The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1884-05-17
EFFIE'S REWARD.
"Stella, is it your"
By BERT-E BAYLE.

'Stella, is it your"
1t was bitter winter night.
The full moon shining with freezing
light over a cold e1panse of glittering
snow.
The branches in the glen tinkling and
cracking under their weight of icicles,
the stars glistening afar off,
/ had run across the beaten path
that led from the house to the barn,
to get some apples that were
packed so snugly in the oat-bin, for old
Mr. Cornell had come to spend the even
lug, and my mother took pride in her
unpretending hospitality.
But just as stopped to lift the lid oil
the bin, rustling noise In the hay
startled me.
Before 1 could utter the low cry that
trembled on my lips, saw that it was
Stella Severn.
Stella Severn, neighbor Lock wood e
girl, wild, reckless thing, who received
bad name at every ones hand, and
contrived somehow to get blamed for
every scrape that was going.
Whether Stella was really bad or not.
no one could tell-but somehow she was
perpetually under the ban.
Mrs. Lockwood, stiff, rigid dame of
the Puritanic type, knew no more how
to manage Stella Severn than the mat
ronly hen comprehends the rowing nat
ure of the willful duckling that takes to
the water in spite of every thing-and
for some recent escapade, the full details
of which l did not know had been for
hidden by my mother even to speak to
Stella.
eyes, it is l." said Stella, slowly rear.
ing herself out Of the recesses of the
hay, and staring at me with her big
eyes. Sand l am. oh-so coldi"
What are you doing here?" I asked
holding up my lantern in sore perplex-
ity.
I'm trying to sleep" said Stella. I've
run away"
'Run away? What for?"
because / couldn't stand it any long
ger. Mrs. Lccswo I'd accused me of be-
ing tnief-she had lost some misera-
bic old teaspoons or other-and l won't
be called their
"But, Stella" / cried my nature thrill
ling with vague terror at the mere idea
OF such bold measures as these, "what
are you going to do?"
''The Lord only Knows" Stella ans
'VeIed, with more reckless truth than
reverence.
perhaps mother would let you sleep
in our spare room," hesitated.
perhaps she Wouldn't scornfully
retorted Stella, "No decent person let's
me IMP
az mean to ask her."
ASK, then, and get a scolding for
your pains" laughed Stella, bitterly.
'But II is so cruelty cold, and mother
wouldn't shut out even dog in such
weather as this"
perhaps so, but am worse than a
dog. You mean kindly, Fife Heart,
but you'll find out the folly of it."
l made no answer, but ran as fast as
could back to the house, where,
breathless and painting. preferred my
request.
"a thiefl A runaway In my houser'
cried my mother.
ga lazy, good for-nothing, who would
rather lie in the sunshine than work any
time" echoed Cornell.
go and warn her off the premises
Immediately" said my mother.
81 dunno but I'd ought to go for the
constable" obviously remarked Cornell
feeling his stubbly beard.
skunk away disheartened.
Stella's prophecy had been correct.
But I was determined not to desert M
own playmate thus.
Creeping up to my room, took 6
solitary crown piece, treasured towards
new blue sash for a spring muslin, anC
wrote short note to Hubert Leslie
Hubert Leslie, the young artist who had
lived with US the summer previous
asking him to befriend the friendless.
/ believe he would do as much as thai
for my sake, and then hurrying once tt
the barn, l crept up to Stella's side.
"Stella, said ], ''you must go away
f,om here"
81 thought So" responded Stells
calmly.
"But here's crown-all the money
have got. 1t will take you to York
And here is note to gentleman VIII,
may, perhaps, help you to find some
thing to do"
Stella threw her arms about my neck
and could feel her tears, wet and warm
upon nv cheek.
"Efie Heartt," sobbed she, 'if al
the world was like you, perhaps
shouldn't be SO bad as l am. Yet II
do my best. Give me the money and lie
me CO."
l watched her dark form ploddiny
away over the snow until the blacl
speck vanished under the wall of tree.
that lined the road, and then / cam,
back into the house where my mothe
and visitor were.
"aas she gomez" asked the former.
Eyes, she has gone," answered.
81 am glad of that" said my mother
1--WE no faith in that Stella Severn
She might have had good home witt
Mrs Lockwood, if only she had behaved
herself"
Aud it was not until some time after
ward that ventured to tell my mothe
what had done.
"You are fool" said she. with acer
bity. Your money is as clean thrown
away as if you had pitched it down tn,
well; and I'm sure don't know wha
Mr. Leslie will think of your interior
ence."
L hung my head and made no answer
But when the summer hung her cor
onal of big cream .colored roses owe,
our farm door, and Hubert Leslie
came back with his easel, L venture1 Il
ask him OF Stella.
''Oh, said he, ''that black eyed cir
with the Spanish face? Yes, / remem
Der now. got her place as chiId
nurse with my cousin, Mrs. Evelyn
but she ran away within month"
"Humph! 1 told you So" said N,
mother, with the scornful emphasil
which Is SO hard to bear.
/ bit my lip
Never mind, Effie," said Mr.. Lesli,
Kindly, "a good action is never entirel,
thrown away. Stella Severn's gips1
blood could i'll bear constraint; but
don't think she'll forget you, for al
That was Just before Hubert Lesli
asked me to be his wife.
we were married the next spring an,
Invent tn NQr Vorb - IL "