The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1882-04-25

and marnalsde Jars and fruit cans and
catsup bottles anil jam pots out of the
store-room. For it was the monthly
house-cleaning day, and the store-room
fell to Letty's share. the foreign help he
ing gifted with too great talent for
smashing and breaking, to say nothing
Of an equally great talent for ahstracting
and devouring both sweets ani sours.
Lefty sprang from The lounge, thrust her
feet into her slippers and hastened where
duty had been calling her fer some time
Baby eat as good as gold, nursing hot
tie of tomato sauce. snuylv wrapped in
dish towel. in the spot where she had
beer when Rick's ring summoned her
sister to the door. Only one small flask
lay broken on the door, fillipg the air
with the subtle fragrance Of garlic.
"That won't be missed" said Lefty
Thank fortune there is no worse mis-
chief DONE" But the thank was scarce
ly uttered when her eyes fell upon the
last ar Of the famous peach marmalade,
the secret Of the making of which had
died with grandmamma, and which was
being carefully kept for Auot Emory's
(Aunt Emory was an old maid worth
thirty thousand dollars) birthday. There
1t stood, directly in front of Baby. with
more than half of its thick paper hat
torn of, and yawning cavity made in
its precious contents 10y little scooping
fingers i, r.-- -
"Oh, Baby, why couldn't you have ia
ken any jar but that2" asked Lefty re,
proachfullv and dramatically.
But Baby evidently had no excuse to
offer for not doing 81, for she kept on
grooming 10 her bottle doll while her sls-
ter hastily fashioned another paper hat
and tied it securely over what remained
of the original covering.
Then said Baby, Rick tiss I-nice
Rick !" -asa,. *
Oh, that is what he was doing when
she foolishly imagined he vas waiting
for her to come aud impore his forgive
ness bidding good by to Babv. She
might have known it, for be bad always
loved Baby dearly.
"Yes, Baby; nice Rick, good Rick,
dear Rick but for all that the ring he
gave me goes back tomorrow unless l
hear from him tonight. How dare he
wish that we had never met ?"
But she, did not hear from him that
night, end the next day the little band
of gold vas released from it's hiding
place iE her thick brown hair and a too
faithful messenger placed it in Kicks
hands as he left his place Of business.
But, ah what silent, sorrowful maiden
wandered about the Lounsberry dwell
ling thereafter! what listless, weary
voice repeated the nursery rhymes that
Baby demanded fifty times day
"No nice-no more," said Baby, mis-
sing the merry tones and the happy
laugh.
But Mrs. Launsberry was not at .
with the turn affairs had Ia
ken. Brougham Brown suited her much
better as prospective soD-in-law than
Richard Creighton One was d wealthy
young brewer, the other poor clerk In
counting-house.
Lefty will soon get over it," she said
to Letty's father, whose heart ached at
the sight of his daughters sad face. "a
first love disappointment is always hard
to bear for while. thought I should
have died when Stephen Ford nsrried
my cousin, hut didn't; lived to mar
~ you and have seal-skin cloak, aud
Mrs. Ford hasn't even a jacket"
And 80 Bfougham Brown, who was
really q manly, generous, good hearted
fellow in spite of his beer and wealth,
encouraged by hemsternal head of the
house, began devoting himself in the
most ardent fashion TO Lefty and she,
seeing her mothers pleasure thereat, and
hearing no, word from Rick, received his
attentions in passive, unresponsive
way.
Three months went bv and 1t was
Aunt Emory's birth day, and that eccen-
trio old lady had decided to divide It
among the, family. lunching with one
portion, dining with another, and sup
ping With a third. The lunch party was
given at her sister Letitia's { Mrs LouDs-
berry, and some half dozen old friends
and some dozen relatives we're hidden to
the feast. Lefty, in sea-gown { Rick's
favorite gown with a spray OF pink hv-
acinths (Rick's fayorite spring flower In
her hair. went q iietly about welcoming
the guests, Brougham Brown following
her like her shadow, until lunch was an
nounced Then taking her place at the
table, the young man still sat near, her,
she raised the cover from and dipped her
spoon into the last jar of erandmam mas
famous peach marmalade (she had had
it placed before her trusting 10 he able
to hide the mischief Baby hal done,)
when somebody said, addressing her
mother: Have you heard that Richard
Creighton is going abroad for his health ?
He has given up his situation and sails
in day or two. They say he has failed
fast lately"
And the very next moment Aunt En-
ory fixed her spectacled eyes upon her
niece's poor pale face, and asked sharp
ly: "Whsi's the matter chld2 Do vou
see anything dreadful in the sweets ?"
"No, ma am" answered Lefty with
pitiful attempt at a smile. when the spoon
struck something harder than preserved
peaches should be.
"Let me help you,"' said Broughsm;
and with one turn of his wris, he placed
upon the dainty china shell before her
wsd OF paper. .ea
And so that is the last of the ccle-
brated marmalsdn,is 2" said Aunt EN-
ory II don't want any | prefer my
sweets unmixed With unknown foreign
substances. Take it away Norsh.''
But Lefty VAS already slowly unroll-
ing the paper (it proved to be the miss
ing parts of the jars original .ha' "a
rather difficult thing to accomplish. as it
stuck persistentlv 10 her small fingers,
bnt accomplished at last, when out rolled
the little gold pig. And on the in side Of
he paper was scrswled in Rck's bold
hand these words:
my DARLING: How foolish we are
I mean am! Here is the charm. Miss
Fsrian had it about ten minutes last
night only long enough to show it to-
you and tell you story about it Bsbv
will give it to you. Had no paper, so |
tore a piece off one Of your lam pots