The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1878-09-07

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 ct the Thought of q
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 q
cool summer breeze, fragrant with the
breath of the roses, lifted the curtaine Of
our cozy bay-window, carriage stofFed
at our door.
"She's le, and I'm gsne," said
Win, finging down his book and rush
ing out intothe garden.
Carol rose from his chair, ran his
fingers through his golden hair. and
glanced in the mirror at bis new blue
silk neck-tie. Helen sank back on the
lounge with sort of groan; and I opened
the parlor door as Betty went muttering
through the entry in answer to the bell
Is it Mrs. Carmody's?" asked a
pleasant voice, with-yes, it was a slight
brogue.
eyes," answered Betty, shortly. And
in another moment a round-cheeked,
unmistakable red-haired, good-natured-
looking young girl in plain travelling
dress stood before me.
Good gracious is this the beauty ?"
thought /; and Carol fell back step
or two.
Are you Miss Carmody 2" she asked.
81 am," 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 I had ever beheld in my life, with
large soul-lit brown eyes, and sunny
hair the exact color of our lost darling's.
'TThis is Miss Ashbell, y said the maid;
"and lam to stay or go back as you see
it,"
I looked at Carol. He indulged in
long nder-the.breath whistle.
Helen buried her face in the sofa
cushion and laughed hysterically.
The child came forward, and holding
out her little hand, said, with pretty
drawl, I" / 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 lonely
without our little sister, while Carol
looked on with astonishment, admiration
and tenderness blended in his handsome
face, and Will stole in with the only bud
from my precious tea-rose, the stem
carefully stripped of its thorns, and put
it in her hand.
Thank you, boy" she said. 81
will have you for brother; and you
too," looking with bright smile up into
Carols face. 6 There is an angel home,
in big picture, with hsdr 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 heaven" than
mother burst out iIl a blessed fit of
Weeping that left a rainbow behind it.
And frem 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
kind, as unselfsh as ever.
And Carols picture of Miss Ash
belr' gained him place on the walls of
the Academy that autumn; and Will,
who entered college last week, never
ran away from her again, but has ever
since been giving her roses freed from
thorns, as he did the first stnight she came
among US, bringing light and happiness
= God bless her - to our sorrow
clouded house.
And often think, looking at the two
young heads (there is only four years
difference in their ages) bending over
the same book, that some day Will will
tell her the old, old story, and she will
hear it with smile.
81 shouldn't wonder if you were
right, Brownie says my husband-how
] laugh when think Of my jealous fears
about him once on a time!-ss you almost
always are. !"
And aunt's speculation turned out
splendidly (she is still living, hale old
woman of seventy -fye), 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-Betty,
by-the-bye has allowed her daughter
to assist in the house-work and the
twenty-five by twenty-five garden to
hundred by hundred, my corner just
file d with rose bushes.
And everything has prospered with
us, and no lengthening shadows have
fallen upon our paths, since the rosy
June afternoon We so ounwillingly opened
the door to let in the darling who loved:
us, as we loved her, at first sight sweet
brown-eyed, golden haired Miss Ash
belll- Harper's Weekly.