The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-01-07
A RAINY DAY.

.l. -.fta A RAlNI DAYs u.t.s-fb 4
The rain was falling in torrents. yoH1f
Il shall have one day of quiet, !" said
Mrs. Lloyd. ''Even the Centennial Ex-
hibition viii not draw people out in such
"a down pour as this" .' ,' 1'' 20
Mrs. Lloyd was a Philadelphian; the
Exposition of 1876 was at its height
One battalion of guests, with wagon
full of trunks and satchels, had left the
house, the night before; another was
coming tomorrow. "But, to-day" she
said, II shall have rest.r -a'l8s ! 3a
Scarcely had she spoken, however,
when the bell rang, and the next mo-
ment card and letter were brought
up.
Now, Mrs. Lloyd had once written a
book-a book of poems, She also con-
tributed, weekly, a column on the fash
ions, to two newspapers, She was
known, therefore, in the distant little
born, as burning and shining light of
literature. The Moments Banner al
ways spoke of her as, '''the gifted daugh-
ter of our own fair land;'' her legion of
cousins estimated the annual income,
from her pen, at from eight to ten thou
sand dollars; all of them, who had liter
airy tastes, had sent poems, essays and
novels to her, with the expectation that
she would have them published, without
delay; and insure them, also, incomes of
from eight to ten, etc. Her cousins,
who had not literary tastes, spoke of her
as our strong minded relative;'' Won
dered, when they saw her, ''when she
would lecture, or go on the stage, or do
something of that kindp' Or they inno-
Gently asked: "Who does take care of
the house, and the children, poor little
thingsp"
There were times when Mrs. Lloyd
found her laurels crown of thorns. They
threatened to be uncomfortable, now
When she had descended to the parlor,
card in hand, she found there fragile,
very pale girl, about twenty
years old, satchel in her hand,
attired in brown merino, which, as
Mrs. Lloyd's practiced eye at once de-
tected, had lately been turned wrong
side out
''My cousin, Amy Pollok" she said,
,civilly. .a#, suf Inns .n.l H.ni
mo, nothing of the kind sharply
transfixing Mrs. Lloyd with pair of
pale-blue eyes, which she fancied were
washed out with many tears. ga cousin
fifth timesremoved, may be. Kinship
as thin as that is no ground for beggars
to stand on fIg.s. f,I. ~fd ~l.f
'''We are both women, then let us say"
said the lady gently. That is kinship
enough, if l can do anything for you''
so, / did not come to trouble you.
I've started out in the world to be indie
pendent, and I'll carry out my purpose.
/ only want advice from you. People
usually are ready enough to give advice.
1t don't come c1t of their pockets"
with a short, disagreeable laugh.
Every well. !, Advice good-hu-
moredly "Slt down" N.
s'It's hardly worth while" seating
herself, however, with a quick, indig-
nant glance about the room,i at the cost
ly furniture and bric-G-brgc. sIt's not
likely you'll take much interest in me.
Successful people don't often trouble
themselves about those who are at the
bottom of the hiLL"imia- b1q -fGu
IF you came to quarrel with me it
was hardly worth while. Besides, / am
not in an ill-humor to-day laughed
Mrs. Lloyd" 'a '''io- r91o'1 = W.
Her visitor stared at her, and then
laughed also; growing red, as very
young girl would do. ~ beg your par
don; / did not mean to be rude. have
had so much to try me" The ready
tears coming. 80 fap e'dA 4a
lt'I see that quietly. ''Take time
and tell me what can do for you. You
are cousin Jobs daughter; and, though
/ have never seen you before, he was
very kind to me when I was q child"
II don'twant to appeal to your graft
tude, or youEsentiment;- but your plain
common sense falling back into the
rasping e4oice; ana setting her head
again thefiantly you've been down
oRour farm. You know, what chance.
there is there for q woman with. brains.
Lazy men and lazier helps. Canning,
pickling, all Summer; sewing and saus-
agehmaking all winter; every penny the
farmyields going into their stomachs.
The same, .drearY talk the year round;
gable and gossip. Who has the ague?'
and is the brown COW off her feedP' 1t
is twoiyears since had a new dress; it
is four since Il could buy new book
orpapeltr / have feltso starvedin mind,
that, Sometimes, ] thought | should go
mad, turning the thin face and pale
bl6e iieyes Suddenly on Mrs. Lloyd,
whoifelta cold chill pass over her. '""
fWeIap she said feeblyl r7bIu IN
iWelP Ina tired of it,, I've cut
loose, I left mother and the. girls at
work in the kitchen, They've been
there since they were born, and they'll
be there until they die. But Zoe cut
looser' 2,
ssWbat do YOU propose to dop"