Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1885-11-06

4
Early the next moring Laura
stood in the garden waiting fol
her aunt. The horse was harness
ed, waiting TO take them to the vii
lage where Miss SOuthwell did all
her marketing She had been try
ing tor some weeks to indoctrinate
Laura into its mysteries, and the
young lady proved herself an apt
scholar.
The old fashioned, pleasant house
which Miss Southwell and her bro
ther bad occupied now some thirty
years stood on a hill in the out
skirts Of the village. The grounds
was tastefully laid out, the noun.
tain air delicious and invigoratlng.
There could not be a more glori-
GUS morning than this, yet the eX-
preston of trouble OH Laura's pref.
tY face showed that her mood was
not in harmony with the day.
so provoking she muttered,
'that should have lost my temper
that way But it was bad enough
to have my ball croqueted way to
the ends Of the earth without bis
looking so pleased over it.
Sophie Higlcy, too, Growing
over Mr.. Palmer and me as she
did, 1t was real unladylike. And
to think of her whispering to Mary
Shaw that was "a little stinging
cOckatrice ! can never get over
thatr
At this moment Maria, one OF
their servants, came running down
the piazza steps. She looked so
frightened that Laura's heart leap
ed to her mouth.
ooh, Miss Laura, your aunts
hurt her ankle bad, and Pm most
afraid it's broke. She was half
way down the stairs, when she fell,
and her Whole weight come on it.
But Laura was in the house by
this time. She found her aunt i'll
her room, a front chamber opposite
the stairs down which she had fal-
len.
Miss Southwell lay Oh the lounge
looking very pale, but composed,
and said, in a smoothing tone to
Laura, Don't be frightened, child ;
my ankles not brosen, only badly
sprained. Katy's drawing me
some hot water TO shower it with.
And now, dear, as your uncle IL
away, | feel that you and Alfred
must be my main dependence
you and Alfred. 1t seemed an
odd conjunction. Bat Laura only
murmurcd. as she laid her cheek
against Miss SouthwclPs. 'What
can we do for You, dearest aunty!'
Aunt Lefty kissed the girl aifec.
tionately. 'Our friends from New
York will be here this afternoon,
as You know, and ! am sure they
will spend at least week with us,
Judging from past experience, fear
/ shall be laid up some time with
this sprain. Now, Lanra, you
have proved yourself such a capa'
BILE little hOusekecper on one OF
two occasions that | feel that ! can
trust you even with company in
the house. And then our glrls are
50 capable with another smile at
Katy, who came in just then with
the hot water.
Bless YOU. ma'am, we'll do beau
tiful,' said Katy, though it's sorry
| am to see you laid up
well, Laura, want you to 60
to market first thing. Your cousin
will drive you over, know. Don't
be afraid to call upon him for any
thing. I've always found him
kind and obliging. And then he
has such good judgment. Here is
the list of things | want you to or
DER
Whatever misgivings Laura felt
she did not make them known. 'Ill
do just what you tell me, aunty,
she said, with unwonted docility
'NOw please attend to that poor
ankle right away. Sha'n't we stoT
at the doctors and ask him to conc
roundP
'No, no; Pm an old hand al
sprains, and can treat it better my
self
well, don't worry, precious
aunty, for we'll all do our very
best SAID Laura.
But as she descended the stairs
she felt half afraid, half rebellious
Il hate to ask him. she murmured
to herself. 'HOw did he treat mi
last night, and this morning, too
Why, he would scarcely look al
me-
Yet in her heart there was sc
cret longing to be friends with hel
cousin. She was too proud tC
apologize, but an idea struck hel
| Just then. Her face broke into 9
smile, as, taking out her handker
chief, she tied it to the handle o
her parasol.
My flag Of truce she said, Civ
ing it a flourish. Il shall ask for
suspension Of hostilities till uncl
gets back
fastening her steps, she trippec
off in the direction of the arbO