The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1880-09-04
THE REWARD OF KINDNESS.

Mrs. Gorham put down letter she
had been reading, and looking around
the table at her blooming daughters and
two tall handsome sons, she said in 4
dolcful tone
"Your Aunt Sabina is coming, and
has invited herself here without cere-
mony."
"When?" asked Arabclla, with an in
tonation of intense disgust.
"Shc will reach here this afternoon.
WILDER, YOU will have to meet her."
"Sorry, ma, but promised TO drive
Miss Caldwell to the park. Fred can
CO."
Certainly, | will CO." Fred said,
gravely, though there was hot flush
on his forehead. "I am very fond Of
aunt"
"Nonsensc - said his mother. "You
have not seen her for fourteen years. /
never went to the detestable old farm
after your father died"
Nevertheless, | have vivid recol-
lection of Aunt Sabina's kindness while
we were there"
"Dear me, Fred" drawled Lucilla,
"don't be sentimental. wish the old
thing would stay At home. can't i'm
aginc what she is coming here for"
"Shc is our fathers sister" said Fred,
"and ! cannot find anything surprising
in her looking for welcome among her
brothers. children"
Mrs. Gorham shrugged her shoulders.
II she had spoken her thought, it would
have bcen-"Fred is so odd Just like
his father" But she only said
81 may depend upon you, then. to
meet your aunt, Fred ? ] will see about
her ROOM"
II was 4 source Of great satisfaction TO
Mrs. Gorham that all her children were
like herself. every one 'Greers' ex-
cept Fred" she would say, congraiulai-
ing herself that the blood Of "Gorham
pere" was not transmitted in the fea-
lures of her elder son, Wilbur, or any of
the three girls.
That Greer pride meant intense sell
fishncss; that Greer beauty was cold,
hard type; that Greer disposition was
tyrannical and narrow-minded-did not
trouble Mrs. Gorham. That the son,
who was "all Gorham," was proud to
the core with the pride that knows no
false shame that he was noble in dis
position, handsome in I frank, manly
type, generous and self sacriicing-she
could not appreciate. His hands and
feet were not so small rs darling Will
hers, he had no fashionable affectaiions
and no "Grcer" look. So his mother
thought him rough and coarse, and his
sisters declared that he had no style at
all. But outside the home, where a
great show Of wealth was made by many
private economies, Fred was more ap-
preciated.
When he became n man, and knew
that his father's estate, though sufficient
to give every comfort, was not large
enough for the extravaganza his mother
indulged in, he fitted himself for bust
ness, and took position in a counting
house, thus becoming self-supporting.
Darling WILDER had studied law, but his
first client had not yet appeared, and
Mrs. GOrham supported him, trusting
his destinations would touch the heart
Of some moneyed belle. Miss Caldwell
was the present hope. She was her own
mistress, an orphan heiress, and very
handsome. That she was proud and
cold in manner was only an additional
charm to Mrs. Gorham and Lucilla,
Arabclla and Corinne were enthusiastic
in their admiration Of "Cornelia Cald-
wells queenly manner"
Nobody suspected that Fred, blunt,
straightforward Fred, hid one secret in
his heart, confessed TO no living being.
And that secret was 4 love, pure and
true, for Cornelia CALDWELL love that
would shut itself closely away from any
suspicion Of fortune hunting-that only
drooped and mourned thinking Of the
heireSs.
by four O'Clock Fred was ai the sta
ton, waiting for Aunt Sabina. What
little, old-fashioned figure she was, in
her quaint black bonnet, and large
figured shawl. But Fred knew her kind
old face at once, though he had not seen
il since he was twelve years old.
"You are aunt 2" he said, going
quickly TO meet her.
She looked q; the handsome face and
caught a quick, gasping breath