Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1886-02-22
Waiting and Winning.

couldn't t help 1t at 1rSt.
s'But what Is the matter, my pet"
said old Mrs. Harrington, soothing
ly.
She had found Aleen 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
nominal price, the fine old mansion
that had once belonged to luxurious
planter, long since dead. Mr.. Har-
rington who had been contented to
raise humble corn and pumpkins in
the valley of the Connecticut River,
now devoted himself to the more ar
istocratic crop of tobacco.
Mrs. Harrington, who had been
notable yankee housekeeper, 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
district school teaching in the gen.
tilities of "Valley Lawn
The old lady alone remained true
to her colors.
''All this is very fne,' 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, grand
MAJ said her ghter-in-law, tart
ly.
"Humph!" said the old lady.
And when Aileen, the orphan
cousin came down from the New En-
land hills, grandma was the only one
who really welcomed her.
'sThere are three of us already"
said Selma Harrington, grudgingly.
''Why couldn't she have been a
boy, so as to help pa with the plan
| tation?' said Norma.
"What do we want Of any more
girls?" sighed Juanita, whose baptis-
NAL name had been Judith.
"Ain't no use growlin' about it"
said "Pa,' who could not be made
an elegant gentleman, let the family
varnish and veneer as they please.
"Here she is, and here she's got to
stay. | don't want her no more'n
you do; but she amt got no friends
to 60 to, so what you goin' to do
] about it p
Aileen was pretty too, in her shy,
wild-daisy way, with big blue-black
eyes, reddish brown hair, and rich
Titanesque complexion. The Misses
Harrington were not pretty. This
was another objection, although it
was generally discussed, and Aileen
soon knew by instinct. that the old
grandmother was her only friend in
all the big, dreary house.
The third matter of offense cropped
out on All Hallow Zen, when Aileen
went out into the woods to gather
hickory nuts to burn in the fireside
blaze
Perhaps it was not her fault that
Mr.. Doler's vicious bull jumped
through the tumble-down fence and
frightened her nearly out of her wits
and she was doubtless not personally
responsible for the fact that Dulany
chanced to be passing, and rescued
, her from the big horned enemy with
prompt gallantry.
: "He was so very kind p said All
leen, wistfully. "Do you think,
,, grandma, that ought to tell my aunt
and the girls that he walks with me
, when l go to the postoffice? or that
he gave me them beautiful, deep
. blue asters that they thought found
. in the copse? or that it was lie who
discovered the big bunch of mistle-
j, toe in Greenough's woods?"
, "Well, not unless they ask you?"
said old Mrs. Harrington, Struggling
her shoulders.
For she had heard her three grand
f. daughters discussing the Dulany
h question with some acrimony.
e 'Im the eldest Selma had said,
a tartly, "and / ought to have the first
chance. If any of us is to call with
ma at Dulany Beech'es, it shall be
me !''
"You always were selfish thing !"
. said Norma. "Captain Dulany's
d mother has large library, and you
know very we'll that I'm literary
d ''Pm the Youngest, and don't see
e why | should be poked into corner
always" pouted Juanita-Judith.
But Selma by strength of years
I and tongue, had carried her point.
So when New Years day ap.
G preached, and Aileen consulted Mrs.
), Harrington as to what she should
:. wear, that matron opened her large,
!, light eyes with counterfeit amaze
;, ment.
!. ssYou. child?" said she. "Why
you are not TO come at all The girls
$ don't want whole drove in the par
= lor. Three women are quite enough,
+ and you re so young, you know
;. "pm seventeen, aunt !" faltered
s Aileen.
Il Two or three years hence will do
u very well for you," said the relent-
less elder. ''Try and put such silly
notions out of your head p
And this was why Aileen was