The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1871-05-25
COUSIN CONSTANCE.

COUSIN CONSTANCE.
wR1TTEN FOR THE SATURDAY EVENING POST.
BY BELLA z. SPENCER.
l love to think of her as saw her
first with any degree of interest, little
Constance Leverlng. I thought there
was touch Of angelhood in the soft,
childish face then as she sat with her
little baby cousin upon her lap-bis
fresh, chubby face tenderlv laid against
her bosom, and hers dropping over it,
pale and sweet. while the golden bars
from setting sun, fell upon the shin.
ing brown hair. !: :.s.. =: =.
Il had watched her swaying to and
fro with a gentle motion, listening ! to
the soft@lullaby unseen, till the babe
slept. and then stole softly in the Dullr.
sery,, taking seat where 7 could; look
at her we'll; for unconseiously, Il, had
become deeply interestsd!,io :: this little
dependent cousin Of my proud: young
friend, Estelle, with whom Z was visit.
ing. ..~-'v *'s':~:.. =. !:
As I did so, Constance lifted her
eyes fully to mine, and for the first time
I saw how beautiful they were. A
worl1 cf feeling was in their depths,
and rare sweetness in the smile that
vreathed her lips for a moment as she
noted my gaze. To my surprise, I found
myself becoming perfectly fascinated
With this strange, shy child. And. yet
she was very plain, very ordinary seem
iugly. Until now: I had scarcely no.
ticed her, though I had been 10 the
house q week.. and seen her quietly
moving from room to room performing
tho little Offices imposed upon her. - =
A desire TO- talk to the child seized
me. So l spoke very softly, lest
SHOULD waken the sleeping child:
"Don't your arms tire holding Fred
die, Constanoe9 He is heavy, and ,ou
do not look strong"
20, no, ma'am: I love to hold
him."
"Why7"
II thiok it must be because he loves
me. There isn't anybody but Freddie
who does care for me-"
She did not utter this comriainingly,
but in quiet, simple way, as If she
thought it perfectly natural that she
could expect no affection here, save that
of the babe she tended so lovingly.
The brown eyes dropped little sadly,
I thought though, after the words were
spoken.
"Dia you ever have any little broth.
ers OF sisters, Constance P" ....
eyes, one little sister. Ellen was
her name, but she died when she was
old enough to run about. Ellie was a
sweet little creature. wish she could
have stayed with u.s." with, quivering
lips.
"And your mamma-your papa
Where are they 2"
"Dead," with a dreariness of tone
sad to hear. 'There isn't anybody bu,
myself left, Papa failed, and it hurt him
so he one day-shot-himself;" with ar
effort. "Then mamma became ill and
died little while after that. Both c1
them were buried by Ellie-one on each
side. After that Uncle Gerald broueh,
me here"
The story was very short, very aim
pie, very touching. I could have wep,
to hear the sweet, plaintive tones re-
counting it in that grave, sad way-se
hopeless, yet 50 free from complaint o,
bitterness. -: ;2r:xI,.
Twas in my heart to ask her NOR.
about herself, If her aunt and cousins
we're kind to her; but that did not seem
exactly honorable towards my hostess,
and l refrained, resolving simply to ob
serve for myself.
"How old are you, Constance ?"
again queried by way Of saying some
thing. She looked up, and the same
rare smile illumiued the pale, delicate
face.
"Sixteen. I do not look SO DID," =:
"No indeed! Can it be possible
Why ono would scarcely think you be-
yond twelve or thirteen, at most"
| That is because Tam small and wea,
my hair 10 these short ourls. Besides
I have no ways like other young girls
It iso't likely I shall ever see much o1
society, or be like the young ladies you
see around here ; 50 I p'e,er,to be child
like With Freddie" and as she said thi.
she bent her lips to his golden :hsiir
.tenderly With \ world Of loys in, ylool
and tone and caress.
I stole out as softly as I came, ne M M
thoughts strangely absorbed With Con
stance Levering, wishing that. I had
some way Of relieving her Of the dre.r,
hopelessness Of the future I faucied
could see stretching out before her.
soon had reason to wish it more fervent
ly, as my growing watohfulness put m,
into full possession of the truth.