The Wilmingtonian., 1886-10-16
Before the Dawn.

l had been SO long accustomed to poverty
that had in passive way become attached
to the barren monotony which enyironed
me.
certainly had real fondness for my
homely little wooden house and atom of in
olosure,--th place was my own, too-and
had been acquired by unaided exertions, by
sacrifices, economic privations and by the
inventions conceived of necessity. The
traces of my conflict for existence and the
imprints of my puny victories, were every
where-on the carpet had sewed with ach-
ing fingers on the low walls had painted
with my own weary hands; on the barrels
aud boxes had sawed and cushioned and
dropped into easy chairs and ottomans and a
nonescript something which served me as a
dressing bureau on the bit of garden had
myself spaded and planted on the fantastic
fence where l had nailed every available
fragment remaining after my interior car
pentry, and where had trained many a
strange, wild vine and shrub delved from
the woody hollows just beyond my own sub
urban locality.
Everything had been created by my own
thought or toll was permeated with my own
individuality, and so perhaps was endeared
to me by prestige of egotistic suggestion
had, too,a magnificent uiew of wood and
hill and water-a poetic and picturesque
view, which was as much my possession as
the air breathed, although what l viewed
was vested in the titles of mortals whom
Heaven and the world had favored more
than me.
"And yet do not know as | should be
quite willing to exchange places with any of
them" had sometimes aperred to myself
as | had gazed from my one humble sitting
room window, festooned with gold and ruby
roses and IVY of perpetual emerald green.
The pretty lake yonder, with its banks of
sloping lawn, its fanciful boat-house and
gayly paiuted boats, belonged to the Hon.
Pumpernickel, who was afflicted with the
gout and an unmanageable son And was
certain did not envy him for his lot in his
gorgeous villa, where he resided wiieless, and
alone only for the bacchanalian assemblies
his wayward heiI brought there occasionally.
The bjou palace beyond was the home of
had made a religiously society marriage. She
had carriages and fine raiment and servants
TO attend her but should not have cared
to exchange my identity with hers. | at
least had health and independence, and
wore no calling yoke of loveless wedlock,
The substantial yellowish stone mansion
yet more remote, was the dwelling of Miss
leo U.,1ro 81 olo
CANT mien and exclusive tastes | coveted
none of her prerogatives, but yet whenever
! CHANGED to contemplate the serene elegance
of her unobtrusively luxurious abode, | al.
ways rather more acutely realized how ire
mediably had been snubbed aud sighted by
fortune.
"With her influence and resources, 1 should
sometimes try to enlven the lonely and en-.
courage the struggling l should not limit
my benefcepce to them who are already
abudantly blessed" mentally complained
one afternoon as | gazed wistfully toward
the quantity peaked yellow tower just per
ceptible through dismal mist and the toss
ing greenery of noble oak grove.
Never before had felt so desolate of heart
SO neglected and isolated,as upon that espec
lal day. Perhaps the weather had depressed
me-for sluggish drizzle had chilled th,
Summer all, drenched my blooming bit o
garden, and quite distorted my gratifying
view-or perhaps after all, some unconfessec
jealous pain had for once disturbed my pas
sive composure of spirit
"Are you not going, Aunt Mariana? Dit
not Miss Wclroth invite you over, too p
queried my stately young neice, coming iron
the one tolerable pretty room which had re
served for an occasional guest, and looking
quite astonished as she perceived was no
coaked and bonnetcd.
"Certainly not, Lilias," said 1, trying t
speak cheerfully although there was BIZ
lump, each second becoming bigger, in m
throat, 81 have no acquaintance whateve
with Miss Walroth she was not bound t
extend her invitation to me, just because yo
happen to be stopping with me, dear
Lilias was the daughter of my only brother
Sho was something of an heiress, however
having inherited quite a snug fortune froI
her mother, who had belonged to an aristt
cratic family and who chanced to have bee
also school intimate of Miss Woroth. ST.
had only infrequently visited ME indeed 81
had never done SO before since the Wolrotl
had become the occupants OF the yello
stone house among the oaks.
II think she was uncivil in not asking yo
she might have remembered that you are n
aunt, should thiuk," Lilias said, in doub
full and dispeaseG voice, as she fastened Il
clasps OF her silvery gray gossamer, "Bu
perhaps she did include you perhaps Cyl
forgot her exact message, or perhaps he too
it for granted you We're to come with m
You seem somehow to have become acquain
ed with him, Aunt Mariana !"
"Mr. Wolroth cundescended to admire n
garden, explained in voice SO bitter
could not blame the girl for staring as 81
did 'He came here once or twice for see
and cuttings of the old-fashioned herbs al
flowers he could not obtain elsewhere.
has been here since several times for instrr
tion regarding the proper cultivation of sol
lose slips | gave him."
"IIe is nice-Cyril is | only hope | sh
like his elegant sister half as WELL" sa
Lilias, deftly making an invisible knot
the ends of the rosy gauz, which she h
drawn art 'stically about her sivery gray II
ban and over her fair face.
Lilias was very handsome ; she was t
and straight and slim her profile was S
gularly pure and refined; ber dark eyes W.