Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1886-10-21
by way of Cancellation, "that'll settle

ing the remainder of the walk.
Among her family, Hap Hazard
was as oddly bright-humored
as we have seen her to be with Ted.
She had her queer little moods, but
none of them were gloomy ones. Grace
and she were charming in their close
sister-friendship, and there was
| special tenderness in it, for Grace was
not strong Her nature was calmer
than her sisters, but just as bright,
and rich with patient sweetness. Her
eyes, dark and lustrous, were blue, and
calmer than Hap's, while her golden
brown braids were as soft as silk.
The relation tetween Hap and the
grandmother was peculiarly piquant
While the best of friends, and close con-
fidants. they never made many demon
STATIONS of affection. Grandma had
promised Hap large sum of money
when she should be OF age and was con-
tinuaily helping the girl in her own odd
way. Happy had at least dozen pairs
of wollen stockings laid away for
future use, which tue good old fingers
had made, to say nothing of the stocks
of mittens and wristers, which she
never could begin to wear out. Every
Christmas she received pair of nit
tens with q half a dollar in each, from
Grandma, and as regularly Grandma
received black lace cap from Hap.
The quaint humor of this transaction
never seemed to be noticed by either;
but Ted and Grace had their frequent
jokes about it. Pap paid but little no.
tice to these but once she said; "Well
Grace you needn't laugh; | should
think you'd be glad there's one thing
Pm not hap hazard about. I'm GER
tainly regular about Grandma's caps"
AT the time of which | am writing,
Happy had just graduated from the
little academy of Madrid, village
where she lived, and Ted was pre-
pairing for college. Hap's high
est ambition now was TO
study art, for she was remarkably
skillful in sketching and in her soul
yearned to be an artist She had been
a close companion of nature all her life,
and she wanted to put some of the de-
lights of river, hill and forest, into
pictures that would live longer than
she did. She talked much of her hopes.
but did not ask for money to carry out
her desires. She knew the Hazard purse
was all too lean to give out much for
her.
So the summer passed, and Happy
saw her hope growing less; but she
was always the same brave, CHEEKY
creature, like sun cam everywhere.
With keen enjoyment she took Grace
to ride over the green hills, rowed on
the lake with Ted for water lilies, or
al in hn dc hn
treasures no one could find
so well rs she. The place
was very Eden with the wild, yet ar
tistic growth of vines and towers with
which hap y filled it Ferns. sweet
brier, cardinal flowers, water lilies and
maiden-hair peepcd from every pos
sible nook in the house in the early
summers and in the later months,
golden rod and purple asters added
their glow to the bright home.
During August, Happy's uncle, "Dr.
PHIL (or Phlletus, rs Grandma always
called him. and his pretty wife came
from their Boston home TO visit the
Hazards Aunt Edith was an artistic
little creature, and noticed immediate
ly Happy's talent in decoration. Before
they left there was long tax between
DR.. and Mrs. Phil, then talk with
Grandma. more talks with papa and
mamma Hazard, and finally strictly
confidential between Grandma and
Happy in which our girl learned that
she was to study art next winter in
Poston. Grandma, said I'm agoin' to
advance some o. the money | promised
you when you was of age and you are
~
wife hez planned it all for ye."
l!appy's heart was too full of rapture
for expression. She just said ''Oh,
Grandma in an awed sort of voice
and then ran into the woods TO talk it
over with the trees, resolving that
Grandma Hazard should have two
black lace caps next Christmas.
All through yellow September and
red October, Happy was busy with
preparations to go away. Ted had
gone to college, but she didn miss
him so much as she had expected, she
was so busy and exultant over her
plans for winter work.
But when the October red died away
and the first shadows of November's
gray came, a shadow fell over the
grew i'll, and soon was not able TO leave
her bed. Happy left her work of prep
aration to be with her sister, and brave
ly put off all thoughts of going away
until Grace should be better. Toward
Christmas the household pet grew
stronger, and was soon able to be about
the house little, but the doctor said
she would not be well until spring came,
anyway.
Happy began letter to Boston, say
ing she could not leave Grace until
after Christmas, but would come as
soon as possible after. She did not
finish this letter. but stopped and looked
at herself in the glass. Hap Hazard,
for shame! There's difference between
what you want to do and what you
ought to do. Let's see what you're
made OFF, Then she put on her wraps
and went to wax over the bleak hills.
She stood at last, looking toward the
west where the December sun was set
ting. he sky was overhung with
clouds, yet tinged with gold, as though
undecided whether to be gay or gloomy.
Hap's face was like the sunset as she
stood there so still and thoughtful-dis-
a pointment and yet half brightness
in her look. At last brilliant CLEAN
came out in the west and covered the
sky with glory; at the same moment,
the sadness in our girls face disap-
peared, and the sunset glow in the sky
joined with look of triumph and hap
piness there She turned and walked
hou e, sat down and wrote to DR.. Phil
like this: