Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1877-01-01
How it Was.

AihNis
Just exactly alike. 1t will please
Hermione, and then like so we'll to
please my pretty step mamma" answer
ed Linly rhetfOrd, lifting her sweet
eyes for sympathy to the precise counte-
nance of Miss Lucinda.
"Umph so you are very fond of
her. Linly o.
Yes, indeed She is my best friend
since poor papa died /; and being so near
of an age, We are constant companions.
don't know what | should do if it
were not for Hermione; Ryelands has
changed so since papa's death"
You have Mr.. st. Charles company
great deal. hear"
a nasn ike sunrise dyed the Lnauti.
| full brunette face.
"Of course he is Hermione's cousin,
and-and like brother to me, answer
ed Linly, STOPPING over box of silk vi
olets to hide her confusion.
"Umph yes-well, tits all right, of
course" remarked Miss Lucinda, piuch-
ing out brier-leaf. and setting the lit
tie rose more firmly on its stem. But
didn't it ever occur to you that people
would talk ?''
About what ?" asked Linly. lifting
her clear hazel eyes to Miss Lucinda's
profile.
"His being at Ryelands so much, so
soon after your fathers death. Poor
man dead but six months; | should
think your step-mamma, as you call her,
would have more respect for his memory
than to"
Than to what?" asked Linly. her
bright orbs growing large and bright
with Indignation. What have you to
say against ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS my faith
er's wife, Miss Lucinda"
"Say ? oh say nothing. It's what
other people are talking about But /
must add, that it is strange you are so
blind, Linly. Now I've known you ev-
er since you were child-used to come
to Ryelands every spring to make caps
in your grandmOther's day, and your
own mother always bought her bonnets
of me-and you were always bright
Annneh. ahont other things It'a ot"""c~
you can't see."
"What?" with thrill IL the young
voice.
A"Why, of course your stepmother
married your father for his money, and
to have a home and position. She was
only a district school teacher, down in
Marshfeld, when he married her, and
everybody knew she did pretty we'll for
herself when she married DR.. ThetfOrd.
But she was dead in love with her cous.
in, Rupert st Charles. and he with her
but they were poor, and he working bis
way so slowly through college that she
thought there wasn't much chance there
and so gave him up for your father
And now he's promising young law
yer, and she mistress of Ryelands, what
is so likely? Lor, you amt going t.
faint. are you, Linly?"
Faint No The day is warm anC
your store is close. 1t is foolish for m,
to stay here listening to this gossip.
do not feel in the least indebted to yol
= for repeating it to me, Miss Lucinda
5 My beautiful stepmother loved my faith
er dearly when she married him-fv,
years of utter devotion to his interests
and her crushing grief at his death
proved it to me-nor do believe sh
loved any one else when she marie,
him. And if she chooses to marry Nj
st. Charles, now she is at liberty, for al
in Circleville;" and bowling with tn
barest civility to Miss Lucinda. Linl
9 left the shop.
The cool air of the village streets COO
ed her burning cheeks; but how her 10y
al young heart ached in her bosom NJ
for worlds would she have had Miss 1t
cinda confirmed in her opinion that 81
L loved Rupert St. Charles. but it was tn
cruel truth. He was so kind and 6r
in his nature, so handsome and unspoi
ed by his rapid success in life. no wol
u u der the girlish heart worshipped hin
She had never believed that there wa
\ anything between the cousins but cou
4 inly kindness and freedom. But perhaE
others knew better; maybe she Oc
n, "blind."
feeling of bitter desolation fell u
=, on her as she entered the broad gates
Ryelands, whence her beloved fathe
whose pet she had always been. had bee
carried scarcely half year before. 81
loved Hermione. and had believed tn
r. Hermione loved her best of anything
'O the world but now it seemed as if 81
had no home in any heart.
Mr.. st. Charles beautiful mare, ST.
tana, stood tied to tree. For the FL
! time the sight gave Linly pain inste'
w of pleasure. She did not wish to me
ire him, and she turned away from the doc
and took the garden path.
\ The grounds of Ryelands were old a
fine. The doctors large nractice a