secret soul Em.
ma resolved to break these bonds.
Presently she came down stairs again,
with red eyes and resoutely compressed lips
Uncle Mathew aud Aunt Tn, RIA looked up
ms she entered; they had evidently been talk
ing about her in her absence.
You are not going 70 answer the letter,
Emma? said her uncle. Milo Fielding tells
me that your Mr.. FairfaX-'
i will not listen to word against him,
uncle Mathew interposed Emma, biting her
lip to keep back even more rebelious words.
i shall certainly answer that letter.
Then you are no niece of niue, Emma.
'Emma-child-listen to reason urged
Aunt'rhyrza, anXlously. But Emma would
listen 10 nothing. She went out in the gar
den. and so through the rusting cOrn-felds
to the road that led to the village post-ofice.
And the next morning, when Aunt Thyrza
went up stairs to call Emma down to break
fast, her little white-drared room was ten
antless-the bird had taken wing!
My goodness gracious! calculated Aunt
Tbyrza, with uplifted hands, Mathew!
Mathew! Come up stairs quick! She's been
and gone and eloped!"
At tae same moment Emma Roydon, in
cozy corner seat in the express train watch
ed the flying landscape, and wondered with
throbbing heart, what Sidney Fairfax would
say to her-how he would receive her! Was
1t not Just possible that she had done az un-
wise tbing in thus highly resenting Il harsh
word or two from the kind old uncle who had
sheltered and guarded her all her life? But
the irrecoverabe step was taken; it was now
too late to return until she returned as Sgd
ney Farfax's wife! AS Sydney Fairfax 5
wife! Emma grew rosy beneath her brown
veil as she thought of the possibility.
New York! What very Bable of sound
ing uproar, Of dusty tumult it seemed to our
little country bred danlsel, as she emerged
from the covered depot into the noisy, bril-
liant street.
"Carriage, MN! carriage"
Eyes, said Emma. timidly. 81 want to
go to No. SIS Mayduke street"
"All right m'mr' cried the hackman, bang
ing the door of his vehicle upon his halter
rifed "fair," and driving recklessly down
the street. Emma drew long breath,
partly of relief Yes it was too late to go
back now.
"llere you are, mini!