Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1878-09-26
LANCASTER. WISCONSIN. THURSDAY SEPTEMBER Is 1875

4
glass goblets and lovely china cup
and saucer, and when all was done,
waited with anxious hearts for our
unwelcome guest.
Mother had shut herself up in her
room early in the morning OF the day
we expected her, and had remained
there; and the rest Of us were all as
uncomfortable as poor, proud, shy,
sensitive people could be al the
thought or perfect strangers ingress
into the very heart of their home, and
wishing audibly and inaudibly that
Miss Ashbell's father had never
brought her from England, and, as the
sun sank in the west, and cool sum.
mer breeze, fragrant with the breath
OF roses, lifted the curtains of our CO.
sy bay-window, carriage stopped at
our door.
She's come and I'm gone said
Will tiinging down his book and rush.
ing out into the garden.
Carol rose from his chair. ran his
fingers through his golden hair, and
glanced in the mirror at his new blue
silk neck-tie. Helen sank back on the
lounge with sort of groan; and
opened the parlor door as Betty went
muttering through the entry in an
swer to the bell.
Is it Mrs. Carmody's?' asked a
pleasant voice with-yes it was a
slight brogue.
Yes, answered Betty shortly and
in another moment a round checked,
Enthusiastically red-haired, good-natur-
Ell looking young girl in a plain trav-
cling dress stood before me.
Good gracious is this the beauty?'
thought !; and Carroll fell back
step or two.
Are You Miss Carmody p she
asked.
4 am Ireplied, holding out my
hand, saad let me welcome you, when
turning from me she gently pulled in.
to the room the loveliest little child
ever beheld in my life, with large
soul lit brown eyes and sunny hair
the exact color of our lost darling's.
This is Miss Ashbell,' said the
maid. 'and | am to stay or 60 back as
you see fit
/ looked at Carol. He INDUCED
in long under-the breath whistle.
Helen buried her face in the sofa
cushion and laughed Historically.
The child came forward, and hold
ing out her little hand, said with
pretty drawl, 4 am to love you and
you are to love me. Aunt said So
| went down on my knees on one
side of her and Helen went down on
her knees on the other and we kissed
her till her dimpled cheeks glowed
again (you see the house had been so
lonesome without our little sister,,
while Carol looked OH with astonish-
ment, admiration and tenderness
blended in his handsome face, and
Will stole in with the bud from my
only precious tea-rose, the stem care
fully stripped of its thorns and pat it
in her hand.
Thani you, boy she said, Il will
have you for brother; and you too
looking with bright smile up into
Carols face. 'There IS an angel home
in big picture, with hair and eyes
like yours
Carol caught her up in his arms
and away with her to mothers room.
And there she had no sooner said,
My papa and mamma are both In hea.
ven,' than mother burst out in bless
ed fit of weeping that left a rainbow
behind it. And from that hour the
weight began to be lifted from her
brain. and soon / had to resign my
position as housekeeper, for we had
our mother back again as she used to
be of old-a little quieter in her ways
perhaps, but just as sweet, as klad, as
unselfish as ever.
And Carols picture Of Miss Ash
belP gained him place on the walls
of the Academy that autumn and
Will, who entered college last week,
has never ran away from her again,
but has ever since been giving her
roses freed from thorns as he did the
first night she came among us, bring
ing light and happiness God bless
her Ito our sorfow-clouded house.
And l often think, looking at their
two young heads (there is only four
years. difference in their ages) bend
ing over the same book that some
day Will will tell her the old, old sto.
ry and she will hear it with smile.
4 shouldn't wonder if you are right
Brownie, says my husband-how
laugh when l think of my jealons
tears about him once on a time!-
you almost always are.'
And aunt's speculation turned ont
splendidly (she is still living, a hale
old woman of seventy-five), and she
insisted upon our accepting what she
called fathers share, and that share
was no inconsiderable one.
And the seven.roomed house has
grown to twelve-roomed one-Bet-
ty, by.the'by, has allowed her daugh.
ter to assist in the house. work-and
the twenty-five by twenty-five garden
to hundred by hundred, my corner
just filled with rose-bushes.
And every thing has prospered
with us, and no frightening shadows
have fallen upon our paths, since the
rosy June afternoon we so unwilling.
ly opened the door to let in the dar-
ling who loved us as we loved her, at
first sight-sweet brown-eved, gold.
en.haired Miss Ashbell!