The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1878-09-05

satisfaction. "Tll smother up there il
hot weather." he said, with a wry face
"Oh, 1 wish there wasn't any Misl
Ashbeli ! Why don't she go to 6
hotel ?"
"Why don't she ?" echoedI.
l said we began to prepare for her,
out for lack of the aforementioned sill
yer and gold, our preparations were Of
the simplest kind. Oarrol made and pu,
up two pretty brackets, and hung, with
q sigh-for he hated to part with them
the few pictures he possessed on the
walls. I looped back the white curtains
(freshly washed and ironed, with much
grumbling, by Betty with new blue
ribbons, and I covered the trunk otto.
man with bright chintz, and with Helen's
help made q new mat to place before
the bureau, and we turned an old table
cloth into napkins, and bought O new
napkin ring and two or three cut glass
goblets and q lovely china cup and sauc-
er, 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 un-
comfortable as poor, proud, shy, sensi-
tive people could be at the thought of a
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.
when, as the sun set in the west, and a
cool summer breeze, fragrant with the
breath of the roses, lifted the curtains of
our cozy bay-window, carriage stopped
at our door.
She's come, and I'm gone" said
Will, hinging 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 1 opened
the parlor door as Betty went mutterink
through the entry in answer to the bell.
is it Mrs. Carmody's ?" asked a
pleasant voice, with-yes, it was a slight
brogue. cred
yes, answ men Betty, shortly. And
In another mo t round-cheeked.
unmistakable red-haired, good-natured-
looking young girl in plain travelling
dress stood before me.
"Good gracious is this the beauty ?"
thought 1; and Carol fell back a step
or two.
Are you Miss Carmody ?" she asked.
~ am." I replied, holding out my
hand; "and let me welcome YOU" when,
turning from me, she gently pulled for
ward into the room the loveliest little
child had ever beheld in my life, with
arge soul-lit brown eyes, and sunny
1air the exact color of our lost darline's,
"This is Miss Ashbell, )" said the maid;
and lam to stay or go back as you see
It,"
I looked at Carol. He indulged in a
ong under-tho- breath whistle.
Helen buried her face in the sofa
cushion and laughed hysterically.
The child came forward, and holding
,ut her little hand, said, with pretty
irawl, 81 am to love you, and you are
% love me. Aunt said So"
1 went down on my knees on one side
If her and Helen went down on her
Knees on the other, and we kissed her
ill her dimpled cheeks glowed again
you see the house had been so lonely
without our little sister, while Carol
ooked on with astonishment, admiration
md tenderness blended in his handsome
ace, and Will stole in with the only bud
rom my precious tea-rose, the stem
'arefully stripped of its thorns, and put
t in her hand.
!" Thank you, boy" she said. "I
will have you for a brother; and you
co." looking with bright smile up into
)arroPs face. There is an angel home,
n big picture, with hair and eyes like
ours"
Carol caught her up in his arms, and
way with her to mothers room. And
here she had no sooner said, "my papa
nd mamma are both in heaven" than
aother burst out in O blessed fit of
Keeping that left a rainbow behind it,
md from that hour the weight began to
70 lifted from her brain, and soon 1 had
0 resign my position as housekeeper,
Or we had our mother back again as she
sed to. be of old-a little quieter in her
1ays, perhaps, but just as sweet, as
ind, as unselfish as ever.
And Carols picture of "Miss Ash
ell" gained him place on the walls of
he Academy that autumn; and Will,
tho entered college last week, never
an away from her again, but has ever
lnce been giving her roses freed from
horns, as he did the first night she came
mong us, bringing light and happiness
: God bless her Ito our SORROW
louded house.
And often think, looking at the two
oung heads (there is only four years
ifference in their ages) bending over
le same book, that some day Will will
Ill her the old, old story, and she will
ear it with smile.
81 shouldn't wonder. if you were
ght, Brownie" says my husband-how
laugh when I think of my jealous fears
bout him once on time!-"you almost
ways are"
And aunt's speculation turned out |
(she is still living, hale old |
oman of seventy-five), and she insisted |
pom our accepting what she called |
ther's share, and that share was no |
considerable one.
And the seven-roomed house has |
rown to a twelve-roomed one-Betty,
y-the-bye, has allowed her daughter |
assist in the house-work-and the |
by twenty-five garden to a
lndred by hundred, my corner just
lie with rose- bushes.
And everything has prospered with
J, and no lengthening shadows have
lien upon our paths, since the rosy
Inc afternoon we so unwillingly opened
10 door to let in the darling who loved
J, as we loved her, at first sight-sweet
.own-eyed, golden'haired Miss Ash
ali L Hnraaet.,a HepkhI