The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1871-04-15

his expression was childlike In its
innocent sweetness
had not been an hou1 at Elmsglade
when my especial pet and crony of
cousins, Ella, came to take me up
stairs
F'You and I are to have our old
room, of course" she whispered.
Come, let's run off for chat"
We were out of school some years
ago; Ella, fashionable young lady in
society, ], hard working little music
teacher; but, when alone, we often
curled up girl fashion on our broad
sofa to exchange condolences.
Nell, p" | SAID, as soon as we were
comfortably settled, "why don't sgd
come home for grandma's birthday
He has been two years in Italy two
years, and we may never all meet here
ugain.
Sylvial" said Ella, shortly.
Had she struck me Ecould not have
been more astonished.
Glow do you know2' 1 gasped.
81 don't know, I only guess. When
were you here last, Ruthy2"
Il have not been here since Sidney
left. You know | went to Boston my
last holidays, and this visit is fairly
stolen. 1 shall to give extra lessons for
my holiday. But about Sylvia2'
eff you were not here when Sidney
left, Ruthy, [ was sure you had seen
Sylvia since. E"
"No, not even to-day"
81 was here three months before
sgd left l am sure he is in love with
Sylvia; and, from sort of cousinly
regard, such as we all gave him, Syl-
via suddenly became a perfect miracle
of stately plopriety."
go Nell who could help loving
Sydney 2"
Ruthy, l think she did love him,
but she is so proud and so conscien-
tious. You know there was some
mystery about her father
No mystery at all, only grandma
don't ike it talked about He was
mixed up in a trust fund swindle, a
scapegOat for an unprincipled lot of
men, and, when he found money and
reputation both gone, he drank him
self into delirium tremens, and so
died
g Is that the story? Bad enough it
Is, and Sylvia thinks has forever dis
graced her She says nothing, but
once, in a sudden burst of confidence,
she described to me the angelic being
! Syd's wife ought to be. "
Nonsense sgd, being rather too
angelic himself for this work a-day
world, wants good, commons sense,
practical woman to worship his genius
If she will, and keep Kim IN order. A
nice mess the housekeeping would be
if sgd married another angel Sylvia
is Just the wife for him. -
&" Mind you, Ruthy, this may be all
notion of my own, All that is GER
tain is, that Sydney went off to Italy
like flash of lightning, grandma has
grown twenty years older since he left,
and Sylvia don't like to talk about it.
She IS little sadder, and likes to get
off by herself sometimes, but that may
mean nothing"
cor everything. There's the tea
hell, and | have not taken off my
travelling dress"
"Never mind Nobody is verv fine
to-day. We will all beautify tomorrow
Come =
There Is nothing in the conversation
F1ANtli hbcNt w ltii lllt ttdue1 NUdI q
harum- scarum madcap Miss Ella was.
Rarely was she SO grave as she had
been during that little chat. The
prime leader in every kind of mischief.
full of animal life, Overlooking with
gay spirits, Nell was the merriest and
most mischief making cousin of the
group. Alfred, another cousin still,
was usually her ally, aide de-canp, or
prime minister, whenever there was
any especial trick or fun In prospect.
1t was Impossible long to be grave
where Al and Nell had any share of a
feStivity.
1t struck me when ! entered the
room TO meet the family at tea how
aged and broken down our dear grand
mother had become, but a change al
most as marked had come to Sylvia. [
cannot describe it. She was as active
IN arranging for every ones comfort, as
attentive to grandmother, as loving to
all, but the old Joyous ring was gone
from her voice: her eyes had a sad ex-
preston In repose; her movements
We're as graceful as ever, but some
thing of the spring was gone from her
step. Subtle differences not easily
seen by a casual observer but I was
thinking much of Elias confidence.
and during the evening noted SO much
change.
The birthday was merrily passed,
every one had gift, and on this occa-
SION grandmother gave us each keep
sake. When all were distributed. she
put upon the table, where her own
presents lay, a diamond ring, that we
ali knew had belonged to grandfather.
"This is for Sydney she said to us
all. " 1t | do not see my boy again,
this is for him, and for his wife when
he marriee
There was hush in the room for
some moments, and [ saw Sylvia go
softly away. Nearly an hour later /
met her in the library, crouched down
IN corner, white and still.
-" l am tired, so tired she said, as
! came in.
" You have had all the trouble.
while we took the pleasure said |.
" Yes, that is it." abe answered.
eagerly, as if anxious for an excuse
Grandma has enjoved it." said.
"but it was evident that she missed
Sydney. He ought to come home, or
he may never see her again"
80 Ruth, he ought to come home
to herr"
1t seemed as if the exclamation was
forced from her, for moment later
she said -
but he IS learning great deal. He
writes that he never knew what II was
to be an artist till he saw Italy. "
Does he write to you? %