The Princeton union., 1879-08-20
A LUCKY SOVEREIGN,

ture standing IN the warm June twilight,
and the fragrant odors of the roses and
the budding grapevines fingered around
them as it the tender scents were fittino
tributes to them. .
Two fair young girls, the same age to
an hour, and unlike as sisters could be.
and each perfect type of her own stvle
of l0vellness-both Of them peeresses in
their royal dover Of beauty.
Rose stood leaning against the railing
OF the veranda, her naughty eyes. TINT
could melt from the cool, brilliant eray
they now looked into such LIQUID dark
ness when occasion required splendid,
calm, cool eyes-were roaming away out
into the gathering dusk that was falling
in purple-gray vail of tissue over wood
| and lawn. g.as. s.-- ...> ~. :
| She turned her face toward her compan-
ion. Her eyes suddenly called in their
wandering, listless glances, and showing
a half-vexed, half-amused expression.
"Bell, how much longer are we going
to stay here?- at least how much longer
do you want to stop? I am sure 1 shall
die Of ennui if I have much more Of it,"
"Oh, don't think Of going back to town
yet, Rose. | wish we might never have
to go back" ,l..r.s ....s -, @...t.
"Never go back? Why Bell, is it pos
sible you are so infatuated with the coun-
try as to wish that? Child, for three
months it is all very we'll to bury ones
self as we are buried, and I've no doubt
mamma will feel much better and strong
er for It; but to stay longer in hired cot.
tage, with only one half-grown girl to
assist IN the work, and no amusements
OF any sort, and our joint stock of earn
ings exhausting itself daily--I tell YOU,
Bell, prefer our own suit of rooms at
home, and my music scholars, and your
| bookkeeping, with chance Of OCCASION
al enjoyments." "s t.
II dare say you are right, dear But
do love the country"
$50 would if, for instance, 1 lived in
the mansion eryonder -Fernley Court,
you know-where the stately housekeeper
showed us through, and descanted on the
many qualities and vast wealth of it's
owner. forgot to tell you, Bell, that
there will be grand reception given a
week after he gets back, and he is ex-
pccted hourly ....
Bell lifted her eyes in graceful little
gesture Of surprise.
"a reception? Oh, Rose! And of
course there'll be dance. Oh, dear,
how I'd like to go!''
"Of course you'd like to go. But do
you think for a moment that the aristo-
cratic families around here would con-
descend to associate with us?"
Bellies face grew stern. ,a
bred If we do work for living"
"You foolish child. I can tell you our
faces and our handsome dresses If we
had them would take us where our
family name would not. And can tell
you something else, Bell - - :
The little gate at the roadside opened
| at that instant, and the sound Of tagging
footsteps coming toward the house inter
| rupted Roses remark, and then dusty
travel-stained man paused at the foot of
| the steps, and touched his dingy hat rim
to the girls. ..-
He was evidently one of the many re-
spectacle, discouraged, disheartened men
one so often sees tramping through the
| country in search Of work
Rose drew herself up.
l.
We don't encourage tramps here"
He touched his hat-the rim was de-
cidedly battered and dusty.
II beg your pardon, ladies, but if you
| Will give me a"
Rose swept across the floor angrily.
"Will you march off, or will have the
dog set on you? Bell, go tell Jane to un-
tasten Rover.
The man turned away slowly, as if to
move with an effort, and Bell sprung up
in an impulse Of remonstrative protest.
"Rose, how can you be so heartless? He
is as pale as death, and only see how he
drags himself along You might have let
him sit down minute, and at least have
given him a kind word and piece of
bread and butter
A contemptuous laugh pealed from
Roses red lips,
''Tired and i'll! Drunk and a thief,
you'd better say. A piece Of bread and
butter! Absurd, Bell!''
Bell raised her finger warningly.
ooh, Rose, don't, he'll hear your
Rose raised her voice a key higher.
''Let him hear then! Perhaps you had
better sit and watch that he does not faint
and fall"
She swept haughtily into the house,
leaving Bell with her cheeks flushing,
and compassion horn Of the sweet
womanly sympathy glowing in her blue
eyes as she watched the man walk slowly,
painfully, along, and finally halt at the
gate, as if in utter discouragementa at the
long stretch Of the road between him
and the next house, where he might find
what Rose had rudely denied-the mag
niticent country seat Of Granville, from
whose doors no beggar was ever turned
away hungry.
Bell saw him, and her quick instinct
told her what she imagined his manner
meant.
Quick as q bird, she dashed up stairs
to her room and snatched her portman-
teau from the bureau drawer, and was
down again with a sovereign in her hand,
as she ran swiftly after him, still leaning
against the gate post, and still looking
with that same strange expression on
his pale face, at the towers of Fernley
Court,
'Here, please. 1t isn't much, but it's
all have to spare. Take 1t please.'
lie looked surprisedly at her, and then
at the money I'LL.