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

u.
think he was seeking for souls or fairies il
the flowers when his baby hands pulled then
into shreds, his great blue eyes lookine
mournfully and wistfully at every torn petal
Before he could speak, he would sit 70,
hours, watching clouds, raindrops, birds,
any OF the beauties Nature showered upon
| Elmsglade
think the greatest struggle of his pet.
ted lie was his choice of profession.
Should he devote himself to music, he must
give up his hopes of being painter if he
elected to be painter, where were his
dreams of one day rivalling the master ma
slclans of the past? Painting finally carried
the day, yet to hear Sydney touch piano
or violin made one sigh for him to spend
his life in music
Need l say he was the idol of aunts and
cousins? Everybody joined the compact to
spoil Sydney, but he would not be SPOILED.
lie was hard working and indolent by turns,
studying as eagerly as professor to- day, "
ing idly on the grass all day tomorrow.
His college life brought him no special hon
ors, but its temptations passed him and left
him untouched With his great soul lit
eyes, his white, broad brow, his sensitive
mouth, and fine features, his expression was
chlldIlke in its innocent sweetness.
l had not been an hour at Elmsglade when
my especial pet and crony of cousins, Ella,
came to take me up stairs
- on and I ara to bayo o,. Il -oo
course, she whispered. Come, lets run
off for chat
We We're out of school some years ago
Ella fashionable young lady in society, |,
hard working little music teacher; but,
when We were alone, we often curled up
girl fashion on our broad sofa to exchange
confdences
Nell, | said, as soon as we were com
fortably settled, why don't sgd come home
for Grandma's birthday? He has been two
years in Italy, and we may never all meet
here again"
Sylvia, - said Ella, shortly
Had she struck me I could not have been
more astOnished.
How do you know p l gasped.
Il don't know; only guess. When were
you here last, Ruthy
Il have not been here since Sydney left.
You know | went to Boston my last holi-
days, and this visit is fairly stolen | shall
have to give extra lessons for my holiday.
But about Sylvia,
If you were not here when Sydney left,
Ruthy, | was sure you had seen Sylvia
since"
''No, not even to day"
II was here for three months before Sgd
left. am sure he was in love with Sylvia;
and, from Il sort of cousinly regard, such as
we all gave him, Sylvia suddenly became a
perfect miracle of stately propriety."
'Oh, Nell who could help loving Sgd
ney p
''Ruthy, l think she did love him, but
she is so proud and so conscientious. You
know there was some mystery about her
father"
NO mystery at all, only grandma don't
like it talked about. He was mixed up in
a trust fund swindle, a scapegoat for an un
principled let of men, aud, when he found
and money both gone, he drank
himself iRtq de erium tremens, and so
died.
rs that the story? Bad enough it is, and
Sylvia thinks has forever disgraced 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, common sense, practical woman, TO
worship his genius if she will, and keep
him in order. A nice mess the housekeep-
ing would be if Sgd married another angel
Sylvia is just the wife for him.
Mind you, Ruthy, this may be all no.
ton of my own. All that is certain is, that
Sydney went off to Italy like flash of light
ming, 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
''Or everything. There's the tea bell,
and have not taken off my travelling
dress"
Never mind. Nobody is very fine to-
day. We viii all beautify tomorrow.
Come.
There is nothing in the conversation Civ
en- above to tell the reader what harum-
scarum madcap Miss Ella was. Rarely was
she so grave as she had been during that
little chat. The prime leader of every kind
of mischief, full of animal life, overfowing
with gay spirits Nell was the merriest and
most mischief making cousin of the group.
Albert, another cousin still. was usually her
ally, did-de camp, or prime minister when
ever there was any especial trick or fun in
prospect. 1t was impossible to be grave
where Al and Nell had any share of fes-
tivity.
1t struck me when | entered the room to
meet the family at tea haw aged and broken
our dear grandmother had become, but
change almost as marked had come to Syl-
via. | cannot describe it. She was active
in arranging for every ones comfort, as at
teHtive to grandmother, as loving to all, but
the old ioyous ring was gone from her voice