The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1883-01-14
MONICA.
N THE AUTHOR OF "rINLLIs. - " Mns, GEor-
FREY ~ ETC,

To any one coming direct from all tn,
luxury aud beauty OF the old Court above, naturally
this little cottage room looks small and poverty
stricken, vet there Is pathetic tenderness about IT.
too horn OF woman hand-a touch Of gentle refine
inent that shows itself In the masses OF Old WUrl,
flowers, Cdrelessy and aristcaly put together, tina
adorn the one table and the two brackets. nlng al
the tiny apartment with their subtle perfume.
The Windows, opening to the ground, are throw
wide open. outside the garden lies painting IN tn,
sunshine. There Is the sad lowing of many COW
IN the far distance All the land lies quiverng In II
heat. faint useless little breeze comes azly int,
the ioo rullng the ancient curtains that are draw
closely together In vain effort 10 exclude the sun.
Poor Mr. Norwood witha praisewUrthy determine
tOn to seem quite the contrary is looking the vei,
picture OF misery. lie has been dragged from his
sanctum and his beloved 'Aldues Bodonis El1evrs,
tointerview, OF rather he interviewed by fashion
able young man fresh from town, who though hi
nephew, Is TO him an utter stranger
Conversation for the last I'VE minutes has beet
growing more aud more lauguid. Now 1t threaten.
tocease altogether. The host is at his wits end tn,
fashionable young man Is looking distinctly bored
1t Is therefore WITH glance fun of rapture. and
noby suppressed sigh of extreme relief that Mr. or
wood hears step upon tue gravel outside that come
quickly nearer.
1t is-it must he--Monica, to the rescue
Now one of the windows Is darkened: u figure step.
ping airily from the bright sunshine beyond to III,
room within, parts tue curtains with both hands,
gazes inquringly around.
As her glance falls upon the strange young man II
alters from expectation to extreme surpiise-ilot con.
fusion, or embarrassment of any kind, but simple,
honest surprise. visitors at the cottage being and
far between, aud as rule exceedingly III to look at.
The strange young man returns her gaze with gener-
Gus interest, and surprise that outdDes her own,
For full half minute she stands with the curtain
held back In either hand and then she advances
slowly.
She Is dressed in gown of oxford shirting-very
plain, very inexpensive. 1t has little full baby
body that somehow suits wonderfully the grave child
sh face above II with its frame OF light brown hair
like the color of an unrpe chestnut. Her eyes are
blue as the heavens above her: her mouth, a trine
large perhaps but very serious aud very sweet. one
cannot but believe laughter possible TO her;
not also but believe she has found self communon
many occasions solace and solemn joy.
Come here, Monica. and let ma make You known
to your cousin, George Norwood says her father,
very proudly. The pride is all concentrated In his
daughter. In his soul lie deems a king would b.
hoDored by such an introduction.
At this she comes closer and places a small slim
nand in her cousins.
81 should have known, Of course. ~ she says as
though following out certain train of thought. 81
heard you had come 10 the Court. ~
You must be good friends with him, Monica, -
says MIR. Norwood nervously. 'ile is your only
cousin, You know-eNcept julia
Yes; " she Is smiling now we shall be friends,
OF Counsel Then more directly TO the who Il
still holding her hand, AS though he has actually for
gotten 1t Is In his possession. 'As my father likes
you 1t follows that shall like you too. -
AN ~ says George Norwood, with an answerlnf
smile that renders his face quite beautiful "then
owe your father debt of gratitude shall not easily
repay
MIR. Norwood has been getting nearer and nearer I,
the door by fine degrees. Monica, without seeming
to notice this, says gently:
go back TO your books, papa. win take care o
-of-my cousn.''
At this MIR. Norwood beats thankful retreat, leay
ing the two young people alone.
why did you hesitate Just now ~ asks Georg
suddenly. She has seated herself very ancien
sofa, and is regarding him thoughtfully.
"WheD?''
lover my name''
''Because didn' I quite know what to call YOU
Your being my cousin does not prevent your being
perfect stIanger-and stranger supPose, ought II
he called Mr.. Norwood
az you call me that shall he unhappy forever
says George Norwood. Besides, You can't, 70,
know, because shall certainly never call you any
thing hut Monica.
"Oh at that rate - says Size, smiling again.
Presently rs he stands upon the hearthrug, he Mt
his eyes and fastens them upon portrait that hang
above the Chimneypiece.
what charming face - lie says. "what
complexOn-and eyes! ~
Eyes, 1t Is lovely! 1t ia my grandmother. Don,
YOU think the mouth and nose like papa's?''
1.-THE very Image says George Norwood II
doesn't think 1t bit, but seeing she plainly expect
him TO say II he does his duty like man. at is
perfect face! hut the eyes-they are your own
SURELY
picture without feeling bitter -! She laughs as sh
says this In way that precludes the idea that acri
mony Of any sort could belong to her. 1T was tn
particular point OF II In his VIII that 1t should b
given to him. When he had carefully cut him of I,
n shilling he bestowed upon him an oil-painting
wasn't II munncent2 The eldest SON portion TO h,
mere portrait, while tho second and third som
children should inherit all Then as remembrance
comes to her she reddens and grows for the first Tim
confused. 81 beg your pardon, ~ she saws softly
81 had forgotten you were the child Of the seconC
son. "
''Don't mind about that ~ says Norwood ~
my ewes too II was most inaultoIIs Will, y,
40 Papa very glad to get this portrait of hi
mother, ~ says Monica hastily. He adored her
She did all she knew TO make her grandfather de
story his first will and leave everything ms was on
right to my father. She gained her point too bi
when she died he forgot his promise and eyerythIn,,
and betrayed the dead as You can see. ), she make
mourufnl gesture toward the room that SO painful
beirays their poverty.
too. - saws Norwood anxious, he hardly knows why
TO create q feeling OF sympathy between them
,'Not 80 badly. By leaving the pronerly IN WI
and Julla the daughter of his rd SON on rondiiio
Won marry each other he provided for both the chill
dren of the Younger sons. For me hs dld nothing
lie never forgaye papa s marriage. You VIII MARI
lula of course p,
She ia regarding him seriously, and he laurhs
lIttle and co1ors beneath her gaze
al dare saw, - ho saws lightly. "It would seem
pIty TO throw AWAY ten thousand n year, and If rc
fuse she gets all and am I'm tho cold Az I n,
heart whole may ms well think about IL; that is
she viii have tile goodness to accent me- !, '
she will - avs Monica with n rerlaIn meauIn
I'm her tome She refused she wnuld be left nennI
less too IL would an 20 To yo and she is fond of,
She paIises az dare say Won Will pet on very we
topether - she ,ontInues hastily "a Ind ms van m
Heart whole, as YOU saw. A. really cannot muc
matter -
tsWhat can 4 matter p,
Your marrying for money
'tAndif / was not quite free--If my heart owne
another tie-bow then - asks he win mn an,Ietv
know her opinion that astonishes even himself w
lemptlble returns she seriously INT wIthont ho n,
perhans she IN She has ton sevarIy heca,,