Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1884-11-07

Z
"Oh, you little witch, to ask for the
very blessing you're gong to have, " said
Marian, hugging her and speaking rap
idly to hide the trembling in her voice.
you'll go away among the kindest and
best people you ever saw; there will be
many other sweet and lovely children
getting well, too, and all so happy. And
III be happy, too, and write such long
letters. To morrow l won't have any
lessons to give, and we'll ride out to
buy darling little trunk and everything
nice to put into it. There, now, sit in
this chair and think over it while get
supper for my birdie.''
"Maidee," said the child, as her sister
was about to leave the room, "that Mr..
Wallace was so kind to me to. day. He
gave me ride around the porch on Min
ME Aliens cart and put some peaches
in my hat when left it in the hall. /
saved one for on, there on the mantle. :"
THAT was kind Thank you, pct +"
AS she went down to the dining room
she laughed softly TO herself: "They're
all bound to make me like this Mr.. Wal
lace. First Mrs. Allen sings his praise,
now Elsie has gone over to the enemy
with such rapidity it quite takes my
breath away. He seemed to me very un-
approachable, but have seen him so sell
dom, and that may account"
James Wallace was Mrs. Aliens most
recently discovered relative. She had a
perfect mania for tracing kinship; the
ties of blood, be they never so weak,
were very sacred to her, and nothing
pleased her more than to stumble upon
some fifth or sixth cousin hitherto
unaware of her existence and take him
into the BENEVOLENT circle of
her friendship. Some chance business
dealings led Mr.. Wallace in her direc-
tion, and somehow 1t came about that he
left his lodgings and took up his abode
under the hospitable roof that sheltered
Marian. There was no question of Mrs.
Aliens delight at this arrangement. at
is SO good to have q man in the house
again, my dear, " she confided to Marian.
And poor, dear David would have ap-
proved, I'm sure. The "boys are we'll
enough "-she boarded gratis her three
nephews who attended an academy near
by-but they are only boys, after ALL not
men, and of no earthly use in an emer-
gency. But just to look at James around
the house o&ght to give US poor defense
less women a feeling of security. Marian
resented this remark somewhat, being an
independent lassie and never having
found as yet the presence of the other
sex necessary to her comfort or happi-
ness. But when she reached the dining
room and found him there she felt in
duty bound to scrutinize him more
thoughtfully, for Else's sake. He was
helping Mrs. Allen to decide between
the merits of two designs for a new
monument to mark the last resting place
of her family. He nodded to her over
the paper and Mrs Allen hustled around
to assist Marian in making picture y
of the tray. "H He has kind eyes" she
thought. Yes, Mrs. Allen, the straw
berry jelly, I think 1t sets off the
floating island better than the gooseberry
--and his mouth is little, a very little
hard looking only a tiny piece of
chicken, thank you-a most uncom-
promising chin-well, if you will insist,
just one of those star cookies-younger
than l supposed, too. l believed him
quite ancient.
Good Mrs. Allen just then went out
of the room for some other little deli
cacy for the patient, and Marian, look
ing at her tempting load, let herself
wonder for minute who would have
that task when Elsie was going. Then
it dawned on her what she was about
to do, and to her own dismay, as we'll
as to that of the other occupant of the
room, little sob, try as she would to
suppreas it, welled up her throat, and
her hands shook SO it was almost a
miracle the tiny red waiter did not Slll
upon the floor. Mr.. Wallace had hear d
something about the sisters, and partly
OWNED the cause of her agitation
"Miss Martin" he began-and there
was no impertinent curiosity in his tone
team do anything for you2 Is the
little sister worse9"
''No," said Marian responding to the
genuine honesty expressed in voice and
words, though mortified at having lost
control before stranger; "but it is so
hard to send her away, and we have
been together all our lives"
She said nothing for an instant while
she stood there bravely fighting evidence
of her emotion, though the bowed head
and quivering chin were affecting enough,
then broke In abruptly, in business-ike
tone:
How soon could you have the little
girl ready"
Saturday I think, answered Marian
"And this is Monday" he said, as if in
deep reflection. While Marion wondered
he consulted note book 1t contained
not the slightest reference to what ht
was about to say next, he never having
thought of it himself till that moment
Eyes, have business along that road
and it would be no trouble to see your
little sister to her destination. ooh, .
was all Marian said, but with such a glow
on the bonny face he Immediately sur
prised himself into another fib.
'By the way, you needn't purchase {
ticket, | have a pass over the line, anC
she may use it with me as well as not
Marian was proud, still there was no re
sisting the friendly offers made in such ;
way, and a grateful "You are too kind
was all she attempted, when Mrs Alcr
came in and she sped upstairs to feed
her nursing.
!. If she was so surprised at this olfel
from one she barely knew, how mucl
more was James Wallace astonished t.
find himself performing such youth
fully impulsve action. A self-made
self-contained man, his early orphan
years had been made drcary enough b,
the CRU lying kindness of charity, ant
his youth rendered desc ate by the self
ishness Of the woman he had wooed bu
could not win by reason of his poverty
Now when fortune smiled upon him h
had come to think the whole world en-