The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1881-01-11

gets upset." said the deacon. This is
Mr., Gannett, that's to preach for ns.
Mr.. Gannet, this is my daughter Tilly."
"What lovely little creature!" / said
to myself. "Nothing like Margaret, hut
so prsttyw And l found myself think
ling Of her as / washed my hands and
brushed my hair in the blue walled bed
room on the second floor, and white
fringed counter pane and curtains, and
two black silhouettes over the ri1antel.
piece, on either side of the china vases
of roses.
There were only four Of US at table
the deacon, his wife, stout lady who
never said more than she cpuld help end
Tilly. She had spent the last wintef n
New York, and we talked about all che
had seen. She was self-possessed with
out being forward. and oh,so prettv-so
pretty! Now Margaret was splendid
and queenly, so this was mild praise that
she could not have objected to. only
said it very often. l preachedlin the
church on the morrow; preached on
the next Sunday. 1t was settled shat !
should spend the sumner there. Iwrote
this to Margaret: g =
| "Since YOU cannot be with me it does
not matter where / am -this stupid place
as we'll as any other. Address 10 the
care of Deacon Hezekiah Glover. ]
shall hoard with him while 1 stay."
1t was pleasant summer despite the
dullness Of the place. How good the
quaint old deacon when one really knew
him! How motherly was Mrs Glover
as for lilly she grew sweeter every dav
| often wondered what Margaret would
have said could she have seen me help
ing her to pick blackberrics, to find the
runaway COW, to carry home the milk
pail, driving her over to the country
store and returning with a freight OF
groceries-M Margaret, who knew nothing
Of domestic details. and whose mono
grammed and perfumed letters we're often
brought over from ths offl,e in compa
ny with the kerosene can. wrote nv
sermons at one end OF the round table,
while Tllv sat at the other sewing Be-
tween US was lamp with green shade.
Now and then big bug would fy into
the window and go humming about our
heads, or a moth would try to SINCE it's
wings over the chimney, and Iiwould
stop and drive itout !. s
The old people would 90 to bed after
. while, ,,and then lilly and would find
Ourselves hungry, and she would GO into
the kitchen 10 find "snmething good. -
! always held the light for her. When
something good was found, We ate it on
the back porch, sitting side by side on
the step like two children.
She was SO like child. that little Til
", that it seemed no harm to ask her to
kiss me good night, or to hold her hand
lin mine. asit restedrsa<akvees hasia COR
long walks home from church on Sunday
evening.
The summer passed. October came.
Margaret returned to the city and wrote
to me 1t was while we we're eating
peaches and cream on the hack porch
that evening that said to lilly:
II will tell you a secret II yod Will
keep it for while. Tilly."
"Oh, Of course / will, Mr.. Gannet.'s
Il am going to he married this fall,
Tilly." 1 said "Those pretty letters
you always thought came from my sis
ter are from the lady who is to marry
me. She is very beautiful, very rich.
very stylish, but very kind. You must
come and see US, Tilly, when we are
married. shall tell Margaret how good
you have been to me-what sweet little
sister Ifound out here in New Vallado-
lid. Why, Tilly!-"
For as spoke felt the little hand |
held grow cold and heavy in mine. ]
saw her sink backward. The big china
bowl of peaches and cream slipped with
q crash to the ground and shattered to
pieces.
/ caught the poor child in nv arms.
In a moment she came to herself and
said that she had overtred herself, she
thought. They had been baking all day
and it was warm And now she bade
me good night. She kept her room,
and was not we'll enough to bid nae good
by.
Poor little Tilly! 1 felt vry misera-
hle. However, Margaret met me in New
York. She was more beautiful than
ever-more elegant in contrast to my
simple country friends-and very soon
| laughed st myself for the thought that
had been in nv heart. OF course / said
it was the baking that had overcome
Tilly-it was not my news. / had only
been to her as q friend-as brother
had not made love to her; above all,
had not firted with her. Bat thought
OF Tilly great deal, and now missed
her exactly-oh,yes, exacsly-as might
sister. l wrote to Mrs. Glover and
her answer was very brief.
81 haven't much time to write, she
said in her postscript 'Tilly is sick,
and besides being driven, I'm anxious
This letter was in my pocket on that
day when Margaret and went together
to the great fair for the benefit OF the
church of St. Surplice. One OF the fea-
lures of that entertainment, il you re-
member, was the array Of little arbors in
which EMBELLISHMENTS were served.
After we had roamed about the fail
and bought all sorts of nicknacks, es-
corted Margaret to one Of these arhors
and there sat down to wait, while one o
the ladies, who, "on this occasion only
was doing good, onerous hard work
brought US tray of refreshments
As we sat leaning back against the
evergreen and smilax which draped the
lattice. two women, entered the, next or.
bor, and one OF them, as she sat down
said to the other "Im jast about tired
out. Aren't you, Mrs. Tripp ?" and The
other answered: "Yes, am tired.
hardly know that it pays to come all th'
wav from Valladolid 10 New York sight
seeing"
II was the voice OF the Glnvers' near
est neighbor, of Tilly's godmother, ant
both liked and respected her, yet dir
not feel quite sure how Margaret would
like an introduction, and 80 refrainet
} from looking around the corner of tn
hover and making myself known.
!, Il think we'd better have tea," sal,
the first voice. "lt's more refreshin,
than coffee. Oh; how is lilly to-day
, Think of my never asking before 2,