Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1871-05-03

ono hau gut, anu on thls occasion grand
mother gave US each keepsake When
all were distributed, she put upon the table
where her own presents lay, diamond ring,
that We all knew had belonged to grandfath-
| er.
This is for Sidney" she said to US all.
1t do not see my boy again, this is for
him, and for his wife when he marries.' -
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 when [
came i'll.
You have had all the trouble, while we
took the pleasure, I said.
Yes, that is it, she answered, eagerly,
! as If anxious for an excuse.
| Grandma has enjoyed it, said ''but
1t was very evident she missed Sidney. 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 it was to be
an artist till he seen Italy"
Does he write to you?"
Il answer for his grandmother You
know | read and write all her letters
True If you are so very tired, Sylvia,
go lie down till bedtime, or go to bed, and
L will undress grandmother and read to
her to night.
She accepted the offer gratefully, and |
returned to The drawing room and made her
excuses.
The next day the whole household went
crazy. 1t was April FOOLS Day, and every
one of the busy bee hive of young folks
tried to Odtdo the other in the magnitude or
mischief of the tricks. Practical Jokes was
the order Of the day. Nobody was safe.
Even grandmother joined in the innocent
merrlment, and gave us tor dessert won
derful pie made of shavings, white cotton,
wool: and crimson worsted, delecteble com
pound so skilfully concocted that half of us
had tasted If hHfa~n 1:---.---a - -
OF egg was wool, our preserves worsted, and
our pie crust wood shavings Sylvia SEEM
ed to catch he merry tone Nobodys sur
prises were more startling than hers, but
she was so wonderfully on her guard that at
dusk nobody could boast of having fooled
Syivia. Nell solomnly declared that she
would not have wink of sleep if she did
not play one trick on Sylvia, but owned her'
self puzzled as to the nodus operandi
L had gone from the house down to the
gardner lodge some little distance, but on
the grounds, on an errand for grandma,
Returning, and walking rather rapidly, for
it was growing late, met Ella hurrying to
wards me.
Ruth, sgd is here
Here !"
He meant to be here for the birth day,
but the steamer was one day behind time.
Ruth, [ was right.
Il don't understand you.
about Sylvia | did not mean to listen,
but | was in grandma dressing room, when
he came to the bed room. Nobody had
seen him, and after a few words of greeting
he asked her-what do you think p
20 Nell, ought you tell -
''You won't betray me. He don't know
whether Sylvia loves him or not, and grand
ma has not found out in two years. She
would be glad, Ruthy, to have Sydney hap
py in his own way, but she cannot say a
,,orI hin, ~ bopa ~
1T seems too bad
He is so thin and so pale, Ruthy. She
will kill him, hard hearted as she is.
''Pshaw Men don't die of love. -
but Sydney isn't like other men,.
We were at the house by this time, and
could see the whole party assembled in the
drawing room, excepting grandmother, who
was still IN her cwr room with Sydney.
Sylvia was at the piano playing waltz, as
we opened the door. Just as we did 50, |
heard grandmother on the stairs, saying:
How surprised they will all be to see
you, Sydney" and at the same moment Nell
whispered to ME:
I'm going to play an April fools trick
on Sylvia, and catch her
1t seemed but a second, and | could still
hear grandmother slowly descending steps,
when Nell dashed into the drawing room
crying
oh have you heard that Sydney is
dead2'
Every face paled, and cry of consterna
ton broke from every one, but there was
more ominous sound still, heavy fall, and
Sylvia lay insensble upon the floor.
1t was cruel experiment. Sydney's
self in their midst relieved the others, but
he saw nothing but Sylvia. Only to hear
her speak again, only to see her eyes open
again, he pleaded as if for his life. We
opened the windows and let the cold even>
ing air blow in upon her we dreuched her
face and hair with water; and, finally, Nell
coaxed everybody away but Sydney and my
self
'.:Will she ever waken, Ruthy?" he said
to me, with stiff, white lips.
1T is only fainting fit" l answered,
chafing the cold, lifeless hands. You
boord Nalrs crueI ioke Pr