The Cecil Whig., 1886-06-05
i}o"on''. :Ans'ao's. fi'tisn.
PRISCILLA

From Ho,p,'s HecEiy
Priscilla's beauty was OF that shadowy
ard spiritual kind that it took a good
while to find out that she was a beauty
ct all. Certainly Priscilla's sisters, the
Misses AIldmay, had sublime faith in
Priscilla's charms but the poor girl
herself had spent SO much of her
twenty-one years Of life trying to con-
form to the standard OF behavior incul-
Gated in the Misses NIildmay's board
ing and day school for young ladies
and little girls that it had robbed her Of
that delicious and ingenious vanity
which is the glorious inheritance Of
pretty young things Of her gender. The
Misses Mildmay lived in an imposing
four story brick mansion in street Of
the sternest respectability; there was
not suspicion Of the shop in the
stately front door, and the heavily
draped windows bore no advertising
sign. The tall man-servant who opened
the door was ]oftily oblivious to the
pupils who sneaked in by the garden
way. The Misses NIildmay had
made money in their school-and
it was all for Priscilla. Had this young
est birding in the dovecot been like
her elder sisters nothing could have
been better COntrived than the scheme
OF happiness proposed to her. But
unfortunately, Priscilla was no more a
Mildmay than she was a Montmorency
or Conde. 1t is true that she con-
formed outwardly to the NIildmay
model, but natures original Priscilla
was merry, fiery young creature with
pcachy cheeks and a perpetual smile
and a good appetite. All these things,
however, were kept in abeyance-par-
tiCularly her color and her appetite.
Had that dignified footman been cut
up into juicy chops for Priscilla's break
fast, and that mahogany door been
made into rich soups for Priscilla's din
ner, she would no doubt have lost some
of that pretty pallor, that pathetic look
out of her dark eyes but the income
of the Misses Mildmay did not admit
Of the tootman and the mahogany door
and the juicy chops and rich soups
too, SO they skimped on all those vani-
ties that had never had charms fol
them, but which Mother Nature, who is
obstinate, as well as perverse, haG
meant for the younger sister.
The Aiildmay religion was necessarily
OF well-bred and repressive type; but
Priscilla was given to getting up early
and walking long distances to early
services, and coming back pale anC
breathless, as if she had passed through
some exciting experience. And insteac
Of reading the books Of devotion pro
posed by her sisters, she had a way o
dcyouring "Thomas kecpis" as if l
contained all there was of truth. Whel
the elder Miss Mildmay hinted to. ole
DR.. Sunbury that Priscilla's pietY wa
not exactly of quiet, we'll governed
kind, he smiled family.
Don't trouble about the child. Or
rainy Sundays l find myself watchin;
her face while they are singing the frs
hymn. 1t makes me forget the damp
ness and GOODNESS. Pm susceptible t,
weather influences, and on those occa
sions Priscilla's face helps me-"
One afternoon DIR. Sunbury, walkin!
down the quiet streets of West Har
rowby-it was half town, half village
met Priscilla hurrylng along. She stop
ped suddenly when she saw him, ant
blushcd guiltily all over her face ant
neck, while her pretty eyes sought tn
ground. Come, come" said the oil,
doctor, good-humoredly "you've bee
going to hear that military parsoI
again"
Although Priscilla seemed embar
rassed, she had not walked and talke,
with DR.. Sunbury all these years with
out knowing him, SO she was not yer
much frightened after all. eyes, | have
DR.. Sunbury," she said, simply.
Its the old story. Even if a ma
has once been d soldier, he's eS
alted-." DIR. Sunbury stopped.
'But 1 do feel" said Priscilla, in
distressed voice, "as if it were kin
of-ingratitude-forgetfulness, to leay
st. Johns"
"Why?" asked DR.. Sunbury, walk
ing soberly along, with his hands bs
hind his back.
"loH know" answered Priscilla, re
proachfully.
"No, l DON'T" said Dr. Sunbury. "
always thought myself liberal man.