The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-04-24

in the garret wind0w-sill, knew Dollyis
efforts, all those long twi-
lights, or the oil that was burned in the
little Kerosene lamp, long after the rest
OF the family had sought their pillows
the hopes, the fears, the intervals Of few
erish exaltation, the answering chords
Of dull despair,
Writing, eh %
Miss Melissa had crept up stairs on
tip-toe, and now stood, like an avenging
spirit over blushing, palpitatiDg Dolly,
who vainly strove to cover her disor-
dered mass Of papers with one fiuttering
hand.
80" cried Melissa, severely, "this is
the secret Of all those mysterious disap-
pearanees. This is the reason you never
can be found when you are wanted for
anything. Dorothea Spencer, am sur
prised at your
"Its only a little story" faltered
Dolly, turning pink and white by turns.
IL don't suppose anyone would pub
| lish it, but / thought il wasn't any harm
just 10 write down what came into my
head"
you'd a deal better devote yourself
to stocking-darning dusting and bread
making,n said Melissa. "As II you could
write You, that can't iron shirt
properly, or haste on the trimming to a
dress Well, am surprised at the con-
hdence of some people w
"Yes, but Melissa"
Take my advice" imperiously inter-
rupted Miss Melissa; "burn all this
trash Fling the ink out Of the window
put the pens in the fire. Devote your
self to real, practical work. You're bad
enough and careless enough as you
are, but If you're going TO turn liter
dTy-"
4 nd Miss Melissa stalked out of the
room with a countenance expressive ol
the EXTREMIST decision and disgust
/ Dolly's face crimsoned hotly as she
/ heard five minutes afterward the peal
Of Miriam's scOrnful laughter, as Me-
/ lissa told her Of the discovery she bad
made.
az triH succeed" she murmured "a
| herself, as she drew the pile Of papers
nearer to her and dipped the pen anew
in the ink-stand.
As the summer waned away, things
Jared in with the Spencers. Miriam
broke her arm, and was compelled, per
force, to abandon her trade; Melisss
found that the demand for wax flowers
guitar lessons and water-cOlor painting
was dwindling away to a mere nothing
and matters looked unprOmisinl
enough.
81 don't know what is going to be
come Of Us ALL" said Miriam, IN tears
"If Dolly was only good for anything
now
But, Just at that moment, Dolly cam
in, with redeemed cheeks, and dark eye
sparkling with unwonted light.
Miriam" said she, pausing and lay
ing her hand gently on her sister
shoulder, al am not good for much
know, but God has given US each Ou
separate talents in this great world
See"
She opened q letter which she ha
been holding all this time, aud laid
narrow strip Of gray paper in Miriam
open hand-a check for i've hundre
dollars.
"Child" gasped the astounded eide
sister, "where did you get this ?"
at is for my story" said Dolly, flush
ing all over with innocent delight. 90
have been fortunate enough to win ID
prize"
"An1 Louisa Lacy ?n breathlessl
questioned Melissa.
al suppose, of course, she has been III
successful"
The two elder sisters looked in almo'
E incredulous surprise at this hitherto III
E recognized genius that had blOssome
up in their family; and in their regarC
Q Dolly read dawning respect and admir-
ton.
'Five hundred dollarsr repeatC
a Miriam, scTutinizing tue scrap Of gra
= paper as II il had been a fairy amule
: ''It would be long enough before | mat
e five hundred dollars at dress making
/ "And I shall ReUeT earn it at wa
+ flowers or guitar lessons, almost sObb,
e Melissa. "To think that our Dolly hi
e. such gift as that aud we never su
+ pect it,"
D But Dolly's most perfect hapPine
is was when her white-haired faith
le blessed her with inarticulate fervenc
: and her mother cried tears Of joy upC
J. her shoulder.
al dllCdgs knew our Dolly wou
% come out rightIl said Mrs. Spencer.
2 And the two elder sisters were COZ
l. pelled, albeit il was little difficult ju
81 at first, TO coincide in this opinion.