The daily gazette., 1877-10-23
Who Was Benevolent +?
BY NJ. J. B.

crotcheting,D said Margaret, the adopted
and much patronized poor relation of the
magnificent Mrs. Dalforth. tell YOU
what it Is, aunty, don't much believe In
all thus parading goodness" .-r.G
a& HHush, Margie dear !" returned the
pale invalid addressed, raising herself in
the stlf-backed char, and adjusting her
Eyeglasses. eve mustn't judge Others,
child, but do our own duty. Just run to
her and ask If she w.n let Inc have skein
OF that gray yarn. L do SO much want to
finish this knitting for old Bessy."
The young laddy left the room, and In
moment returned with the ungracious
answer that "Mrs. Dalforth did not want
to DO bothered" ..,,. ,..... ~, .....,,.,
/ With a sigh the brown eyes were bent
upon the crotchet-work, and the pale fin-
gers of the invalid went ON with the
knitting nor did either speak until the
sharp bell Of her patroness summoned
Margaret to her presence.
g "aMargaret," said the lady, as the girl
entered, ~ expect gentleman-in short,
my nephew-here in a few days. shall
be hurried to, death with the fair at which
Annie is to have a table, and with the
charity dinner on the lawn. must ha, .
more help In the kitchen and be-
sldes-" The lady bit her lip, and the
unfinished sentence seemed to embarrass
her, .',t
"Yon don't mean, aunt, that am to be-
come housemaid? 2"
"Now, no foolish nonsense l want
your services, do you hear ? 1t Is not
for you to dictate in what manner"
Every well, madam was the meek re-
ply. "What are my present duties ?"
"Oh, nothing. l want you to, keep
out of the way-that is, you need not an
swer the bell when Mr.. Dalforth arrives"
The brown eyes lit up as laugh danced
through them, but the sad look came
back as the chubby figure of her cousin
| rudely passed her, ana quietly she went
to her newly-assigned duties.
Great was the sensation at Dalforth
| Hall, when, from his finished tour ar
rived Arthur Dalforth, Esquire, and as
! he cordially pressed his aunt's hand, she
linwardiy commented that less than fifty
fifty thousand a year would render
such noble exterior prize and when
| for little while, set free from attendance
on her guest, she retired to her chamber
to arrange and rearrange the juxtaposi.
| tions in which her daughter Annie and
the graceful stranger were to be promi-
| nent actors, she was supremely happy.
"By the by, aunt" said our hero, on
the morning after his arrival, "where is
| my pretty cousin Margaret? You have
not grown weary of your own benevo'
| lent scheme of educating her p
| "She has gone away for the present
that iS-will you have another cup of cof
fee? ?" And Mrs. Dalforth blushed with
embarrassment and anger. .-'
"HumphP' thought Arthur "it seems
am on unpleasant ground"
| "Annie, dear, you are to give the prizes
to the poor women at noon. You will
II ne Ar.fl aSafx wrttf In IN
| freshments, which are very liberal. You
had better get ready, my love-"
"Oh dear what weary work to drone
| over these dull people for two hours !" re-
piled the young lady.
Arthur laughed, while Mrs. Dalforth
shot a reproving look at her daugh'
ter.
AS the ladies had their arrangements to
make our hero strolled into the garden
and concealed behind Towering labur.
mum, unwillingly became the auditor OF
the following conversation:
"How kind of you, Margie dear, 1t is
so little l can relish, to improve your
servitude for my comforti'
"Every lot has its advantages, aunty /;
and, while am cooks mate, you will
find the improvement in your ra-
tions" L+aI--l1 tE-=l
"I wish Cousin Dalforth understood
real character said the same weak
voice. aHowever, old Bessy, my dear,
must share our brief comfort. While
they are giving the dinner on the lawn,
steal through the shubbery to the cottage,
and take the shawl 1 have knit her"
nSteal through the shrubberyp NUT
tered our hero. "ThereIl be two in the
shrubbery at the appointed time"
Beaming was the countenance OF Mrs.
Dalforth, while her short, red-haired
daughter, in the dress of shepherdess,
distri buted, with condescending grace,
the yery small amount of money to the
neatest workers in the neighborhood; /;
and when, atlength, with much parade
mother and daughter had seated the hum
cry band ON the green, there to ENJOY
COLLATION. beforel the ewes of the assem-
bled neighbors itor the gentry were after
ward to lunch in the hall, Mr.. Daiforth
could nowhere be found.
Margaret, ON her humble errand, nad
started for the cottage, when, at turn
ofthe park, she encountered the hand-
some stranger, who she at once felt must
be her cousin.
"Pardon me-" he said, touching his
hat, "but do not address Miss Lindsay,
Mrs. Dalforth's nlece?"
al am in haste, sir, sne salu, "anu
Mrs. Dalforth would be quite displeased
if she knew YOU had addressed me-"
ga thousand pardons" he exclaimed,
puzzled by the rough garh and plain felt
bonnet; but the soft languishlng eyes.
square white forehead and graceful
Il fgure, he felt sure were not those of a
housemaid; while the small, white hand,
holding the rough basket, he felt sure he
had often clasped when helping his pref
ty cousin over some rock on former nut
ting excursions. ..-.-... 80
"Annie, you forget your part, were
the sharp words that came through the
hrier hedge. "Your undisguised con-
tempt for these poor people will spoil
ALL % = ~, .,a;-
"Well, ma, do hate them, with their
YES MUM and 'I'm obleeged.'"
aThat's all very well, Annie; but you
lose fifty thousand year II you dont
keen your mark better on. Arthur real
ly has a foolish sympathy with these
sort of people; and you only make my
task the harder" .;a
"Pardon me, my dear aunt" SAID
Arthur, stepping forward with Margaret,
whose unwilling hand he would retain;
"I will release you from all future tasks
on INV account. shall leave for Belle
view this afternoon, and / would COM
mend my cousin to your kindlier care Tor
short time, when, trust, as my wlte'
she will leave for Europe"
James Alfred Pearce, Esq, Chester.
town! has written to the Transcript, OF