Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1881-07-14

piano, as II determined TO hear nothing
: further.
Iput on my bonnet and shawl, and
went in the rain to Mrs. Forbes, the
kindly widow who kept the hotel on the
green, and confided my plan to her.
I'm glad there's one of you got lit
tie sense" she said, approvingly. "Nev-
! er mind their talk, dear; they'll be glad
enough to come to you some time. You
shall keep school here. I'll board you
for nothing till you get started, as you
wouldn't find it any too pleasant staying
up at that old rookeryafter this"
So the matter was decided. and in a
day or twoa little painted sign inform
ed all whom it might concern that Miss
within. ..,,
The village stared, wondered, but on
the whole approved They were practi-
cal children of the, nineteenth century,
who had carved out their own fortunes,
and were ready to- extend a helping
hand to others. e., i.4,,- ,.aI.l, -,.i'
So the Squire sent his children, to
keep them out of mischief and the par
son his, to encourage me; and the rest,
because the squire and the parson did !;
and when had reduced the unruly ele-
ments to order and accustomed myself
to pass Gabrielle with u cool nod, and
my aunts without sRy recognition at all,
was happier tnan l had ever been in
all my life.
Imade an astonishing discovery, how
ever: 1 was a Jocelyn in heart after all.
l was nervous when any one stopped
to look at the-little sign; -and. when, one
warm, drowsy afternoon, a stranger
alighted at the hotel, and, walking up to
it, read and reread it with a provoking
attention. grew quite irritated.
i What business had he to impress it
on his memory that Helen Jocelyn
l taughta select private school?
|. He WAS handsome, resolute, but
kindly man, far superior to anyone
had ever seen; but l disliked him at
once. and when ! heard him inquire for
my aunts, and; saw him take the road
for the old house, I quite hated him.
1t was almost sundown when he re-
turned. II had sent my children home,
and was sitting under the old elm that
shaded the house, andI pretended net to
observe his, approach. He came up to
me with extended hand. :.
Miss Helen, I am your cousin, Ar
thur ocelyn." 500
looked .upatthe stately head bent
toward me. with broad forehead and
clear, blue eyes. think should have
liked him then; but 1 detected a furtiYe
lsmile curling his mustached lip.
| "Good evening, cousin" said, coolly;
but did not take his hand.
"They say blood is thicker than wa
ter" he answered, -laughingiy. seating
himself beside me. "YOu might have
shaken hands, Miss Helen, if am only
your third cousin"
"I.Only take the hand of friend" 1
said haughtily.l' b. -fa9
Adelieate hint that am not to con-
slider myself as such. But you will find
have all the old Jeeelyn obstinacy.
You are brave little girl, and j like
You, III you are not over civil; and be-
fore leave, you shall tell me that you
like me, too" yl,,o e.r,
i shut my lips and closed my eyes, as
/ vowed never to fulfil that prOPhesy, |
but it was a harder task than 1 had |
thought. He met all my self-wiHed, |
petulent airs with such unvarying good |
humor; he rebuked my uncharitableness |
so mildly, yet so firmly; corrected my
false views of life, gave me aims and |
thoughts SO much nobler; lifted me out |
of the miserable, petty way Of thinking |
l had contracted in the unwhOleSOme |
shadow of our old family mansion
showed me life from the standpoint of |
his own earnest, generous purpose; in |
doing all this, won before l knew it, |
my respect, my admiration and my love;
for did love him-I knew it by the
pang felt when saw him at Gabri- !
ells's side, looking into the depths of
her lovely eyes and watching the chang ]
ing flush on her cheek. =
/ BY his arguments, or rather by the |
exercise of his will, which was as potent |
at the old house as it was with me, he
had at last effected a sort of reconcilia-
tien between my family and myself.
Ny aunts now recognized the fact of my |
existence, aud even occasionally frOZe
my lips with kiss; while Gabrielle, for |
lack of other conii6ante, came in fire. |
quently to spend an hour with me, and
bored me with accounts of the compli-
ments, cousin Arthur paid her-as /
though I-cared. He never compliment
ed me, though. he had once taken my |
hand and looked at me in way that |
made my heart flutter with pleasure. 1t
was when he was urging me to attend
a party at the 'squire's.
'.My black silk will look well in such |
an assembly,9I said, at last, shortly.
5r He gave me an odd look. .+,
= us It possible that hear so frivolous
an objection from so sensible young
woman as Miss Joeelyn? Cousin, eous-
in, if you ever hope to regain my for
feited esteem. you must wear the black
silk tonight. -......
We went away, leaving me not lit
tie vexed but an hour after came box,
directed to Miss Helen Jocelyn, which,
being opened. was found to be an eve-
ming dress, of some white, mist-like ma
terial, that was maryelously becoming.
Good Mrs. Forbes was in ecstasy.
II always said you was beauty, Miss
Helen. Miss Gabrielle amt circum-
stance to you, with your dark eyes, now
you hold your head up. And its all so
plain; nobody can find fault. Who
could have sent It? 1t fits you like a
glove" lA17l. y
knew well who sent it, though there
came no name with it. Ny heart was
in quite glow when Gabrielle entered.
She looked blankly at the box, and
then at my little bed, almost covered
with the snowy, floating drapery.
"Mercy on usl where did you get that
Put it on--how handsome il isr'
"Isn't it lovely ?" answered, not OBJ
serving at first her singular manner.
What shall you wear to-night?"
"I-ohl shall not 60.
"Not goi and pray, why notr"
81 havn't thing but that old blue
silk, and If you think I'm going to be
sclipsed by you, you're mistaken"
From my childhood had always been
accustomed to defer my wishes to those
of Gabrielle, so / answered promptly:
Indeed you shall not-you shall wear
this"
: "But what will he say ?"
81 don't care" / said, reddening. Il