The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1879-11-27

probably have SAID that there was not
a good constitution or grain of COM
mon sense among the lot. But they
had their little dietings and dosings,
and never dreamed Of a doctor until
the vision of an undertaken loomed
not very far behind him.
Old Mr.. Ray really had "a very bad
turn" as the old ladies called it. He
lost the use Of his limbs and he wan
dered in his mind, and for a long time
it was very doubtful whether strength
or consciousness would ever return.
Dinnent pressed all sorts Of help on
Briar Cottage, for Dinnent was not
an unkindly place, though it loved to
serve with its right hand that it had
done. But the pale ladies of Briar
Cottage put aside all proffers of sue
cor. In those days enquirers always
saw Miss Eliza, or Miss Jane. They
said that Miss L Lydia was the nurse,
and Miss Jane was apt to add, rather
sarcastically, that Lydia thought no
body was any use but herself"
And if she's any use at all, she's
right in her opinion of the Others"
said candid Mrs. Rowe.
But old Mr.. Ray rallied, though
slowly, and proved very troublesome
convalescent. Briar Cottage returned
to its accustomed ways, except that
Miss Eliza and Miss Jane took their
walks alone, and had their meals to-
gether in the faded dining-room, send
ing portions upstairs for the invalid
and the nurse. They felt that Lydia
had put them aside when ''there was
really something to be DONE" and it
never occurred to their peevish pride
to offer to relieve her now, when all
danger was past. So, worn out with
anxiety and watching,s Lydia spent
day in a close and heated atmosphere,
driven to her wits end by the cease
less worrying Of narrow and embit-
tered nature, and panied and chilled
by the GOODNESS and implied disappro-
baton of her sisters.
All this while she and the young
doctor had scarcely exchanged twenty
unnecessary words. Lydia herself
had a friendly heart, but it had lived
among unfriendly natures. She
thought that Eliza and Jane felt as
she did, and she believed it was right,
and indeed necessary, that she should
act as they did, and draw back and
keep aloof from any kindly contact
with ones fellow creatures. Not that
she could ever do it from the same
motives, for Eliza Jane did it from an
innate sense of superiority, while she
was deeply impressed with her own
unworthiness. Though a casual OBJ
server might have found it hard to
one of the "three old
maids from the other, Lydia Ray was
quite Of different nature from Eliza
and Jane. She must have resem bled
their mother, who had been dead so
long that none Of her daughters re-
her. But this difference
only made her the more subject to the
family will and tradition Eliza and
Jane differed, wrangled, and were far
more Independent of each other than
was Lydia of either of them. They
were at bottom in sympathy; they
made their own atmosphere, and !
bhrove in it, to the limited extent of |
the thriving power which was in
them. Lydia was simply repressed.
Like whitening plant in dark closet,
her real life was shut up within her.
self, while externally She reflected as
I mirror the forms of those about her.
Had Lydia Ray ever left Briar Cot
5age and gone out alone for a single
month, it is not likely that on her re-
turn she would have succumbed so ut
5erly. But Briar Cottage represented
her world, and if anything within her
found no response there, she had no
dea, no hope that it might find re-
,ponse elsewhere. Few men can real
re the existence of such women.
They pass about the world, they look
.ontended, often cheerful, they seem
we'll provided. In reality, they are
,reatures who have never found their
clement; though, less fortunate than
ishes, they can go on living without
Lydia had had her young dreams of
;riendship-even of love. She knew
Ter sisters would call these foolish,
md she innocently accepted their YER
Iict. She looked with her gentle,
yistful eyes into other peoples house
lolds, and wished that Eliza or Jane
lad found somebody good enough to
marry, so that she might have been s
;odmother to their children, and
Ielped with their bringing up. She !
lad not courage to have dream hus- '
'and and dream babies of her own;
he had only dream brother-in-law
nd dream nephews and nieces. '
And all these years the wolf of pow {
rty had been drawing nearer and {
carer to the shabby porch of Briar {
cottage. Little house-properties lost I
n value; one or two investments stop '
ed their dividends altogether; Eliza !
nd Jane grew only sharper and
ourer, and condemned the little luxu- |
les they were obliged to cut off. 1t {
7as under blow of this sort that old 5
fr. Ray had sickened. G
Then, for the first time, Lydia had c
cen obliged to oppose herself to her
isters. She had no will of her own S
D do it. 1t was the sick man himself
tho drove the others from his room,
aging that their voices went through .
is head, that their hands were cold, /
nd their attentions worrying. He |
ad never before preferred Lydia-of
is three children perhaps she had /
cen the least favored hitherto. Eliza I
nd Jane withdrew affronted. Each 6
ned some bitter tears apart, and then {
y common consent, but without one '
ooken word, they henceforth implied 9
hat Lydia had arrogated to herself !
ne post of nurse, and that they only /
oped she had sense and strength to '
o her duty to their poor dear father. q
While their fathers illness continued t