The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1886-01-02
AILEEN'S NEW YEAR.
BY HELEN FORREST GRAVES.

Ike dew drops on rose. 'Of course
Is very silly for me to cry, but |
couldn't help it, Just at first"
"But what IS the matter, my pet
said old Mrs. Harrington, soOthingly.
She had found Aileen cooled up
in the deep EN- brasure OF the widow,
where the winter sunset had strained
through in deep hues OF crimson and
amber, crying bitterly.
The Harrington family were ambi-
tious people. They had come to Nir-
ginia and purchased merely at a nom
NAL price, the fine old mansion that
once belonged to a luxurious planter,
long since dead, and, on the same
principle with the old gentleman in
the PIRATES of Penzance, who bought
a line Of ancestors with his castle, had
adopted all the airs and graCes Of the
+. +. Y.
Mr.. Harrington who had been con-
tented to raise humble corn and
pumpkins in the valley of the Con
necticut River, now devoted himself to
the more aristOcratic crop OF tobacco.
Mrs. Harrington who had been a
notable Yankee hOuse-keeper, hired
two negro women to do the house
work, and cultivated society; and the
three Misses Harrington forgot the
days OF factory work and honest dis
trict school teaching IN the gentilities
of VALLEY Lawn.
The old lady alone remained true to
her colOrs.
"All this is very fine, said she, "but
/ don't see what IS to be gained by it.
Dan'l is lOsin' money, as true as you're
born 7"
'MOney isn't everything, grandma, "
said her daughterin-law, tartly.
"Humph ri said the Old lady.
And when Aileen, the orphan cousin,
came downfrom 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' she have been a boy,
so as to help pa with the plantation ~
said Norma.
"What do you want OF any more
girls" sighed Juanita, whose baptis-
nal name had been Judith"
"Ain't no use groWlin' about it"
said fPa, 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 Idon't want her nomore'n you
do; but she amt got no friends to 90
to, so what ye goin' to do about it ?'
Aiieen was pretty, too, in her shy,
wild daisy way, with big blue-black
eyes, reddish-b brown hair and a rich
TiUianesque complexion. The Misses
Harrington were not pretty. This
1I,Taa+T1Tr 91Alngvr,l, -
was not generally discussed, and Al.
leen 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 Fen, when Al
leen went out into the woOdst gather
hickory-nuts to burn in the fireside
blaze.
Perhaps it was not her fault that
Mr.. Daller's vicious bull Jumped
through tn. tumble-down fence and
frightened her nearly out OF her wits:
and she was doubtless not personally
responsible for the fact that Capt.
Dulany CHANGED to be passing, and
rescued her from the big-horned enemy
with prompt galiantry.
He was so very kind !" said Aieen,
wisJfuIly. do you think, grandma,
that | ought to tell my aunt and girls
that he walks with me when | 90 to
the pOst-Ollice2 or that he gave me
those beautiful, deep-bue asters that
they thought | found in the copse? or
that it was he discovered the big
bunch OF mistletoe in Greenough's
woods?"
'Wel, not unless they ask you,
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, and ought to have the first
chance. If any OF us Is to call with
ma at Dulany Beeches, 1t shall he
me
"Nou always were a selfish thing,"
sai5 Norma. Capt. D1larv's moth
er has a large library, and YOU know
very well that I'm literary"
I'm the youngest. and | don't see
why should be poked into a corner
always, poujed Miss Juanita-Ju-
dith.
But Selma, by strength Of years and
tongue, had carried her point
SOwhen New Year Day approached,
and AIleen timldly consulted Aunt
Harrington as 70 what she should
wear, that matron opened her large,
hight eyes with weII-counterfeited
amaZement
You. child said She. "Whv.
you're not to come in at all, The
girls don't want a whole drove in the
parlor. Three women are quite
enough. And you're so young, you
know"
I'm II, aunt, faltered Aileen.
Two or three years hence will do
very well for you, said the relentless
elder. Try and put such silly non
sense out OF your head"
And this was why Aileen was cry
ing.
Old Mrs. Harrington understood it
all very well. She had been Young
once. ohe saw the folly OF interior
ence ln TINS particular case however.
Dan Wllel likes her own way. = said
she. She amt pleasant if she thinks
any one Is meddin I'll tell YOU
what. Alleen-you aud I'll 60 out to
the blg chamber over the stun barn,
and get POmp TO build US real good
ilre OF pine logs In the old chimbly.
There's a carpet-loom there. and a
splnnin' wheel and all the tixin's. and
II snow you how l used to spin flax
When was gal, and weave rag-car-
pet
viii You said Aileen. with bright
enlng eye. "Ch grandma, how very.
Very nice that viii be, And can I roast
chestnuts and apples in the ashes p
ara VIII you tell me aboutyour sailor
over that was drowned before you