The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1885-12-29
Waiting and Winning.

tears that had sparkled on her cheeks
like dew-drops on a rose. "Of course,
it is very silly for me to cry, but 1
couldn't help it, just at first"
"But what is the matter, my pet?'
said old Mrs. Harrington, soothingly.
She had found Aileen coiled up in
the deep embrasure of the window,
where the winter sunset was strained
through in deep hues of crimson and
amber. crying bitterly.
The Harrington family were ambi-
tious people. They had come to Vir-
ginis and purchased, at a merely nom-
1nal price, the fine old mansion that
had once belonged to a luxurious plant
er, long since dead. Mr.. Harrington,
who had been contented to raise hum
BILE corr and pumpkins in the valley of
the Connecticut River, now devoted
himself to the more aristocratic crop
of tobacco.
Mrs. Harrington, who had been a
notable Yankee h~ousekeeper, hired
two negro women to do the homework,
and cultivated society: and the three
Misses Harrington forgot the days Of
factory work and honest district school
teaching in the gentilities of valley
Lawn"
The old lady alone remained true to
her colors.
Gall this is very fne," said she, "but
l don't see what is to be gained by it.
Dan'l losin' money, as true as you're
bornr'
Money isn't everything, grandma
said her daughter-in-law, tartly.
"Humph!" said the old lady.
And when Aileen, the orphan cousin,
came down from the New England
hills, grandma wa the only one who
really welcomed her.
There are three of US already" said
Selma Harrington, grudgingly.
"Why. couldn't she have been a boy,
SO as to help pa with the plantation2"
said Norma.
"What do we want of any more
girls? 7" sighed Juanita, whose baptis-
NAL name had been Judith"
"Ain't no use of growlin' about it,
said .Pa," who could not be made an
elegant gentleman. let the family var
nish and veneer, as they pleased.
"Here she is, and here she's got to
stay. Idon't want her no more'n you
do; but she amt got no friends to 20
to. so what ye goin' to do about it?"
Aileen was pretty too, in her shy,
wild-daisy way, with big blue black
eyes, reddish brown hair and a rich IT.
tanesque complexion. The Misses
Harrington were not pretty. This
was another objection. although it
was not generally discussed, and
Aileen soon knew, by instinct, that the
old grandmother was her only friend
in all the big. dreary house.
A third matter of offense cropped
out on All Hallow Fen, when Aileen
wens out into the woods to gather
hickory-nuts to burn in the ireside
blaze.
Perhaps it was not her fault that
Mr. Dailer's vicious bull jumped
through the tumble-down fence and
frightened her nearly out Of her wits;
and she WAS doubtless not personally
responsible for the fact that Captain
Dulany CHANGED to be passing, and
rescued her from the big-horned enc
my with prompt gallantry.
HE was so very kindr' said Aileen,
wistfully. "Do you think, grandma,
that lsopght to tell my aunt ard the
girls that he walks with me when ! 90
to the post Officer or that he gave me
them beautiful, deep-blue asters that
they thought 1 found in the copse? or
that 1t was he discovered the big
bunch Of mistletos in Greenough's
woods"
swell, not unless they ask you,"
said old Mrs. Harrington, Struggling
her shoulders.
For she had heard her three grand
daughters discussing the Dulany ques-
ton with some acrimony.
SIN the eldest" Selma had said,
tartly, "and Iought to have the first
chance. II any of us is to call with
ma! at Dulany Beeches, it shall be merr'