The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1881-05-24

"Aunt Seraphina !"

My aunt laid down her embroidery
and looked prepared to be shocked.
"Aunt, am tired of this life"
"Gracious goodness T calculated Aunt
Clementiua. "The unhappy girl is going
to commit suicide"
mo, I am not" said Indignantly.
81 mean to keep school,"
My aunts grew stiff with horror. Ga
brielle Redeemed.
81 know" I continued, call you would
urge, and, to save trouble, l tell you at
once tits quite useless-I am determin-
ed. DisowI me If you like. l, for one,
mean to rid myself of this horrible fam
lily incubus"
"She's madP' calculated both my
annts, in chorus.
Gabrielle curled her handsome lips
and went over to the little old English
piano, as il determined to hear nothing
further.
put on my bonnet and shawl, and
went in the rain to Mrs. Forbes, the
kindly widow who kept the hotel on the
green, and confded my plan to her.
"I'm glad there's one Of you got a lit
tie sense" she said approvingly. "Never
mind their talk, dear; they'll be glad
enough to come to you sometime 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 rookery after this"
So the matter was decided, and in a
day or two little painted sign informed
all whom it might concern that Miss
Helen Jocelyn kept a private school
within.
The village stared, wondered, but on
the whole approved. They were practi-
cal children of the nineteenth century,
who bad carved out their own fortunes,
and we're ready to extend helping hand
to others.
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 parson did and
when l had reduced these unruly ele-
ments to order and accustomed myself
to pass Gabrielle with cool nod, and
my aunts without any recognition at all,
l was happier than had ever been in all
my life.
/ made an astonishing discovery, how.
ever: l was Jocelyn in heart after all
was nervous when any one stopped
to look at the little sign; and when, one
warm, drowsy afternoon, q stranger
alighted at the hotel, and walking up to
it read aud reread it With provoking at
tention, / grew quite irritated.
What business had he to impress it on
his memory that Helen Jocelyn taught
a select private schcol2
He was a handsome, resolute, but
kindly man, far superior to any one /
had ever seen; but I 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. ~.
3 1t was almost suadown when he re- /
turned. / had sent my children home;
and was sitting under the old elm that
shaded the house, but I pretended not to
observe his approach. He came up to
me with extended hand.
'Miss Helen, am your cousin, Ar
thur Jocelyu,"
/ looked up at the stately head bent
toward me, with its broad forehead and
clear, blue eyes. 1 think should have
liked him then; but I detected a furlive
smile curling his moustached lip.
"Good evening, cousin" said coolly,
but did not take his hand.
"They say blood is thicker than wa
ter" lie answered laughingly, seating
himself beside me. '.You might have
shaken hands, Miss Helen, if am only
your third cousin"
81 only take the hand Of friend" /
said haughtily.
ga delicate hint that I am not to con-
slider myself Is such. But you will find
/ have all the old Jocelyn obstinacy.
You are a brave little girl, and like
YOU, if you are not over civil; and before
l leave you shall tell me that you like
me, too"
l shut my lips and closed my eyes, as
vowed never to fulfill that prophesy,
but 1t was harder task than l had
thought. He met all my self willed, pet
ulant airs with such unvarying good hu-
NOR; he rebuked my uncharitableness 80
mildly, vet so firmly; corrected my false
views Of life, gave me aims and thoughts
80 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 earn
est, generous purpose; in doing all this,
won before l knew it my respect, my ad-
miration and my love; for I did love
him--I knew it by the keen pang felt
when l saw him at Gabrielle's side, look
ing into the depths of her lovely eyes
and watching the changing 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 sort Of recoilcilia-
ton between my family and myself. My
aunts now recognized the fact of my ex-
istence, and even occasionally froze nv
lips with kiss; while Gabrielle, for lack
of other confidante, came in frequently
to spend an hour with me, and bored me
with accounts OF the compliments cousin
Arthur paid her-as though / cared. He
never complimented me, though he had
once taken my hand and looked at me in
way that made my heart fatter with
pleasure. 1t was when he was urging
me to attend party at the 'squire's. :.
"My black silk will look well in such
an assembly," said, at Last, shortly.
He gave me on odd look.
sis it possible that hear so frivolous
an objection from 80 sensible young
woman as Miss Jocelyn? Cousin, cousin,
| If you ever hope to regain my forfeited
esteem, you must wear the black silk to-
night"
| He went away, leaving me not a little
vexed; but an hour after came box,
directed to Miss Helen Jocelyn, which
being opened was found to be an even
/ Ing dress Of some white, mist-iike mate
rial, that was marvelously becoming.
! Good Mrs. Forbes was in ecstasy.
II always said you was beauty, Miss
Helen. Miss Gabrielle ain. circum
stance to you, with your dark eyes, now
| Won hold vonr hpad mn nd ito oil on