The Penn's Grove record., 1883-11-24
EFFIE's FAITH.

Raby, a reputed millionaire, paid a visit
to the Langmore family. He was a
young, handsome, dignified man, very
pleasing in his manners.
Mr.. Langmore had three daughters
named Edith, Rose and Alice, each
beautiful in their way, and each anx-
Ious to secure Mr. Raby for a husband.
With them resided Efie Fairlie, a niece
of Mr.. Langmore's, and the Cinderella
of the family. She performed all the
drudgery and was constantly kept I'M
der restraint.
Efie was a sweet, earnest, gentle girl.
Her blue eyes, like dewy forget-me-nots,
shone brightly, scarce shaded by the
dark curled lashes which gave a tender
wonder to her face-a sweet sunburnt
force, with a mournful expression of re-
signation about the small well-formed
mouth a tiny piquant nose, and a glory
of gold-brown hair; waving hair, all
lights and shades, which clustered down
her back, gathered together by a velvet
band of black.
This child-woman strangely attracted
Mr.. Raby. She never sought his pres
ence. yet never Stunned it. There was
a natural ease and grace about her
which astoldshed him.
She wandered every evening to little
ravine known as Silver Grove, iii which
was a wide, silent pool. Suddenly Mr..
Raby discovered that the grove was also
charming locality to him. He fire.
quently met Enie there, and he became
deeply in love with her almost before he
was aware of it.
"E1ie," he said to her n evening,
as they stood beside the pool, ''Efie, if
the fairies were to offer you a grand
home, and horses and carriages, and
servants, and pretty dresses and jewels,
would you be pleased"
"No Mr.. Raby, l have never felt the
need Of any of these things. l should
should not ask riches of the fairies if L
could choose"
"What acould you ask, Efie
81 should ask for love-" she answered
simply. 81 have s 70 longed for it, ever
since l was the wee-st child, and no one
has ave- cared for me-"
There were tears in the soft voice, a
tremble of the ruby lips, but the stead
fast eyes looked PATIENT there was no
anger, no resentment in them.
"But suppose this love was offered
you, Ef1ie, by one who was very, very
poor, and you had to work for that per-
son day and night till you were weary
and your food was scant, and your
clothes few, and all your thanks were
his gratitude-all your payment his
affection. What then, little Efie ?
Would you be happy, child 2"
$50 happy" she answered, with a
nervous clasping of her work-worn,
small, tanned hands. eff only I could
help him, if only he cared for me, L
should mind nothing!" and then, with
a fun-gleam crossing her eyes, 'Oh, Mr..
Raby, are you a fairy in disguise? If
so you will know how much l want to
satisfy me, and if not you must think
me a very foolish girl and 1 have de-
tanned you when you ought to be with
he Misses Langmore."
"Why, Efie?" looking at her keenly
"Why?" she echoed, ''you know
why, Mr.. Raby."
He broke into a quiet laugh.
run home, child. run home," he
said. "You are a wise little thing, no
doubt, but it won't save you from a
scolding if you are out too late,"
He watched her receding form with a
gratifed expression upon his handsome
face.
There was nothing to be seen of her
when he returned to the home. Like
Cinderella she had gone back among the
pots and pans to work ; but he did not
forget her for all that. He was, how
ever, studiously attentive to the other
young ladies', and each one We'd in do
ing him honor.
Mr.. Raby was the owner of West
Crayland Towers, one of the finest pla-
ces in the country.
He took Mr.. and Mrs. Langmore and
their three daughters with him to show
them the place, leaving the little Cinder-
ella behind.
She felt very sad when the coach and
four was out of sight. They were to be
gone a fortnight. She would not miss
any of the family. But she would miss,
very much, the kind, grave eyes that
used to look at her with such gentle
and admiring fondness.
One day MIR. Langmore with his wife
and daughters came back in haste, all
unexpectedly, In a fly with two post
horses, just a week after they had set
out in their splendor, the admired of all
beholders.
Dismay was upon the paternal face I;
temper visibly depicted on the mothers;
and gloom and discomfort in different
stages on those of Rose, Edith, and
Alice. They took no notice of Elite
beyond handing her all the things which