, 1875-02-06

GU Hui uItdHl Oh Jnc lOrUl INTO WHICH
fusion, from the fire of his severe rebuff,
would shape it. Her pride was stung by
this public exhibition of ignorance.
" will learn enough TO fill your place
yeI-see if | do notI7 Thus spake the
flashing eyes as they shattered rays Of
Indignation on the back Of the mas,er's
wig. Night and day the busy young
brain tuiled, stimulated by this aim.
The pages swan before her eyes, her
dreams became Nightmares of unCon-
Querable verbs and Sphinx like problems.
She worried herself into a fever, and out
of it again, thanks 10 "A strong cOnStitu-
ton The town came TO speak of her rs
a likely gal" Albert Marshall, young
and enthusiastic. said: Good for your!
Hopeful Marshall laughed indOlently,
while twinjng vi0lets in her dark trcsses,
using the brook for Il mirror What's
the use of WOman's knowing so much?"
The solid structure of hbby's educa-
ton, founded on Il broad mathematical
basis, had also domeS and pinnacleS of
Greek, Latin and Hebrew, although she
had no familiarity with modern
languages, or music beyond the bounda-
rie. of psalm tunes. The old master was
and Abby duly installed,
for ROckybeach held a unanimous opin-
ion that a girl who could read the Scrip
turcS in Hebrew, instead of plant En-
gliSh, was capable of rcignIng over the
academy. But her spirit was progressive.
She was infected with the indefnable
rcstlesSnesS which StirS all the nerve
currents of a nation still young, with a
vast Inheritance Of territory TO cultivate,
and a destiny to fulfill. Had she been a
man, she would have gone to sea, or
founded a home in the Rocky Mountains,
whittier she would have taken her house
hold gods, her Longfellow and Whittier,
her patent moving machine, her faith in
brown bread and Goldfish.
\ tap on the door disturbed her medi-
tatious, and pale, thin woman entered.
I'm glad to see you, Desire" said
Abby.
Thought Ia just look in," returned
Desire.
Then there was silence, Abby compre-
hcndIng that the others reticenCe was
delicate expression of sympathy. y
quiet, gentle woman, who did the village
dressmakne, gliding like shadow from
house to hOuse-by sheer force of con
trast Abby's meek satellite.
Hopeful has gone to live in Wash
ington"
We'll, she Sighted US long ago"
She is keeping house for her cousin.
Alhert's wife died last year, and he IS
Senator now, you know"
Abby made no reply, AlbertS wife
dcadl Albert Il Senator! Cruel, deceit
ful, base he mad been, yet she liked to
hear Of his prosperity. Her head grew
confused and her face flushed
Il believe that Hopeful loved Albert
herself, and made mischief" pursued De
sire, musingiv. d" She married, to be
sure, and is a widow"
"Then the misChief-makerS prosper"
reiorted Abby
Albert Marshall was the love of her
youth. Over the sterncr duties of the
academy had fioated rosy cloud; flow
pages Of solemn dictionaries brown eyes
and blue sought each other with grow
ing, sweet intelligence. Handsome
Cousin Hopeful pouted, but Abby was
Albert's sweetheart. Never TO be for
gotten the day when the young man
went To seek his fortune in the West,
She stood again at the gate beneath the
perfumed shade of the lilac bushes, with
the hot, dusty road beyond, and Albert
looking back wisffully. Then followed a
visit, after the lapse of a year, from a
Scdate young man, conscious of a beard,
to demure maiden, mindful that her
muslin gown was done up" for the OC-
casion. The visit left her engaged, for
Cousin Hopeful no longer watched, hav-
ing gone To live in the West, where she
married.
Abby's heart was blithe. She sang as
she worked, for the future glowed with
sunset hucS Then came a stiff, ambigu-
Gus letter, answered promptly with pride;
then Il long, sickening silence. What did
it mean? II meant that Cousin Hopeful,
if not loved herself, would poison the
mind of a lover far away If Albert
would not marry her he should not we'd
Abby. Thus she played with subtle
touch on many chords, and there was
growing distrust and anger. \ young
woman NAV not Journey 10 the far West
10 ask her lover what Is separating them;
so Abby waited Her healthy nature
could not bear this ordeal. She fe,l Ill,
and the busy life became blank. When
ConvaleSccnt a letter was placed in her
feeble hand-a harsh unjust letter, tax
ing her with infidelity TO her absent lover
and stating that if she did not Immediate
" reply, clearing herself, all was over
between them. The letter was already
old, mother having laid it away in the
family Bible Abby resumed her tasks,
well aware that the crystal goblet Of hap
piness had slipped from her grasp, and
Iay shivered to atoms on the ground,
Clear herself from false charges, for
Sooth. If Albert Marshall did not know
her nature better let him take his course.
She never wrote again, and the next
was Albert'S MARRIAGE
measure so hasty as to suggest revenge.
That was all, and the years rolled IN.
- Come right home along of me, dear.
Dol Squire Scudders sent me minCe
pie, 'urged Desire.
Grandmother looked after them with
scorn. "There 90 them two creeturs,
Desire ever flew in the face of Provi-
dence rs our abby has, though" "
Abby returned from the visit much
strengthened in spirit, and retired to read
a book from the Rockybeach circulating
library by the light of private candle.
| know of no stronger contrast in life
than our plain heroine, seated in rock
ing-chair, and the Old-World people she
read about in that book. She mingled
with DuChesses in velvet robes and Min
listers of state; she climbed Alpine
heights and dreamed among runs She
was aroused by a feeble but dignifed
cough. Grandmother sat on the top
stair. in night-cap and shawl, waiting sol
emnlv for the candle to be eXtinguished.
II was nuts" to the old lady TO catch
Abby thus. As for trying ones eyesight
by reading at that hour in grandmother
vouth il would have ranked with witch