The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1875-07-15
LITTLE LESLIE.

| ~ % ti.. .-ft-'
TRY some of these broiled oy sters
Luke said Miss Celestia $50 and if
Good gracious me! what's the mat
ter ?"
For Luke s closed hand had descend
ed heavily upon the painted edge o
his teaplate.
"The matter?" he returned. Mat
ter enough Leslie Poyntz is dead 7
"Leslie Poyntz is dead? Who il
that? Oh, 1 remember now" said
Miss Celestia. ats that man thai
married our cousin, Francesca, and
took her away down South to live
! T wonder, now"-in accents Of mild
reflective regret-''if golden cement
would mend that plate? l don't see
how men can be so careless. And ii
! belongs TO set of sixteen
"Sixteen! cried out Mr.. Goldiland,
"Not so bad as that, / hope! Only
| one"
"Now Luke, as if didn't know
expostulated Miss Celestia, "when ]
counted them over myself, only night
before last !"
"Celestia, what under the sun are
you talking about ?" demanded her
brother.
"About the rosebud plates, to be
surew
"And l am talking about Leslie
Poyntz's child. She is coming here"
''Then it is girl ?''
$50 the letter says"
isOh dear me - cried Miss Cclcstia.
in some conformation, "what- can we
do with girl?"
"Nothing at ALL" answered Luke
Goldiland. 81 won't have her here,
that's the long and short of it. I'll
write at once and tell 'em so. Is this
An orphan asylum, I'd like to know :?
or a refuge for forsaken juveniles q
Leslie Poyntz never was lacking in
assurance during his lifetime, but this
posthumous impudence really excels
anything that-Matilda, 1 thought you
understood we never were to be in
terrupted at our meals? ?"
"Please, sir, 1 can't help it," pleaded
the middle.oged maid-servant. "She
UiN come in"
"Who will come in ?"
"The young lady, Mr.. Goldiland,
please" , .fs
And before the words had fairly
passed Matilda's lips, a tall, fair-haired
Girl Of fifteen or sixteen, dressed in
blsck, bounced into the room.
F'Are you my cousin Luke?" she
said. 'Pm SO glad 10 see youlv -
And she threw~her arms around
Mr.. Goldiland's neck. almost strang-
ling him with the vehemence of her
greeting. .v,. o.. ...A,
"Tell 'em where to put my trunks"
said she. 81 came through by express.
Mercy! Il can feel the buzzing Of the
cars. in" my ears yet! What's that
marble image in the window? 1t
looks exactly like a graveyard, don't
it? And is this nay cousin Cclestia?
Won't you kiss me?"
And thus rattling on, the newcom.
er deliberately Seated herself in Mr.,
Goldiland's own particular easy chair,
in front Of the fire, spreading out her
little black-kiddcd hands to watch
them, and looking all around the room
as if it was a public gallery.
I "Why don't you speak to me?" de-
manded she. '+
"But perhaps you don't know me.
am Leslie Poyntz. Papa named me
after him, just the same as if !
were the boy he wanted. Papa told
me to com e here. He said you were
a jolly old brick, and cousin Celestia
the incest old maid going!"
every Kind OF him, Ironically re
marked Mr.. Goldiland: while Miss
Celestia cleared her throat nervously.
"And-and the creditors took all the
money" faltered Leslie Poyntz; land
there was nowhere else l could go!
And-and you're not bit glad to see
me, and Pm so lOnesome!"
The big eyes brimmed over with a
torrent of sparkling tears; the coral
trembled.
Miss Celestia's kind heart melted
like an iciclc in burst of March sum
shine.
"Don't cry DEAR" said she. "Havc
a cup of tea"
And Mr.. Goldiland uttered the
"Humph!" and walked
out of the room.
"What are we TO do with her. Luke"
piteOusly asked Miss Celestia, the
next morning, when Leslie Poyntz
was snowballing the cat, in the back
yard, her merry, girlish laughter COM
ing up, with strange, unwonted sound
to the ears Of the old bachelor and his
sister. g "a
"Do? Send her somewhere, of
course"
"But where?"
"HOW do know? Ican't have her