, 1877-07-29
: BROWNIE.

WRITTEN FOR THE CHICAGO TR1BUSE.l
Brownie was not her real name; but the
country folks had long called her go, partly on &C
count OF the thick masses Of beautiful chestnut
colorcd hair that always hung loosely down her
back, seeming almost to envclop her in their
luxurance; but perhaps rather more on ac-
coun Of her wild, frolicsome, nlischieyous ma
tu1c which Was supposed strongly to resemble
that Of the hobgoblin OF popular superstition
known as the Brownie. Brownie aud her elder
sister Mary, quiet aud tolerably good-lookdng
girl, had long ago lost their father mud mother,
and bad been left to the care of their uncle,
William DENLY. According to the provisions OF
his brothers. will, Denby held the farm on which
they liyeu together (a cosy whtewashed dwell
jur with barns and outhouses, lying IN
the midst Of broad and fertile acres in one OF the
Yorkshire dalesj in trust for Mary till the day
Of her marriage, when it WAS to become her
own. DENLY was not man to contemplate With
much pleasure the prospect OF his niece's en-
riehment at his own expense. He was graspipg
aud cold, if not cruel, in his nature; and watch
ed with the keen eye OF jealous suspicion ali
poor Mary's dongs. though, at the same time,
he ALWAYS coutriTed to make oil around him
think that his every act Was prompted by zeal
for the girls welfare. So satisfied did he feel
with the results Of his surveillance hitherto,
that OF late his diligence had somewhat relaxed
Mary was already 10, aal had never shown any
signs OF affection for any save her relations.
Her uncle, who viewed daily her timil, retiring
manners rubbed his hands with satisfaction and
thought hopefully Of the future.
But, shrewd as he thought himself, William
DENLY was allowing himself to be deceived by
false honcs and think Brownie Kas 5the hrst
tn discover the secret.
pro1rn;a wa rother more than II wears old,
nio"A~ "3' ,.s..,s ,a.,o;,,1v hot,a MT 1or
nut Stranger "oo1u .'ttA'u1' na'e pa' 1 ~. 49,
down for very much less. In figure she vas
very short, did not come up to her sisters
sbn,,,der. but she possessed physical strength
o.o 800 y. 49, ~ ,oost hovs of ber arc
supet1o. s'sA ~ es an,raI ~ es.;ft md deer
Close by the tartn ho"ea s"At HUI oeep'
Il oush not very broad, river, and to swim
o,ros. this was an everY-day amusement for her.
ac'oss e '.4's 80 t~o,, ,-o,a -1o,l~;nr. hor
one ecrlalui, "As as,.,a, 20. 49,, 4r;nt,oa -, IN
little green eyes spaekleu auu "4nAc" III "n
eerie way that was positively unpleasant, sugg-
oros+;,o, otl snrts of old wiYcs' tales about be-
5eee7 5nE7a'. ,.,1 +1,o a,i, ove Tn early childhood
"11eA''.en' +AAu -" :,:s,,s 1890 - lo,zhtar
and wondernent put, Us sns Slsm " shs sus M
came, aware OF she IMPRESSION ;snt,opo,,. snS p
ducctl, and seemed 70 hau = n,eeltesote I.onts
delight IN DONG az but eouu ~ 1'n5,orr,,1
IT, e"c - - 49, onJ ci,o 30 rIx con troftcI
powers Of ooserVatlon ana sS far.f @ tnr o avs,
habit, fully In keeping WIN nes otnet sts'sd
properties Of gong aDout SINGING snhtenes th op %
old ballads; the gosler tney Me1c @ ahe trabt
she 1ikcd the unSe OF t"iGe a1ost ss o,,t af thrr
enea o. ie" retIr ta;ng one Of her unce's foals
the stable at nh and caree9sg over the the
ca on its back with arSe rs hrats ~ 9ef ef
hand, now and then uItellnS Wiz :nu1s sha
song or shrieks OF iaqehier- ~ conIpans ,s sus
was very quiet and indeed on all occasions naa
SO little to say Tor herscll t1at many oiu tloL
scruplc to call her hail xitteo' Her @ nHe1 10!
and Brownie herself seemed rather to IKE ING
imputation, feeling, perhaps, tla. u u a., a,rowea
her greater scope for the indulgence ol ner wan
osf lies Her s se %a1 IGo cresee her s
| for the strange, wayward girl Browne was not
dcmonstratiye in returning ths toye, ts,e out Sue
| herself alone knew how truly snc le4t u. uo
Farmer Denby's acres. as ny: saM, .;.hhae mee