The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1885-04-25

HiAo pNiiiAii5 iiOilg nv NpiiNiD y
man, who had known little of any
woman save the petted, hot-house
plant Of society, was piqucd by her
cynicisms into an odd admiration
for this child of nature, bringing to
him, so tired of conventionalisms
something of the sound of fresh
winds from heath-clad hills-sharp
but cXhilarating. SO, allured in
spite of himself by some subtle
charm in her letters, the correspond
encc was continued until three Feb
ruaries had blowed and clustered.
the second taking from Elma her
uncle, never loved, and yet whose
death threw upon her weak should
ers the task of wholly supporting
her aged grandmother, whose lamp
now llickered in the socket.
This burden she had discovered
it would be impossible for her to
maintain, when u cousin in the far
West, hearing of their destitute con-
dition, sent her timely aid, that
enabled her to devote all her time
to the invalid; and in lonely mid
night watches by that beside was
the great wherefore" of her exist
ence solved. Humbly she laid that
intellect she had so assiduously cul-
tivated, with her chastened heart, at
His feet, who died to save. Hence
forth life had new aims, her lowly
duties gained holier significance.
Filled with inward peace, while in
all the strength of her newly-found
hope, she determined to bid adieu
to him whom she had acknowledged
to herself almost from the beginning
of their correspondence, to be priest
and king, and whom she had wor-
shipped with an idolatry unreason-
ing as it was sinful, though know
ing all the time that for her he felt
simply friendship"
To Elma he was still ''Unknown:n
but he had bestowed upon her the
title of agnes" from some fancied |
resemblance to the heroine of work |
Of fiction. He believed her all she |
represented herself to be, poor and |
PLAIN, and, morever, had set her
down in his mind as an old maid.
When she made known her decis-
on of closing their correspondence,
ne recei7ed it with suave regret, for
ne had long known the cause of her
Responding letters, and erratic
lights from tenderness to sarcasm,
md here the curtain seemed to drop
Upon this eventtul drama in at least
me life. Soon Death dropped again
his asphodels at Elma's door, and
n the early fall she gladly accepted
IN invitation from her kind cousin
o make his western home her own.
She found Ralp Parrimore an eld-
'rly man, CHEEKY and prosperous,
Who greeted her warmly, and usher
I'd her into the presence of his large
amily, consisting of Mrs. p, gentle
md lovely, one of those purified by
he fires of suffering; four noisy,
5ood-natured boys; little lame Ger
rude Of eleven years; and last,
Helen, magnificent Helen, with
glorious, Cecil-like, ever-following
yes tall and queenly, and yet
vithal tender and lovable to all.
Here in this, the first real home
he had ever known, Elma found
books, and music, and congenial
'ompanionship, yet did not her life
If unceasing ministery end. A will
ng, anxious spirit found much to
10 even in their well ordered house
lold. Gertrude she made her es-
)ecial charge, and if she wearied of
Ter tretful whims, no one was ever
he wiser for the knowledge.
Helen, though so amible, was, as
!miable people are very apt to be, a
title indolent, and the boys soon
ound who was most willing to help
hem in their studies; besides,
Helen was deep in the mysteries of
for she was to be married,
before winter set in, to a prominent
awyer, whom She had met the win
cr before in southern city. She
vas very gentle and kind to this
stray little waif vino had come
lmong them, and so, indeed, were
hey all, trying to make her forget
he hardships of her former life, in
.he peace and plenty of this; and,
surrounded by this atmospere of
owe and sympathy. Elma's face
soon reflected the peace and light of
ler heart, until her saucy little
cousin Edmund, laughingly declar-
I'd she would some day wake up
md find herself Il beauty.
A November day, very unlike
most November days, was closing in
With mist of golden light and rosy
,louds. Helen and Elma sat alone