Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-11-01
Gales aud Sketehfs.
HOPE LEEDS SURPRISE PARTY.

field. and Brookfeld Center, and nesting
close under the hills, just halfway be-
tween the two last mentioned villages, Is
the snug farm of Adam Leeds. A hospit-
able looking square white house, with neat
barns and out-buildings; for Adam was
"well-to-do,'' and did not, as he quantity
expressed it, ''have any fellowship with
the shiitless tribe that let things hang by
the eyelids.'
If Adam was king outdoors at Maple
wood. as his place was familiarly known.
Hope, his only child, was queen within.
She was a delicate, bright-eyed, impulsive
girl, the idol of her father, and general
iavorite among her friends. These happy.
sheltered lives We like to think there
are many such in the world Though
Hopes days went serenely on undisturbed
by questions of labor reform and equal
rights. yet she was not, on this account
Gas some radical thinkers would have us
believe), one of the class content to re-
main always on the ground foor,-whose
thoughts possess no second story She
was eager for culture, and she reached
after high things.
Adam Leeds and his wife had held diff
ferent theories regarding their daughters
education. ''She shall be trained to keep
house for her husband, If she ever gets
one Stoutly maintained the practical IA
ther. "She shall be trained not to con-
slider housc-work and husband the end
and aim OF wOmans eXistence!n was the
sensitive mothers quiet decision. Some
how, Hope early took the matter into her
own hands, and if she did not entirely sat.
lsfy both, she yet managed not wholly to
disappoint either She would have scorned
the imputation of being sentimental, but
we who know her better must confess that
she had triiiing tendency that way She
was rather fond OF quarrellng with her
life it seemed to her common-place-ex-
pressionlesS, ike fruit without flavor.
Nothing happened to her as to the per-
sons in the charming romances she read
no thrilling adventures, no fiery trials.
She had never been denied a reasonable
wish; and there was no prospect of suffer
ing from the pangs of unrequited affec-
ton, If the devoted attention OF Winthrop
Ellis, u certain young lawyer in North
Brookield could be counted for aught.
Was Hope, then, a success or failure
She sometimes tried to define herself, but
never arrived at a satisfactory conclusion.
Persons wiser than she have failed when
undertakings similar experiment. Good
for little of everything is to be good for
notning, said the young girl desponding-
ly one day to Winthrop Ellis. THAT Is
my case exactly The young man looked
as if, in his opinion, the lease" in ques-
ton could hardly be changed for the bet
ter; but the only bit of consolation he
ventured upon was, 1T is grand thing to
have the appreciative faculty, Miss Hope
"Oh, yes" returned Hope warmly;
THAT sounds well, but to what does it
amount? To sit in the corner of the world
and look ecstatic over the performances
of others; to praise when one is perish.
ing with envy. Who wants always to be
4 looker-on in life. 1t must be grand to
be famous.
And then had followed long discus
sion. There were many such conversa-
tions-light skrmishes around the central
topic of their thoughts; for though these
two persons loved each other, the confess
sion as yet had remained unspoken.
Winthrop Ellis was poor. He had only
recently finished his law studies, and was
now struggling for a position. Whatever
his hopes and plans, whatever delightful
home visions rose before him, they all
had to be referred to that uncertain peri
And. being woman,
Hope had TO dream and to wait-two oc-
never grudged to woman.
This winter morning saw an unusual
stir in the Leeds farmhouse. II suppose
the kindred will all be on hand to-day
said Amira the help. as she finished
sweeping the kitchen, and hung the broom
behind the door. Nobody being present
but herself and the cat, it was not quite
clear to whom the remark was made.
Puss, however, felt called upon TO respond,
which she did after her fashion, n,-lazily
stretching herself into more comforta-
bic position by the fire, and blinking con-
tentedly as who should say, "Let the kin
dred come It's all the same to me-"
Since the death of Mrs. Leeds, two
wears previous, there had been no family
gatherings ut Maplewood; but to-day.
small party was expected at dinner-the
occasion being Hopes eighteenth birth
day. For several days beforehand, Almi-
ia had been busy preparing the daintier
portion of the feast; baking crisp crullers,
tarts, and tempting frosted loaves. Her
full powers, though, were never enlisted
nptiI the substantials We're ushered IN the