Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1872-08-22

'O SSlu, 11On OVOo JOo
do have here, Miss Polly-more than
any other place in the village
eyes, and they are very tronble.
some," said Miss Polly-for the bees
were one of her standing trials.
The young man walked off, and Miss
Hepzibah came slowly into the house.
When she reached the sitting-room
where Miss Polly sat, her face was pale
and troubled.
"Who is the letter from2" asked
Miss Polly.
81 don't know. 1t is postmarked
New York." she replied. at is in a
strange handwriting" and she sat down,
looking much agitated.
Miss Polly watched her sister sharply
while she slowly opened the envelope
ami took out the letter, which shook in
her now trembling hand. Miss Hepzi
bah read it through once, twice, grow
ing every instant paler. The room was
very still, only the front rattle of the
paper and the hum of the many bees
disturbed the silence. At last Miss
Polly could keep quiet no longer.
"What is it, Hepzibah what is the
matter 2''
"Gertrude is dead" replied her sis
lawyer. She was married, though, Pol
ly"-her face Frightening into look eff
exultation. I" Married to Mr.. Knox
after she went to Europe with him, and
has lived there ever since. He died
years ago. She has been very poor,
and there is little girl" The last
words were added sadly but very ten
derly.
Miss Polly had turned pale, too, while
her sister spoke. Her face now was
strangely disturbed as she said
&c Let me see the letter.
1t was placed in her hands, and again
there was the silence as she read and
read the few words that told so much.
1t was an old, old story. Gertrude
| Tomlinson had been the youngest and
| fairest of three sisters. In her confiding
youth, handsome stranger from New
| York, who spent the summer in the
village, had won her affections. How
far the intimacy between them pro-
gressed was only dimly guessed, but
| one afternoon in The / te summer she
| fed with him without one word of ex-
| PLANTATION, and as her friends had
every reason to suppose, without any
marriage tie between her aud her
lover.
Mr.. Tomlinson, stern, severe man,
had absolutely forbidden even the men,
ton of his reckless daughters name.
1ier folly bowed his grey head in sor-
row to the grave, blighted the pleasures
of her sisters, and in all these years the
fate ofGertrude had been an untouched
theme between these two, living their
lonely lives together. Poor, having an
income so slender that it seemed an i'm
possibility to exist upon it proud,
having the dignity of an ancient name
to sustain, the sisters had dwelt to-
gether in the old family home, decorous
| g r.. 41,a.v. HI nof
economies with due regard to outward
decency of appearance, and seeing the
monotonous years go by bringing to
them no change and no hope, always
with this unspoken secret darkening
their past and their future.
The long silence was broken at last; a
voice had come to them from the grave
of their fair young sister, telling how
her life had been partially redeemed
and her early sins expiated by long
) years of suffering.
: No wonder the placidity of existence
was rudely disturbed for the two sis
, tiers. At first their conversation was
: but disjointed and agitated but at last
, it assumed definite shape. The young
Gertrude was already in New York
awaiting her aunt's decision. Should
. they receive her?
sit is SO shamefulr' pleaded Mis-
5 Polly. +" All the old story will be revived
again. 1t is terrible to think off,
t "But, Polly, Gertrude was married.
married yes; but not till after sh
s had gone away with him, and was
motherl o Hepzibah, it is very hard !!
f "But this little girl is only ten year
e old-all the rest are dead. Polly,
think we ought to take her."
e Miss Polly looked at her sister, he
r., 4,
< asked, Hepzibah, how can we affor
r it? She brings nothing with her'-he
e voice sinking to a sepulchral whispe
: for the subject of money was one alway
held to be solemn one. VIII,
d Hepzibah, don't see how we can brin
d her upF'
Miss Hepzibah looked troubles
e "God will help u.s." she said reverentl
"IIe will care for US as we'll as for IL
e, sparrows. Polly, L think we ought
d let her come"
So it was decided. Miss Hepzibs
s. wrote back to say in stiff, old-fashiont
receive the child, and in another wee
little Gertrude Knox stood tremblll
e, on her aunt's door-steps.
Her welcome was a cordial one, f
TO as the two old ladies came out to me
if her the years seemed to have roll,
away, and their fair-haired little sister
ID go back with them, not in her bloomir
1e reckless youth, but in her sweet, inn
In cent childhood.
OF This was timid little creature, al
ht the mother instincts, not yet extinct
ny Miss Hepzibah's heart, went out war;
We ly towards her. Miss Polly look
>" upon her as the incarnation of b
mothers folly, and yet even she 3;
* knowledged that there was somethi
,p- pleasing in this bright young presen
. though both the sisters were sonewt
1t, appalled, when tea time came and tn
he noticed the inroads the little strane
he made on their slender provisions. TIN
Or slices of bread vanished in q trice, a
nd the bowl of milk they had thoue
IN, would serve for supper and breakf
both, was all gone at one meal.
he A week went by, and little Gertru
he had gained hold on the affections
Ter both her aunts, but had made terril
to- onslaught on their resources in mon
The two sisters were talking over tn
II" troubles in low tones one afternoon, ,wh
) a the little girl wandered about amo