The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-10-12

all, at this state OF my tale, that there are
no villains in this story, and that Phil
Washington was an honest, chivalrOus
young fellow, who. treated these three sol.
itary maidens now and ever after, with
the reverence all true women should com.
mand from all true men, and was as fas.
tidiously. respectful to them as though a
Belgravian chaperone of the rigid de-
scription had kept watch and ward over
talen, and Paradise Place had been
Grosvenor Square.
With chivalrous, tender grace, Phil
Washington greeted the three sisters, as
he stood at the door of their dingy parlor,
hat in hand, his bonnie brown curls clus.
tering about his forehead, and his honest
eyes resting on Bessie's face. Yes; he
was an individual in "whom there was
no guile,', was this young artist of mine,
and, like the suntlower, gazed openly at
the sun that had begun to shine with such
bright beams upon his life.
1t was rather hard for Bessie, though,
as, with a pretty bashfulness, she pre-
scented her visitor to her two sisters.
II know ought to have called earlier
in the day." said Phil, still drinking in
the sight of Bessie's face, "but l haven't
had moment to spare since ten O'Clock
this morning I was sure you must be i'll,
as l did not see you at Beech House for
five whole days, so asked Miss Minerva
Bycroft, and she told me you had a hard
cold." ~. -
Phil had not thought before he came
so many apologies and explanations, but
somehow this all came upon him now and
Alice, perceiving that Bessie was evident
ly not capable of much fuency of con-
versation, rushed bravely to the rescue.
! And now you have found US all sitting
in the dusk! We do that YOU must
sknow,.to save gas. OF course # would
sound very pretty to say we love the
cleaning, and all that sort of thing; but
the gas is the real reason
Bessie looked imploringly at her sister,
as if to stem this torrent of domestic con-
tidences; but their visitor seemed wonder
fully set at case by this matter of fact
Alice, and soon they were chatting to-
gether Presently Phil told them that he
and his mother lived quite close to Para
disc Place, and "some day might bring
Mrs. Lushlngton to see them.
AS Phil said this, Bessie's hand dropped
a little; but she said demurely, as it was
her wont to speak, that they would be
glad to see Mrs. Lushington."
I'm very glad you came-very glad,
indeed" said Alice, Ginning in again.
" We knew about you before-Katie and
|, mean-and about you bringing Bess
home under your umbrella when it rained,
and we were out; but we thought-at
least hought-from the way Bess spoke,
that you were quite an old, old mana
man with long, white hair, and who
stopped very much, you know, and car
ried a big portfolio
I'm sorry I've disappointed your ex-
pectations," said their visitor, with lust
one sly, loving glance at Bessie, now
rosy red; and then he quickly changed
the subject, for he could mot bear to see
the sweet serenity Of that fair face dis
turbcd
Were you reading aloud when came
in % he said, turning again to chatter-box
Alice.
"Oh, no! we, We're listening to Katic's
yarns. You must know she tells US two
Stories, better than in any books and we
get so interested; and then she breaks off
at the incest bit, when we are dying to
know what comes next!'
He looked more earnestly than he had
yet done at the quiet, pale girl at Bessie's
side; he noted the little, thin, nervous
hands, the fragile figure, the tremulous,
mouth; and, oh, saddest of all,
the great blue, sightleSs eyes!
II should like to hear some of those
Stories" said Phil. =,
Well, so you shall, some day, when
you come to see us again. Shan't he,
Katie, dcar?' But Katie would not prom
ise.s >.a -
Soon after this Phil took his leave and
Alice stood at the window to watch him
down the street. -
$50, that's the drawing master at Beech
House Academy! that's the old, old man,
who brought you home that rainy day
Oh, Bessie" she cried, and then she
threw herself upon Mrs Busby's slippery
horse hair sofa, and it would have done
your heart good to hear her ringing
laughter. -
But Katie put her arms about her SIS
ter's neck and kissed her tenderly.
''Bess,' she said, g what a nice voice
he has. hope he'll come again.
Did Bessie hope so, too, wonder? Be
his as it may, Katie was not disappoint-
I'd. He did come again-not one but
many times; indeed he got into sort of
habit of looking in upon the sisters g be,
sween the lights; "3and thus it came about !
hat at last he heard some of those Won
lerful yarns the blind girl was wont
10 spin, for the gentle narrator got accus-
Toned to his presence, and forgot all shy
ness in the new delight Of a fresh and APP
preciativc addition to her audience; ana
Phil liked the yarns and at last sag
gested to Bessie Ton the occasion of an
other showery evening rendering his es-
,ort necessity that one of these stories
should be written out and sent to the ed
tor of 4 certain magazine.
do you really think they would take
t." cried Alice, radiant, when the idea |
Vas mooted to her. I
eyes, do,' replied Phil. "Your sis
er's ideas are fresh and beautiful; and
merit does make its way with editors,
without interest, though some people will |
ell you it doesn't"
How Katie's face lighted up when
hey told her about this wonderful plan
She slipped her hand into Bessie's with |
he brightest, sweetest trenble upon Her |
Ups. - 81
eff 1 can only help-if 1 can only be
# some real use, it will make me happier
han ever / was in my life ,f
"You will be a real spinner now,
Katie" said Alice, taking success for
granted withaher usual buoyancy.
"Yes,n said Katie, "a little blind spin
1er"
At this they all looked very grave, butt
Katie could not see them, so the happy |
smile still rested on her lips.
The dictations and writing out of that |
tory was time, full I'd Of happy excite
nent to our three sisters, and. Phil Lush
ngton and his mother were scarcely
ess interested.-g,For Mrs. Washington had,
;siied at Paradise Place soon after Phil,s
irst unceremoneus visit, and her pleasant, I
Kindly face. now seemed like tlIat Of an.
Nd friend to tligm ALL - !. =
At last the precious packet was posted
~ Bessie's own careful hands, and then
here was nothing for it but-to wait:
Waiting is bad enough to all of us;
out our waiting comes to an end some day,
lere or hereafter; and at last, one even
ng at the time of the last post, AS the
'hree sisters sat round the fire, came tile
sound. OF the postnan hurrying UP the four
steps that led to Mrs. Busby's door, and
,lcu-- D.. |