Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1880-05-08

grow. Perhaps Sh0 hnu maQc rule
ont of an exception. She began to.bc
In doubt, and when we are in doubt,
sometimes the smallest act will carry
great influence; just as when n balance
g almost effected, tho adding of tiny
weight will perfect it. This was The
act. this The weight.
She had been cmbroidcring . very
handsome sofa cushion, and had left Il
on the library table; one Of the older
children had been using the ink, and
lad left it on the table also, with the
stopper out Of The bottle. The two
younger children. n girl Of six years.
and a boy of four, were having q game
IT tag there. She was in her room, and
hearing them. came down to watch
them, but before she reached the room.
their romp was over, and there was
perfect silence. At the door
she discovered the cause; the
ink was upset all over her beau
tiful cushion. She went in quite as II
she had not noticed it. and stood in one
of the windows to watch the passcrs in
the street below. A few minutes
silence interviewed. then they came be.
side her; even then she did not move.
until the little boy plucked the skirt Of
her dress. 1t was the little girl who
spoke:
Miss Shelley, I am so sorry; l
tumbled the dreadful ink all over your
splendid cushion"
But see didn't dood it all her own
self. cause I did part for chasin' her. ~
put in the hoy, who did not speak quite
plainly.
Miss Shelley looked from one to the
other; such sudden tears came into her
eyes, taat she had to dash them away.
at is nothing at all. I do not care a
b't," she said. and the bitterness and
sarcasm going out of her voice, left it
almost chi!dlike in tone. She stopped
and kissed each of them, then went ut
once to her room.
"See said see didn't care spcck. and
for all vat see CRIED" said the boy, in
a puzzled tone.
at wasn't bout the cushion, though.
wonder what for" remarked the girl,
curiously.
"See kisses mos rs sweet as mamma.
Didn't s'pose see ever knew how" said
the boy.
Mr.. HOLSTER. from his seat in one of
the draped windows, heard and saw all
this with smile on his grave face.
That evening his sister told him all
about it alone in the parlor, where she
had motioned him to follow; he listened
to the recital without comment.
"She is so peculiar wouldn't dare
offer to replace it; when l apologized
she said, excitedly, Il beg of you, do
not speak of it; it only made me
glad.'n
Mr.. HOLSTER smiled.
~ confess cannot understand her."
continued the lady, then added, "She
made each of those children a present
this afternoon; Robbie very expensive
rocking-horse, and Bell the hand
soonest doll l have ever SEEN"
When they returned to the library,
they found her surrounded by the SIX
She was scarcely recognizable; her
cheeks were flushed, her eyes lustrous,
her manner animated, whilst her eager
listeners were sending forth peals of
laughter. Mr. Glider like the rest was
wholly interested, and his newspaper
was sliding slowly and UNDECIDED off his
lap. AT their entrance. she stopped in
sudden confusion. "Plea.e 90 on:
mamma and Uncle Nat will Keep real
STILL" urged one of the elder children,
followed by chorus from the others;
but not until Robbie plucked hes dress
rs he had done in the afternoon, did she
ms In ha nN stno II,
with spirit that called forth burst
of applause, and, breaking away from
the little group, took her roll of fancy
work to the table that held the drop
light. picking up Mr.. elders
paper for him as she passed.
Two weeks ago, she would not have
extended a voluntary hand to wait upon
any gentleman. hence the little act was
a moral as well as a courteous one. He
looked pleased at the attention. Some
thing. she could not tell what. made her
glance at Mr.. Hollister; she saw the
same grave, kind face, that was slowly
growing to be a part of her life; but
there was new light in the eyes, that
looked almost like smile. She felt
her checks burn as she bent low over
her work.
She entertained them all that evening,
and when, at ten o clock, she babe them
good night. Mrs. Glider turned to her
brother. eXclalming, Whatever has
changed her soa-tO-night she has been
captivating"
IL knew it would come out so: |
knew she was made of the right metal,
though we had never heard the ring"
observed her husband. Mr.. HOLSTER
said nothing except goodnight.
When he was gone, Mrs. Glider re-
marked cOniidenti;uIy TO her husband:
MAT loves her, one could see that if
one WAS blind l have wondered at it
until tonight, now | can understand.
But does she, Or will she ever, love him?
1t will De too hard if she DOESN'T. How
can she help it? such splendid. noble
fellow"
In the days that followed, they saw
but little OF her. She spent the most of
her time in her own room; evidently she
was passing through a struggle; this
spoke in her manner, now unduly cner-
yetic. now weary and languid; it showed
in hcrface, too, which was thoughtful and
troubled. Several times Robbie, enter
ing her room without knocking. found
Tears on her checks; he never told it
Ihc loyal little fellow would not for the |
world have betrayed his new friend.
She could not at once give up the ex-
pericncc oi lifetime; not at once re-
lonnce doubt for faith, distrust for CON
hlcnce. But this quiet, happy home
life. where so many natures lived in
harmony for all their differences of dis
position and tempcrament-wh where each
mes rights were acknowledged and
'esPectcd-worked out at length. in its
natural way. a great moral revolution.
This was why Mr.. HOLSTER had brought
Ter here. One day sitting alone in
Ter own room, this knowledge came to
Ter. She no longer hated the whole
world, she had Il sort of feeling of
for it; she even was conscious
If pit,ing her father and brother. With
! sudden impulse, she arose. put on her
ur wraps, and was Just tying her bon