Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1885-08-21

thus leniently described by aunt Milly,
1 did not see the marvellous change;
Louisa seemed nearly as laxative, and
her sister nearly as insipid as ever; still
there was a slight Improvement, even
to my eyes, and I gladly allowed aunt
Milly the full benefit Of that loving
glamour which was cast by her hopeful
creed and sweet disposition.
''But now, Godfrey, how fares it with
you?" said my good aunt. ''How is
Laura? and how are you getting on in
the world?"
I could give but a melancholy an
swer to these questions; for l had to
work hard, and the law was hard
study. Besides, many people looked
coldly on me after they knew 1 was
poorer than + had been; and even Lau-
ra herself was not so frank and kind.
Vague jealousies were springing up in
my heart for every smile she bestowed
elsewhere; and these smiles were not
few. I was, in truth, far from happy;
and so I told aunt Milly, adding:
''If Laura does not love me, don't
care what becomes of mo-"
Aunt Milly smiled, and then looked
grave. my dear Godfrey, if Laura
married tomorrow, you would recover
in time"
''No, never! To lose the girl love
is to lose everything in the world"
1T may be you do not know what
real love is, my dear nephew. The
strength and duration of mans attach
ment depends upon character and dispo-
sition Of the woman he loves. For your
Laura--but we shall see. Once more,
have courage, work hard at your profess
sion, and grieve as little about Laura as
you can. If she ever did love you she does
so still, and otherwise she is not worth
the winning"
T did not agree with aunt Miles
theory, hut L said no more my heart
was too sore. She took me over the
house and grounds; both looked cheer
full under the influence Of the soft
spring; and then she told me how kind
Mr.. Elphinstone was, and how he had
been gradually weaned from his solitary
life to take pleasure in the society of
his daughters.
And hope he is grateful to You
who have made it all endurable?" I
said.
Aunt NIilly smiled. eyes, I believe
he is; but have only done what I
ought; the girls both love me dearly,
and it is sufficient reward to see them
improve"
did not see Mr.. Elphinstone, but I
earnestly hoped the solemn, coldly
polite, middle-aged gentleman had
shared in the general amolioration and
reform effected by the cheerful hearted
Miss Millv.
Months had glitled into years ere T
again saw auut Milly. Everything had
changed with ME; from boy I had
grown a man. from toying to struggling
with the world. I had followed Aunt
Milly's advice, and had begun to reap
the fruit Of it in the good opinion Of
those whose opinion was worth having
1 had proved also the truth of her old
saying. 'How sweet is the bread of
ones own earning!" Another Of her
prophecies, alas had come too true.
Laura Ashton had married-but was
not her husband: d richer man stole
the jewel Of my boyhood's fancy:
but-and this was the saddest to bear
not before [ had found it to be false
pearl unworthy of my manhood's wear
ing. But 7 will not speak Of this; in
spite Of aunt Milly's sage speeches, no
one can quite forget his first love.
When I next visited Elphinstone
Hall, it was in the golden days of mid
summer. thought I had never before
beheld a More lovely place. The old
trees were so bowery and full Of leaves;
the grass lawn 80 very green; the flower
garden so bright with blossoms. Age
and youth were not more different than
the ancient, cheerless hall of former
times and the beautiful spot I now
looked upon. Even aunt Milly seemed
to share in the general rejuvenescence.
The two years which had changed me
so much had not made her look day
older. She had the same clear, fresh,
cheerful face and neat little figure, but
perhaps rounder, the result of a
happy life and q few cares. Her
dress was as tasteful as ever, but not
quite so precise, and it was of richer
material. She wore, too, various hand
some articles of iewelry, a remarkable
circumstance for unpretending aunt
Milly. I thought her pupils must be
very generous in presents.
We had not been talking long, when
very graceful girl crossed the lawn to
the Trench window Of aunt Milly's
room.
II will come soon; go and take your
walk, Picnic, dear" said aunt Milly.
Wonder of wonders! Gould that
beautiful fair face and golden ringlets
which I saw through the open window
belong to the 1ackadaisical Miss Euphe-
mia of old? 7 absolutely started from
my chair.
''You don't mean to say, aunt Milly,
that that lovely girl is Miss Elphin~
stone?"
'N1ost certainly" said aunt Milly,
laughing heartily-her own musical
laugh.
"Well, it T ever saw such transfor-
nation. You are as much Of fairy as
Cinderella's godmother."
'Not at all; T only did as the garden
er does with half cultivated ground; 7
pulled up the weeds, and nurtured the
flowers. AS for Phemie's beauty, I
never thought her ugly, though you
were too much occupied with your dis
gust at the place to perceive that she
really had a fair skin and pretty feat
ures. I have only made best Of what I
found"
sAnd how has Miss Louisa turned
out in your hands?" I asked, smiling
*'Look at her; she is coming up the
avenue on horseback"
And a very graceful, fearless horse
woman, the quonaam hoyden seemed;
her wildness was subdued into sprightly,
but not unladyike manners in short,