St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1885-11-26


gentle, patient and self-sacrificing with
them through wearisome years, and so
il was settled.
Kitty worked hard and faithfully.
She aimed to be an artist-not an ar
tisan. Observant, docile, patient; dill
igent in season and out of season, no
failure daunted her, no successes daz-
zled her. If her heart was aching with
bitter pain the secret was her own; if
sometimes the memory of her lovers
singing, knocking, sarcastic words be-
came intolerable she flung herself into
her work with passionate abandon
which reused at once the admiration
and sympathy of her teachers. Little
May and Cyril, the babies of the
Hearne homestead, became her com
paniOns and cOmforters. There was
truer, hOlier affection than the love of
man, she argued with self, and the
children's confidence and love sOothed
and inspired her.
Four years went by years of severe
labor and ceaseless study. Kitty was
now a successful teacher, a singer al
ways in demand in concert-rooms and
parlors, and the leading cOntraltO in
one of the principal churches. Lovers
sought her vainly her life was given
to her art, she said. In her secret soul
she knew that her love was given be-
yOnd recall. Ross might prove faith
less, wound her with cruel word or the
keener pain of utter fOrgetfulness, but
she could not change.
There had been many brief visits to
the old home, the sunniest spots in
these busy years, and now as the
Thanksgiving time drew near she was
promising herself generous vacation,
"a fortnight of rest and peace beneath
heG fathers roof. A letter from Aunt
Sabrina, which came n week before her
departure, added fervOr to her resolve.
Dear Niece Kitty: | s'p0se | don't
write very promptly, as you say, but
what with the baking and churning
and looking after Frederiky-that
"Danish lady" as she calls herself, will
be the death of me yet with her airs
and her notions, putting onion in the
pudding and cinnamon in the potatoes
when my back is turned. She's got to-
go and, oh, Lord she's the seventh
since Christmas. AS | was saying, |
have so much to see to | don't find
home Thanksgiving. Your fathers
suits him. He wanders around the
house picking up your books and no.
tons from the tables and holding them
as if they were IL part of you, and he
sits looking at Y our picture for hours
and never speaking word. Music is
all we'll enough in its place, but | think
your duty is at home, Kitty Payne; |
never did think much of girls mean
a off 4 10 N fra n Ccf
ways. The pltce by the kitchen fire
is the wOman's place, and she doesn't
find anything better with all her seek
ing after grand things. You'd never
know the white calf. It's grown ire
mendously, and Daisy's colt is won
der to the whole neighbOrhOOd. Pve
dried piles of crabApples and pumpkins
and we've got the fattest gObbler for
Thanksgiving you ever saw. do hope
you'll be home in time to make the
doughnuts and pumpkin pies. | won't
turn my hand over to anybody max
ing pies, but your fathers got so no
tiOnal. Nothing tastes us it used to
when Kitty did the cooking. For my
part I'd he glad enough to let you do
the whole of it if yOu would only come.
Your atfectiOnate aunt,
SABRINA PAYNE.
"The sweet, safe corner of the house
hold fire behind the heads of children"
quoted Kitty with moist lashes. 81
don't suppose Aunt Sabrina dreams
that she is almost poet, but | will go
home" Then she turned the sheet and
read this pOstscript:-
most forgot to tell you that Lou
Chamberlain is back here visiting.
They say the Chamberlains have done
remarkably well since they moved to
Dakota. Ross is praGtiC1ng law in.
YarktOn, aud is looked up TO as one OF
the rising taen of the territory. The
Sullivan girl was married. last month
TO Denver banker, so it seems Ross
didn't want her, after all. Maybe
was a little hard on him Kitty, but
meantit all for your good. Lou says
he has grown to he the quietest,
solemnest fellow you evei4 saw, and
that he's far enough nlw' from think
ing that Ross Chamberlain made the
world, whatever his opinion was four
years ago. Don't forget the gray fan
mel for your fathers shirts, and if you
can lind box of Sykes Resistless lin
iment | wish you'd bring it. They say
it's extra for rheumatism.
Four days later in the great farm
house kitchen Kitty stood at the long
table making pies. Aunt Sabrina
stalk ed majestically back and forth,
arranging and rearranging the piles of
cups and plates in the old martial way.
Life was battle for Aunt Sabrina, but
she welded her weapons with brave,
uadaunted heart, and this morning the
ghost of Il smile played around the
thin lips and faded eyes. Sunshine
and cheer had come with Kitty's pres
ence, and the feeble father in his easy
chair almost forgot his ailment as he
Toasted his eyes upon her bright, in
spring face.
A knock at the door and without a
moments warning Ross Chamberlain
stood in their midst. He had grown
thinner and paler than of old; there
were lines of care upon his face and
settled sadness in his dark eyes.
81 have inst come from my fathers,
Kitty" he began, breathlessly, "where
yesterday | came upon this letter witt
ten you four years since, which through
some unfortunate accident never reach
ed it's destination. | thought you
scorned to answer me and have lived
a lonely, unhappy life, and yOu-Oh
Kitty, what have you thought of me
all these years Cannot that sad mis-
take be rectitied ? Have yOu grown so
far away from me that all my love
cannot bring you back ?" and scandal
lied Aunt Sabrina with hysterical
ejaculation sped out of the room as
Rosa embroidered by the tears in the
blue eyes lifted to his took the aproned,
flour besprinkled little figure into his
arms.
"Maybe its Just as WE'LL" said Aunt