Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1877-08-25
INGRATITUDE PUNISHED.
Sister Agnes!

When her brothcr-in-aw addressed |
her in this formal manner she knew that |
some communication OF Importance was
about 10 follow.
Her three daughters, Lilly. Grace and |
Rose. exceptionally plain in face, and
unprcposscssing in manner, also assum- |
ed airs of close and detrrential attention.
For Joseph Spencer was very rich.
He had come to Rock Hill from dis |
tant part OF the country of which he al
WAYS spoke Il, the coal regions. and in
vested large amounts in various ways III
the iiuuriShing seaport town, where his
only brother had already made umtortu-
| nate specuutions. and died, leaving four
| unprotected females Impoverished.
Joseph had appeared in the guIac oi Il
beneicrnt angel. had taken them from
| the little cottage where they had earned
Il scanty and precarious living. and had
established them in an exceedingly
| handsome house he had purchased 1t
Rock Hill.
They were all ladies of uncertain age,
lowering round the thirtles or tortics.
the mother owning to thirty-seveu. and
they were all slayiShly anxious to con
ciliate their Uncle Joseph. \ wia"wer
with one child, 4 little girl ten years
old. of whose mother the bercave! huS-
band could not speak without deep emo
ton.
He was man past fifty, with y tall
figure carried with au erect, solhlcr!N
air, hair stre;tked with gray but curling
and abundant, handsome features, aud
brown eyes, As soft rs 4 woman l.-~ii"
was pleasant to Il fault, generous anu
kindhcartrd. and gave /" Maudr. ms
, only child. u love but little felL"Feu
I from worship.
Sister Agnes. he said, softly slrok-
Il ing an open letter III his hand, anu let
4 TIM his toast and coffee stand unhceded,
{ have some very painful news III TINS
e letter. A cousin OF my late wife, %!
whom we were both very fond. widowed
many wears ago. has died, leaving a
II daughter quite pennilesS and alone
| h.ye not seen her for seven years
then she was 4 child of twelve or thr-
D. teen. hut ! know she is accomplished
and carefully trained by good mother
=, She has written to me tor COUNSEL
" knowing that took a deep interest II
~, her mother shall ask her to come
=. here as Maude's gOverness.
ID ..Oh, dear uncle, said Lilly, am yer.
+ sure dear Maudc has three teacher
now. take great pains with he
of music, and the darling improves 81
y. rapidlv. it is only Il delight toteaci her
ru And she improves every day IN he
u. studics. cbimed i'll Grace. while Kos
y. completed the chorus by adding
.And am sure no one couli be NOR
careful about her French than am
: YES, YES. YOU are all very good
but don't you see. want to give l.aur
DeHavcn some position and employ
. ment. She will never come here ~
" mere dependant upon my charity.
,y Here Maud looked up.
rI .'Is she pretty. papa
in II think so, dear. She was yer
ay pretty little girl, with eyes AZ blue
ks your own.
Ii "Lct her come. then. please, papa.
ike pretty people. ,,.
lst And having fired this shot, Mi:
I'd Maude gave undivided attention 10 lit
ty breakfast again.
of Mr.. Spencer bit his lips as lie ooSer
1t. ed the struggle to preserve an aniiab
N EXPRESSION upon the four faces that II
The widest imagination could never endo
sh with beauty. but wisely resolve" iiot
; .r,,e. his gravity tor r""r""t ,
He simply designated the room 20
prepared for the governess anu hcr P'
pill. and lett the table. scarcely tastii
hreaklast. to write to Laura Deiiave
~, a cordial. tender letter OF coincidence
',,r her sore bereavement and PEopoSa'
,n undertake. her new duties.
He tclt strongly drawn toward L
rod orphan, her mother having been edu,
al ted with his late wife and hving WI
IN her. more like sisters than cousins, al
,;,e Tom DrIlaven married her. leaving h
and widowed after two short. happy yea
,,y 'tE Aralu the sisterly intercourse 4
, ,.i Affection WAS unhrokeu until Mau
'N- mother died.
ami Since her death Mr. Spencer had !
; a seen Mrs neHaven, who support
'H"t herself and chld by her needle. but tn
tho kent up a pleasant correspondence, Il
nr3ts ,t / christina, the widow had very %
= nm NJ rc,.on 10 remember her Old iren
kindness
r.,. So j, did not seem to Laura, As
sned over the iron road leading TO Ii
:, Hin tba, she was going among strange
= md at the station She readily recogn
the good kindly tace OF her mother
that friend.
sad She had certainly no reason " u
and ,Io ,,,d.r warmth of his gr,
hv ing, the tartheriy care he took ol
comfort. or of Maude's rapturous v
} come.
+ You are pretty that frank damSel
't%,E her; vour hair is yellow. like mine,
com horrid. yrcasy tow color IKE '"'
g Ljly's. or ugly black like the rest
..al, them You and will have good I'm
-. tor papa has let us have school r.
4 Al
together So we never need 60 l
the hnrrit women downstairs
"Maude, sand her father, rep
dsv, ingly.'
% Iny- We'll. they are, papa, horrid won
day Just to hear them the other m"ri
iays i., praisin2 up my music anu my IRE
days when they never make me learn i
iays i.,;. son. and call me 4 dear and 4 darl
,iay- when am acting like a perfect mp
'!"!' You dreadful child, You see.
,itys Laura. You will have Your hands iui
, Us And Laura soon found there was
M,G. ~ more truth in the prophecy than W:
, lays all desirable.
LAY Maude was thoroughly spoiled {
:; laws full OF wild impulses. impatient "t
I days troll. but possessing her lathef
!: my. my, temper and undeniably talent.
toaXlng in luulciou> hiehHu'e W
the | win her TO obedience and dlhgen'
,tudy. Flat,ery found her as stub
rs a mule. But her trials aS MAJ
will teacher were insignificant compare
nking the annoyances Laura met daily IL
zap. intercourse with Mrs. spencer ana
three daugh ers.
Y IN 4 Ii seemed 10 her, sometimes tha
any extreme limit to human ingenuity
any taxed to devise plans to make her
burden She was much too prot
complain, too conscientious to cnd'
; IS IN to make touble between her trlen'
ruby. his relatives, and the four women
]. gar had united forces against her, mad
opal of both pride and principle t" II
their own cruel ends.
II and They were bitterly Jealous OF her
time ty. of her influence over Maude
air is, Spencer's evident pleasure in her 50
'lievcs aud they were resolved todrive her
of the from the home over which they M
wife is lv wished to hold undispnted sway
places 1t did not take them long t" dis
that Maudc's g"verncss carefully
ccaed from Mr.. Spencer every tau
-hand- insult lavi-hcd upon her, and 80 tal
wlv to being touched by such torbcarancc
lie, ard Systematically imposed upon it.
oSs the But Joseph Spencer, though |
: alter Trained from any active lntcrtcrcnt