The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1875-01-29
MI sceIIaneOuS.
A PRECIOUS TRUST.

1t was q very modest chamber on the
third floor, or what in less pretentious
house would have been called garnet, that
Katie Mayne and her sister Miriam occu.
pied at Mrs. Bideford's boarding house.
street, Strand; and to the eyes of two
country maidens it had the air of having
been forgotten at those seasons when good
housewives indulge in thorough cleanings;
but they considered themselves fortunate
to have secured cheap lodging in a re-
spectacle house, for it was their first visit
to London, and they had resolved to be
economical even i'll their pleasures. In
this chamber, with the door carefully lock-
ed, their hats and mantles thrown hastily
aside, and their bonny faces aglow with
pleasure, the sisters were eagerly gazing on
the first riches they had ever possessed-a
legacy left them by distant relative, which
they had come to town to receive.
They had been together to the executor
of the trust; they had received from him
the little packet containing not only their
own money, but sum of equal value
which they were empowered to receive for
widowed aunt; and now Kate sat on
the edge of her bed, with Miriam kneel-
ing at her feet, smiling her satisfaction, as
the packet was united, and the fresh, crisp
bank notes unfolded and examined with
unhagging interest.
Two hundred pounds. How small sum
it would seem to many How large it
was to these yodng girls Well born, well
nurtured they had endured for some wears
as direful a struggle with poverty us ever
fell to the share Of two friendless orphans;
yet they had come through the trial brave
l.. 4, 81, 4,
they had never repined. First as junior
teachers in school, then as the principals
of II very modest establishment for Young
ladies in a country town, they had per-
severed in the face of difficulties and dis
enlargement that would have crushed less
hopeful spirits-content to deny themselves
every qualification that was beyond their
small means.
Two hundred pounds! 4 little awe
mingled with their thanktulness, as they
counted the notes to assure themselves that
the precise sum, that was now their very
own, lay before them. On peaceful sum-
mer Sundays, when they were set free from
their duties, thsy had loved to ramble in
beautiful park near their home, or share
with the deer the deep cool shadows of
its ancient trees, and there dream and plan
aerial castles which, though destined new
er to be built of more lasting materials,
were very pleasant to dwell upon for the
little time they lasted. But they had
grown very practical of late, never uspir-
ing to greater possessions than IL new piano
for Miriam, and the modest trousseau with
out which katics long. deferred marriage
must still be II decd for future considera-
ton.
And now these aspirations were more
than realized. The cheek that had grown
pale and thin despite her cheerful spirit
| flushed into its old bloom as Katie remind.
ed herself that her share of this legacy
would not only purchase the bridal tinery
in which every feminine heart delights,
but would leave nestegg to lay the foun.
dation ofthose great things her clever be-
trothed was to achieve; and Miriam's dett
| fingers played an air with brilliant yaria-
! lions on the counterpart, us she thought of
| the tne-toned instrument which was to
bring her fresh pupils, and do justice to
her really excellent playing.
But now small cloud arose on the hori.
zon. They had determined to indulge
themselves with little sight seeing before
they returned home, for it was not only
their first trip to London, but in all proba.
bility would be their last. This money,
however, so gratefully received, so joyfuliy
gloated over, what was to be done with
it while they remained in town? The
widowed aunt had given them sundry in
functions respecting hers, the principal
being not to intrust it to the post-office,
for she had no faith in it since she had
learned from the newspapers that postmen