The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-08-10

Before the fire, in the pretty gas-lit
drawing room, knelt Lettice, watching
laughingly, and yet thought little
wistfully, a row of nuts placed on the
lower bar of the CRATE. Her little sister,
pretty, spoilt child of eleven or twelve,
was holding her there, and laughing
| gleefully as the nuts cracked or blazed.
"That's me p she cried, after a small
explosion, looking mischievously up at
Frank, who had hastened forward. and
was kneeling now upon the rug beside
the girls. "You love me better than
you love Lettice, Frank: and I and Let
tice love you just about the same"
"Amy,"I anxiously inquired, bending
my head over hers, that might not see
the eager, impassioned contradiction OF
Franks eyes as they met Lettice's,
(which of these martyrs at the stake rep
resents me 2"
"This one, Max" the child replied, de
lightedly. "You burn SO coldly and so
slow. You don't care about either of us.
Does he, Lettice?"
"No," answered Lettice, quietly, look
ing up in her sisters face, but not be-
yond.
"Then if that other martyr represents
Lettice," said Frank, bending eagerly to
watch the nuts, chow does she burn,
AMY"
80, very oddly, indeed" answered
Amy, with important deliberation. "She
cares Just the same for every one of us.
It's most tiresome thing when nut
does that. There's no fun in it, is there,
Max Z"
"This ceremony is mystery to me, y
1 laughed, as kissed her lips; but l
know why Lettice's nut burns in that
unsatisfactory manner. Of course, as
she does not believe in its prophecy, it
does not prophesy truly for her."
"But they do prophesy truly" replied
Amy, "if you burn them quite properly,
as L was taught in Scotland, two to-
gether. Shall we do it now, Lettice
I'll burn you with Max or Frank, which
ever you choose. You chose Frank be-
fore you may choose him this time too,
and I'll be with Max"
1 could not help swift, intent glance
into her face, and while I did her eyes,
pure and clear, met mine without drop
ping. Then she answered Franks Joy
full, entreating question, with her pretty
low laugh.
al think 1 have been martyred sufi-
GENTLY, considering that it is my birth
day, and l ought to be treated well.
Amy, ring for tea. Max" she said to
me, as she rose, do you know you are
reading too hardY see it in your face,
tonight" She was standing close be-
side me, and as she raised her bright
young face to me, so earnest in its kind
ness, yet understanding me so little, my
heart beat with great keen pain at
every throb.
so 1 tell him." put in Frank, d" but
he is determined to do it. He has made
| up his mind to be a great man, and l
feel it only kind to remind him constant
| ly that his ambition is fated never to be
realized. Luck in this is as necessary as
skill, and we Hamiltons never had a
stroke of luck in our lives"
"In that case, why do you trouble
yourself to aim so high z" asked Lettice,
waiting with quaint gravity for my an
swer.
al don't know" 1 answered, my words
coming with an effort. Who aims at
the sky shoots higher far than he that
means tree"
"Yes, ] know" she said, once more
raising her warm, happy eyes to my cold
stern face.
"And wins his aim always, shooting
as Herbert meant"
"How was that I" asked Frank.
go Pitching his behavior low, his pro-
jects hig&,'" quoted Lettice, softly.
"Don't you think, Max, that the first is
far harder to do than the seconds"
al certainly don't see how hard read
ing is to help him in either" put in
Frank, before I had time to answer.
"Nor do l." she replied, with bright
sudden laugh, as she turned to him
again, "and appreciate your motive in
trying the opposite course. You do not
read hard, do you, Frank"
"No. Very easily-when I read at
all. But then l do not want to be a
great man. merely want to win hap
py, easeful home, and-my wife"
/ do not know how he could have said
it his eager eyes forcing their tale of
love upon her as she stood there beside
him in the pitiless glare. Ispoke hur-
riedly, in light, cool tone, which told
nothing of the strange pain / felt in
every word.
"The fact is, Lettice, Frank can't un-
derstand my last new whim-which is
to go out TO Melbourne to join an old
friend of ours"
And this was how told her; on her
birthday night. !, who had worked, and
hoped, and waited, for the fulillment of
that one bright dream which now lay
shattered into fragments in the pretty,
cheerful room.
"Amy, run and fetch papa to tea,
dear"
"What do you think, Lettice, of this
new project of Max's| asked Frank,
laughingly, as she moved by the tea-ta-
BILE. "Is it high enough 2"
"I think" said Lettice, taking her
seat, and softly moving the cups upon
the tray without looking up at either of
us, 90 that it is not high at all. But if
Max thinks it is, I suppose he does we'll
to carry it out"
Just then Amy, who had earned a pair
of gloves from her father in the dining
room, led him in with face full of pride
and conquest.
"Max, )" he said, looking curiously at
me as he settled himself comfortably
with his back to the fire; "what's this
the little one tells me? You are surely
not thinking, in any seriousness, of go
ing abroad"
al have decided to do so, sir, indeed,
as soon as Frank and / can arrange mat
| ters here"
"I cannot believe it. Why, if my own
daughter had suddenly told me she was