The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-01-04
How Leila Ran Away.

Leila sat in discouraged little heap
curled up in the broad window-seat in
the library Law-books lined the room,
legal papers strewed the table, at which
gentleman sat writing, The silence OF
the room was only broken by the busy
scratch of Mr.. Maynard's pen; till he
rose, gathered up the loose sheets, and
without glance at the motionless little
figure in the window, walked towards
the door. AS he went out he paused to
say, gravely, When you are ready to
apologize to Mdlle. Durn6t, Leila, you
may go to her in the school-room, and
then come to me. | will be in mamma s
ROOM
Leila sat in the same position for some
minutes after her fathers departure
then she said under her breath, I'll
never apologize to her, never She is a
partial old thing, and hate her She
always shows so many favors to Evelyn
that 1 never have chance. Evelyn is
papas favorite too he hardly ever says
any thing reproving to her, but it's al
ways, Leila, am not pleased with you
to-day ; or, Leila, why are you reading
instead of studying? But Evelyn is the
oldest, and guess that's why every one
pets her. l think it's mean !"
The sun went down behind the blue
line that marked the distant mountains
the stars came out one by one and still
Leila sat with no company but her own
unhappy thoughts. Suddenly she re-
membered having read book with the
enlivening title of =" Too Late, in which
the heroine, precocious damsel of twelve
years, was treated with uncomfortable
cruelty by her parents. 1t was NOR
bid, unhealthy story, and particularly
unsuited to a girl as imaginative and
sensitive as Leila, who was too much in
clined already to brood over fancied
wrongs or grievances. The heroine of
Too Late" had run away from home,
been overtaken in a snow-storm, and
found stiff and stark by her distracted
parents, who then had realized their won
derful daughters saintliness and their
own heartlessness.
AS Leila sat thinking, the impulse to
run away became fixed determination
and rising to her feet she stepped eau
tiously out into the still moonlight night.
can't be found in the snow, she
soliloquized, because it is summer. !
don't know where 1 will go, but I'll
spend tonight in the woods, and perhaps
by tomorrow 1 can tell what to do.
Towards the woods, which lay at the
foot of her fathers place, Leila ran,
making no noise on the soft grass. She
reached the fence in safety, but as she
climbed over she missed her footing and
fell with one leg doubled under her. A
moment of sharp, sickening pain, and
Leila tried to rise, but sank back with a
cry of anguish, suffering too much to be
able to think very steadily, or even to call
for help.
At that moment Judge Maynard was
saying to his wife, [ am going to the
library now to see whether Leila will
apologize for her impertinence to Made
moiselle."
But no Leila sat in the window-seat,
and supposing she had repented and gone
to her French teacher, Judge Maynard
opened the school -room door A soil
tary figure sat by the window Resale
Durnet was wondering when she could
earn enough to return to her Belle
France Certainly no leila was there,
and as Mademoiselle assured Judge May
nard she had not seen the child since
dinner her father went to Leila's own
room, but that was empty.
Now, rather alarmed, Judge Maynard
called the servants, and as a thorough
search showed that Leila was not in the
house, he ordered the grounds to be
searched.
And hour later, as Leila lay on her
own bed, suffering severely from her
broken leg she called her father to her
and whispered, through repentant tears,
Papa, l am so sorry, Will you forgive
me2 And tell Mdlle. Durnet / am sor-
ry l was so impertinent this morning
Papa, I guess only imagined everybody
was unkind to me, and never want tc
run away again ]"
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