The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-12-17
Waiting and Winning

waiting and winning
at don't matter so much now,
grandma" said Aileen. drying the
tears that had sparkled on her cheeks
like dew-drops on rose "Of course,
it is very silly for me to cry, but l
couldn't help it, just at first"
"But what is the matter. my pet?"
said old Mrs. Harrington, soothingly.
She had found Aileen coiled up in
The deep embrasure of the window,
where the winter sunset was strained
through in deep hues of crimson and
amber, crying bitterly.
The Harrington family were ambi-
tious people, They had come to Vir-
ginia and purchased, at merely aom-
inal price, the fine old mansion that
had once belonged to luxurious plant
or, long since dead. Mr.. Harrington,
who had been contented to raise hum
BILE corn and pumpkins in the valley Of
the Connecticut River, now devoted
himself to the more aristocratic crop
of tobacco.
Mrs. Harrington, who had been a
notable Yankee housekeeper, hired
two negro women to do the housewoIk,
and cultivated society; and the three
Misses Harrington forgot the days of
factory work and honest district-school
teaching in the gentilities of "Valley
Lawn"
The old lady alone remained true to
her colors.
"All this is very 6ne," said she, "but
l don't see what is to be gained by it,
Dan'l losin' money, as true as you're
born!'' ....-.. .-..--..-... ........
money isn't everything, grandma
said her daughter-in law, tartly.
"Humph!" said the old lady.
And when Aileen, the orphan cousin,
came down from the New England
hills, grandma was the only one who
really welcomed her.
"There are three of us already" said
Selma Harrington, grudgingly
"Why couldn't she have been boy,
so as to help pa with the plantation?"
said Norma.
"What do we want of any more
sirls?" sighed Juanita, whose baptis-
ual name had been judith"
"Ain't no use of growlin' about it.
said "Pa," who could not be made an
elegant gentleman, let the family var
nish and veneer as they pleased.
"Here she is, and here she's got to
stay don't want her no MORN You
do; but she amt got no friends to 60
to, SO what ye goin' to do about it?'
Aileen was pretty too, in her shy,
Wild-daisy way, with big blue black
eyes, reddish brown hair and rich Ii
tanesque complexion. The Misses
Harrington Were not pretty. This
was another objection, although it
was not generally discussed, and
Aileen soon knew, by instinct, that the
old grandmother was her only friend
In all the big, dreary house.
A third matter of offense cropped
out on All Hallow Zen, when Aileen
wen. out into the woods to gather
aickory-nuts to burn in the freside
blaze.
Perhaps it was not her fault that
Mr.. Daller's vicious bull jumped
through the tumb.e-down fence and
frightened her nearly out of her wits;
and she was doubtless not personally
responsible for the fact that Captain
Dulany chanced to be passing, and
rescued her from the big horned enc
any with prompt gallantry.
"He was so very kindY said Aileen,
wistfully. do you think, grandma,
that l ought to tell my aunt ard the
girls that he walks with me when l 60
to the post Officer or that he gave me
hem beautiful, deep blue asters that
they thought found in the cope? OF
that it was he discovered the big
ounch of mistletoe in Greenough's
woodsp"
"Well, not unless they ask you, y
said old Mrs. Harrington, Struggling
her shoulders.
For she had heard her three grand
daughters discussing the Dulany ques.
ton with some acrimony.
"I'm the eldest" Selma had said
tartly, sand l ought to have the frs
chance. If any of us is TO call will
ma at Dulany Beeches, it shall be mel
"You always were a selfish thingp
said Norma. Captain Dulany's moth
.r has large library, and you know
very we'll that Pm literary"
"Pm the youngest, and l don't SCI
Why l should be poked into a corner
always" pouted Miss Juanita-Judith
But Selma, by strength OF years ant
ongue, had carried her point.
So when New Years Day approach