The Van Buren press., 1879-02-01
MISCELLANY.
CHARITY'S CHARITY.
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You'll repent of this, Charity, mark
my words"
Charity Atherton laughed good hu-
moredly, "If | do, you will have the
immense satisfaction of saying Il told
you So Auntie, pray don't argue the
matter any further, for it will not i'm.
prove the case, and, besides there is an
limit to my patience"
"And mine, as well, Miss Charity"
retorted wrathful Aunt Dorothy. "You
60 to your dressmaker's, are detained
five minutes, overhear sewing girl tell
ing some pitiful story, and you must
needs bring the creature here to spend
the summer, and squander any amonnt
of money in making her presentable
Patience, indeed! My patience was ex-
hausted some time ago"
Half dozen pairs of gloves and
slippers won't empty my purse; neither
will three or four muslin dresses. 1t is
very unjust in you to judge Rose before
you have seen her. She is an Atherton,
too remember
But no relation of yours, and why
you should ask such croature"-
Miss Dorothy paused as Charity drew
herself up. " ! have invited Miss Ath-
erton to my house, and while she is here
as a guest she must be treated as becomes
my friend,'
And eqnal,' added Miss Dorothy sar-
castically, Pray what do you think
your brother will say to all this?'
fsA lio adyicn will not hn olyol "A
will probably say nothing" and, at the
last word the clock struck four, and
Charity stepped into the pony phaeton,
by which she had been standing during
the discussion. Good bye, auntie /;
! shall bring Rose home at half-past
five.'
Miss Dorothy Arnold stood looking
after the phaeton until turn in the
road hid it from view. "Willful, will
ful, willful! What will she be at next
One comfort, Wayne will be here before
long, but then-hut she is of age, so
there's nothing to be done," aud with a
sigh. Miss Arnold went into the house
and took up a novel. 1t proved interes-
ting, and, in what seemed very short
litIS, tuS Spail't Vi HlCtlo vi lut dNtl
road made Miss Dorothy peep through
the halt-opened blinds, to see Charity,
and by her side a stranger, who was Miss
Atherton number two
"She is pretty, very pretty said Miss
Dorothy, becoming more kindly, as she
surveyed the slender figure, the bright
brown hair, the pale, wistful face, and the
beautiful, half ournful hlne eyes. What
a contrast to brown-eyed, dark haired
Charity, who was the very picture of care
less happiness and health
Rose Atherton, however, found Miss
Dorothy's welcome none of the most
cordial, though Charity was agreeably
surprised at its comparative friendli-
ness. Her own welcome, however, was
warm enough to make up for Miss Doro-
thy's GOODNESS, and Rose felt well salts
fed, as she followed her hostess into the
sunny, prettily-furnished room which
she was to occupy. 81 think you will
find everything you want but if not.
ring for it. Dinner will not be served
for an hour, so you can lie down if you
feel tired. Try to get nap; | will
call you in time to get ready for din
ner"
The door closed at Charity's last words,
that young lady ran down to Miss Doro-
thy.
"Now, aunte, confsss that you are sur
prised
:" She is quite pretty, and is lady
like" said Miss Arnold, slowly, but
| very much doubt the wisdom of bring
ing her here. !"
"She is lady, am sure Of it, said
Charity, apparently unmindful of the
latter part of her remark
Miss Dorothy might have been salts,
fed had she only known the quams
that Charity experienced as she began
to see the possible troubles into which
her hasty invitation might speedily lead
her. Perhaps something of all this was
apparent in Miss Atherton's face, for
Miss Dorothy's grim looks relaxed, as
she added
cat all events, she 5 here, and we must
make the best of it,"
Charity laughed reassured II pre-
dict that Rose will be the belle OF Ard
leigh"
Heaven forbid y said Miss Dorothy,
as she went to dress for dinner.
Charity was right. Within ten days
time Rose had become decidedly popu-
lar, for, being naturally of bouyant
she had come to Ardleigh
prepared to forget both the past and
the future, and live only in the happy
present. Ardleigh was quiet place,
but still there was plenty of picnics,
croquet parties and archery meetings,
sails upon the lake, morning
rides through the dewy woods. and un
der the combined influence of a pleas. |
ant home and bright companions, Rose
amazingly, and became a be-
ing very unlike the pale, sad girl who had
entered Charity's door few short weeks
before. Her quiet life was, however,
was soon to come to an end,
Good news cried Charity. one
as she tossed down letter
Wayne is coming home in the Russia,
which arrives in New York on--Iet me
see-the sixteenth, Wayne says. Dear
me, he will he home on Thursday, and |
This is Monday Is it not delightful to
think is seeing him, auntie? Rose,
actually he has not been here for three
years.
"He has been abroad ?" asked Rose, |
feeling that she was expected to say |