St. Landry democrat., 1885-07-04

a
the grandeur of Evergreens, or the Dig
nifty of its mistress.
Henrietta Winchester, answered
that body, as concisely and solemnly as
if she were in court.
''Such long name! Must l call you
all that?" queried the child.
''You can say Miss Henrietta. y Then
more gently, as she noted the pale face
and general air of delicacy about the
boy: '.Are you tired from your rider"
mot from the ride in the carriage
oh, that was beautiful said the boy,
heartily. ''But I'm hungry"
The house-maid now appeared, and
to her care the child was committed.
with orders to prepare certain small
bedroom in the servants apartments;
and also to give the little boy plenty of
milk for his supper.
''Strange that Mr.. Dale should SO
misunderstood me!' said Miss Win
chester to herself, as she continued to
walk in the fast shadoWing twilight
1T was quite enough to have the use of
my carriage; doubtless the linen covers
will have to be taken of, children soil
things so. This seems to be a rather
clean, decent looking child; but shall
not keep him here all the week" And
with this final decision Miss Winchester
went into the house.
She always read prayers after tea.
At Evergreens all was done decently
and in order. The cook, housemaid
and John entered the dining-room in
the usual staid procession, and with
them little Edgar. The servants took
their places, and Lizzie motioned the
child to sit beside her. But seeing a
vacant chair near Miss Winchester,
with quiet composure the boy crossed
the room and sat down beside his host
ess. The servants rolled their eyes at
each other. Miss Winchester gave no
sign, but as she read the usual chapter
and evening prayers she felt strangely
conscious of those clear, unabashed
eyes and the quaint, childish dignity of
the small form near her.
The servants went out silently, but
the boy fingered at the door, and in his
frank way said:
''Good-night.''
Goodnight, Edgar" answered Miss
Henrietta, with the tiniest bit of smile.
Yet she looked after the little figure in
the worn knickerbockers, following
Lizzie with an evident reluctance in its
step.
'sWhat a queer little man." she
thought, feeling more gratifed than she
would have acknowledged at the simple
goodnight ''He is evidently used to
better Surroundings than most children
of his class.
Instead of arranging when she should
return the boy to Mr.. Dale's hands,
Miss Winchester found herself wonder
ing while she dressed, the next morn
ing, how her small guest had spent the
night; if Lizzie had thought to close a
certain window which created draught
in the little side chamber. The sound
of the gentle, unaffected 'sgood-night''
fingered pleasantly in her ear, and, I'M
consciously, she was looking forward
to the little fellows good morning. !"
Deep down in the heart of this reserved,
self-sufficient woman, who lived her
life alone at Eyergreens and was proud
of her independence Of society, was a
spring of true, womanly tenderness,
after all; thickly covered, and nearly
ehoked, it is true, by daily additions OF
pride and selfshness. A little child s
hand, guided by the Spirit of Divine
love, was shaking the barriers strong
with the habits of years; little child's
voice was stealing into empty heart
chambers and awaking sweet echoes
there.
It was almost with an air of expec-
tation that Miss Winchester stepped out
on the piazza upon which her break
fast-room opened A small, bowed
figure sat on the lower steps, sobbing
softly, and Wiping away the tears with
first one brown hand, then the other, in
helpless, piteous way.
s'Why, child, what is the matter?"
said Miss Winchester, in genuine con-
Germ.
The little boy choked back his sobs,
and in shaky voice, very unlike the
ringing tones of the evening before,
said:
If YOU please, Miss Henrietta, will
you-let-m go-aWay? I-don t.
like eing--your- guest as - the
gentleman said-and- and-I want to
see-my mother" And here the tears
had their way again and streamed down
the little pale cheeks.
"Has any one been unkind to your"
mo, ma am. The big fat woman
gave me real nice things to eat, and the
other was good to me. But they ain't
nice, and they don't talk nice, and ask
me questions that sound like making
fun Of me, andmy mother says that's
rude.
The 1ady's face flushed, and her eyes
almost fell before the fearful ones lifted
to hers.
"TelI me something about youl
mother. Or do You mind my cues.