The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1884-10-02
A HEART TO LET.

"Therer said Miss Wilhelmina. 81
think I've got it black enough nowr'
Miss Wilhelmina had been wrestling
with pen and ink. Not that she was
literary lady-that was far from be-
ing the case.
The effusion upon which she was so
hard at work was neither more nor
less than big "TO LET" printed on
the back of a sheet of her deceased
fathers sermon paper, and she viewed
it with solemn satisfaction.
TO LET-APPLY WITHIN.
'.........
81 won't pay any agents fees" said
she, "nor l won't pay good, hard mon
ey for notice that can print myself
I've economical all my life, and I'm
not going to leave off now. Beryl,
say?"
In answer to the last word, spoken
in quick, arbitrary accents, bright
eyed girl of seventeen came running
in, wiping her dimpled hands on a
frilled apron. Ber cheeks were flushed
with household exercise, her shin. -.g
brown hair was coiled in a lustrous
braid at the back Of her head, and her
long-lashed hazel eyes sparkled like d.
Almonds.
"What is it, aunty?" said Berry,
Brand.
Get the paste-pot and brush,
said Miss Wilhelmina, "and put up
this ITO LETw
Beryl looked first at her aunt, and
then at the fat, black-lettered sign, in
dismay.
"Aunt," said she, "are you going to
moue?"
eyes," said Miss Whilelmina, "I've
made up my mind to give up house
keeping"
"Where are we going, aunt?"
"1m going to Leicestelshire," said
Miss Wilhelmina, "to keep house for
Cousin Fred, whose wife, Lily, is fee
bic, and can't keep an eye to things"
Beryl colored violently.
"But, Aunt Wllhelmina," said she,
1T was me that Cousin Fred wrote for
to come and help Lily, and be a COM
panion to the girls
Eyes, l know" said Wilhelmina,
with the Indifference of utter selfish
ness; "but Fred hadn't any idea how
young and inexperienced you are. and
I've wrote him that will come there,
if he'll pay me liberal wages and give
me the complete management of every
thing"
"But, Aunt Wilhelmina-"
"Well?'
"What is to become of me?" pleaded
poor Beryl.
"Some people are always thinking of
themselves" said Miss Wilhelmina
sharply. "Why, what should become
of you? You can get a place with
Mrs. Somerset in the millinery bust
ness; or you can go out as compan-
ion. And now l think of it, it was
only yesterday saw in the daily pa
per that Lyon and Stubb wanted
dozen smart young women to stand be-
hind the counter. There are always
plenty Of things for woman to do if
she has little ambition and energy
And now don't stand there, looking as
if your senses were all flying up the
chimney, but hustle out and put up
that notice as sharp as possible, for it's
a nice day, and all the house-hunters
will be out"
Beryl obeyed, with an indescribable
feeling as if the whole world were
turning itself upside down.
And as she leaned over the iron rail
of the steps, fastening the big "rO
LETT against the mildewed brick wall,
certain scent of greening grass and
opening dandelions saluted her senses,
while the warble of prisoned thrush
in a cage across the street, reminded
her of a visit she had once made, years
and years ago, to this same Cousin
Fred up in Leicestershire.
The tears came, unbidden, into
Beryps eyes,
"Oh, how delightful it would be to
live in the real country she said to
herself. "And l know l could make
myself useful at Cousin Fred's. But
if Aunt Wilhelmina is going herself,
there is an end of the matter"
For Beryl was too well used to her
aunt's overbearing egotism even to at
tempt a struggle against it.
All her life long she had been the
victim of Aunt Wilhelmina's selfish
ness. 1t was too late for any rebellion
now.
And then Wilhelmina went up to
her room to pack her trunk for Cousin
Fred's while Beryl returned to her dish
washing and ironing.
All day long the house was besieged
with an eager ihrong of house hunt
ers. All day long Beryl marshalled