Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1886-05-21
WAITING AND WINNING.
BY HELEN FOREST GRAVES.


BY HELEN FOREST GRAVES.
lit don't matter 80 much now,
grandma" said Aileen, drying the
tears that had dried on her cheeks like
dew drops on rose. OF course it is
very silly for me to cry, but I couldn't
help it juss at first"
''But what is the matter, my pet?"
said old Mrs. Harrington, soothingly.
She had found Aileen 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 a merely nom-
inal price, the fine old mansion that
had once belonged to q luxurious
planter long since dead. Mr.. Harring-
ton, who had been contented to raise
humble corn and pumpkins in the val
Ley OF the Connecticut river, now de-
voted himself to the more aristocratic
crop OF tobacco.
Mrs. Harrington, who had been a
notable Yankee housekeeper, hired
two negro women to do the housework,
and cultivated society; and the three
Misses Harrington forgot the days OF
factory work and honest district
school teaching in the gentilities of
"Valley Lawn
The old lady alone remained true to
her colors.
call this is very fine," said she, "but
! don't see what is to be gained by it.
Dan'l lose money, as true as you're
born"
"Money isn't everything, grandma"
said her daughter-in-law, tartly.
"Hump!" said the old lady. .
And when Aileen, the orphan cousin,
came down from 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't she have been boy,
so as to help pa with the plantation"
said Norma.
'What do we want of any more
girls?" sighed Juanita, whose baptis-
mai name had been Judith.
"Ain't no use growlin' about it,"
said "Pa," 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. I
don't want her no more'n you do; but
she amt got no friend to go to, so
what we goin' to do about it,"
Aileen was pretty, too, in her shy
wild daisy way, with big blue black
eyes, reddish brown hair, and a. rich
Titianesque complexion. The Misses
Harrington were not pretty. This was
another objection, although it was not
generally discussed, and Aileen soon
knew, by instinct, that the old grand.
mother was her only friend in all the
big, dreary house.
A third matter OF offense cropped
out on All Hallow Fen, when Aileen
went out into the woods to gather
hickory nuts to burn in the 6reside
blaze.
Perhaps it was not her fault that
Mr.. Daller'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 Captain
Dulany CHANGED to be passing, and
rescued her from the big-horned enemy
with proud gallantry.
''He was SO very kind" said Aileen,
wistfully. "Do you think, grandma,
that l ought to tell my aunt and the
girls that he walks with me when 1 go
to the post Office? or that he gave me
those beautiful deep-blue asters that
they thought [ found in the copse? or
that it was he who discovered the big
bunch OF mistletoe in Greenough's
woods?'
"Well, not unless they ask you,"
said old Mrs. Harrington, Struggling
her shoulders. For she had heard
her three granddaughter discussing
the Dulany question with some
acrlmOny.
Pm the eldest" Selma had said,
tartly, "and l ought to have the first
chance. If any Of us IS to call with
ma at Dulany Beeches, it shall be
mel"
"You always were selfish thing!"
said Norma. Captain Dulany's
mother has a large library, and you
know very we'll that Pm literary.
'Tm the youngest, and don't see
why should be poked into q corner
always" pouted Miss Juanita-
Judith. -.
But Selma, by st, ensth of years and
tongue had carried her point.
So when New Years Day approach
ed, and Aileen timidly consulted Aunt
Harrington as to what she should
wear. that matron opened her large,
light eyes with counterfelted amaze
ment. -
"You child?" said she. "Why,
you're not to come in at all! The
girls don't want whole drove in the
parlor. Three women are quite
enough. And you're 80 young, you
know" -
.I'm seventeen aunt!' faltered
Aileen. .... -. -
1.-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" r .. &.
And this was why Aileen was crying.
Old Mrs. Harrington understood it
all very well. She had been young
once. She saw the folly of interior
once in this particular case. howaver