Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1881-02-24

ing when the naples in the glen were
ali blazing in their autumn colors.
That's Just like your selishness, Cla-
IA Gomez said Mrs. Brushby, acidly.
And let me stay at home; for, Of course,
one of us must remain at home, to see
that we are not robbed by tramps and
to cook the dinner"
"But couldn't go in the evening,
aunt?"
Certainly notw said Mrs. Brushby.
Il belong to the 'Rebecca Band" which
always meets in the chapel on Sunday
evenings, and Deacon Halstead calls for
me in his box wagon. IL you feel so pi-
ously inclined, you can read your pray
er book at home"
And so Clara found herself gradually
degenerating into the merest household
drudge. She went nowhere and saw no
body.
Pretty Mrs. Brushby would scol n
fully remark when a neighbor CHANGED
to hazard an opinion concerning her
niece. "Nonsensel Just exactly like
eolorless celery sprout, and never a word
to say for herself ~
And if by chance Clara was invited to
join in any of the neighborhood festivi-
ties. Mrs Brushby made haste to decline
for her.
CLARA never goes out" she said. "She
has no taste for such things, poor dear
Until people began to believe that
Clara Cone was either recluse or an
idiot.
The pale factory girl had just taken
the teapot off the stove, upon this espe-
cial evening, when Mrs. Brushby utter
1 I Of
"Whisk the things into the closet,
quick, Clara, said she. Put the bread
behind the family bible. Don't leave
that bottle of pickles on the mantle.
Mr.. Selwyn is coming"
A minute and a half later Mrs. Brush
by, in her best black silk apron, greeted
the clergyman with her sweetest smile.
my visit is intended to your niece,
Miss Cone. as well as to YOURSELF, said
Mr.. Selwyn, after the topic Of the wealth
er had been duly discussed.
| 20, Clara" said Mrs. Brushby, SIM
pering-"Clara wishes to be excused.
Clara sees no company. 1 really regret
the dear girls eccentricity, but"
And she rolled her green eye heaven
ward, with depricating motion of the
hands.
"She never comes to church" said Mr..
Selwyn, gravely.
"A-h-h-hp groaned Mrs. Brushby,
''her heart is like the neither milestone.
If you knew, dear Mr.. Selwyn, how i
have striven with her"
Mr.. Selwyn looked concerned.
81 am beginning series Of sermons
to young people next Sunday evening.
"Pray use your endeavors to induce this
young girl to attend"
And Mrs Brushby promised that the
would, and the young clergyman took
his leave:
"You mustw said Mrs. Brushby.
"Please, aunt, don't ask mep said Cla-
"a, with terrs in the limpid eyes.
what goose you are" said Mrs.
Brushby. "As if it made any earthly
difference, And must have the dress
to wear to church tomorrow evening
Mr.. Selwyn is to preach the first of a Sc
ries of sermons to young people, and
I'm specially interested in EN-"
"But never sewed on Sunday ia my
life"
"The dressmaker has disappointed me,
and must have the dress. A few seams
more or less, what do they matter? I'll
risk your SOUL And nobody need ever
know. Only think, Clara Cone, what l
have done for YOU
"Oh, aunt, can'tp cried Clara. in a
choked voice. at wouldn't be right"
"And who set you up as judge of
right and wrong, I'd like to know" al
most screamed Mrs. Brushby. Now
take your choice; either finish up this
dress for me, or leave the house."
Clara was silent for moment. Then |
she spoke:
Il will leave the house." she said.
"And 1 fully approve of your deci-
sion," said Mr.. Selwyn's voice, as he
stepped in from the open-doOred Po,ti-
CO, where his knock had been drowned |
by the high accents of Mrs. BruShby. |
Leave the house, Miss Cone, and l will
see that refuge is provided for you at
the home of Mis- Foxe"
Mrs. Brushby stood startled and dis
mayed. Clara Cone, Pale and silent,laid
her hand on the minister's arm, and left |
the room and the house.
Honest Miss Foxe was amazed when
Clara Cone took refuge with her.
"Well," she declared, 81 always knew
that CornelIa Brushby was a regular
grinder, but l did suppose she had some
Christian decency about her. Yes, child,
you are welcome to my spare room, and
l shan't charge you any board. dare
say you will lend a helping hand now
and then when I'm busy; and your COM
pany will be deal of comfort to me-"
But Miss Foxe didn't have that com
fort long. Mr.. Selwyn had become
deeply interested in the pale, clear-eyed
factory girl, and before the wild roses
blOssomed along the verge of the woods,
the parsonage had a mistress, and Mr.
Selwyn no longer came under the head
of unmarried clergymen."
Mrs. Brushby's tender aspirations
were blighted in the bud; but bald
headed old bachelor bought the factory
just about that time, and Mrs. Brushby
transferred her attentions to the new
comer-and, with many mods and winks,
she gives the general public to under
stand that Mr.. Selwyn is her rejected
lover.
you see," says Mrs. Brushby, with
her green eyes of eoniding artlessness
uplifted, 81 never could reconcile my [
self to the trials of minister's wife, I
Cleveland Herald.
l.,