The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-11-25

gotten. Addressing it in his bold, free
hand, he sent the missive upon its way.
A few hours later he had said his
"good-byes" to family and friends,
and started for his new home on the
Dakota prairies,
III.
4, Sheltered in The great bay window,
Kitty rocked ana sung; the golden
curls of the child upon her lap blend
ing softly with her braids of brown.
Lullcd by the tender melody, little May
had driftea off to dreamland. Mr..
Hearne out in the sitting-room laid
down his paper and listened.
do you know, Ruth, that your
cousin has u wonderful voice." he
asked presently. "There is not finer
contralto in taa city; it is fortune in
itself, and must be cultivated;" and
good Mr.. lIaayne, whose life was so
completely filled with the thought for
others that he forgot to think for HIM
{ t, gave himself up TO plans and
C.9ams fordcvcllpiug his young friends
marvellous gift, wa.la Kitty, all I'M.
conscious, sang On in the twilight.
Practical co;liin Rnth came to the
rescue. She wrote to Aunt Sabrina
and Mr., Payne letters which inspired
them with her AVA enthusiasm. kitty
had been good sind girl her father
said. "She had faithfully filled her
dead mothers pace for many years.
IT was only right and proper that she
should have 4 chance for herself; and
now that the mortgage was lifted from
the farm, debts paid, and granaries
filled with plentiful crop, he could
easily and gladly give her the help she
needed" Aunt Sabrina was delighted
to take the rule of the household into
her own hands, and the boys were
willing to make any sacrifice for the
sister who had l,ean so gentle, patient
and self-sacriticing with them through
wearisome years; and so it was settled.
Kitty worked hard aid faithfully.
She aimed to be an artist hot an arti-
san. Observant, docile, patient, diligcnt
in season aud out Of sen ;on, no failure
daunted her, no Success hlzzled her. If
her heart was aching with bitter pain
the secret was her own: if sometimes
the memory of her lovers Stingilg,
hooking, sarcastic words became in
tolerable. she flung herself into her
work with a passionate abandon which
reused at once the admiration and
sympathy of her telchrrs. Little May
and Cyril, the babies of the Hearne
homestead, became her companions
and comforters. There was trucr,
holier affection than the love of man,
she argued with herself, and the chill
dren's confidence and love soothed and
inspired her.
Four years went by; years of severe
labor and ceaseless study. Kitty was
now a successful teacher, a singer
always in demand in concert rooms
and parlors and the leading contralto
in one of the principal churches. Low
ers sought her vainly: her life was
giTen to her art. she said. In her secret
soul she knew that her love was given
beyond recall. Ross might prove faith
less wound her with cruc! words or the
ksener pain of utter torgetfulness. bat
sli could not change.
There had been many brief visits to
the DID home. the tlaiest spot in these
bus" years, and now as the Thanksgiv-
ii ime drew near she WAS promising
herself a generous vacation, a fortnight
Of rest and peace, beneath her fathers
Ioof. A letter from Aunt SabriHa,
which came the week before her de-
parture, added fervor to her resolve.
"Dear Neicc Eittg," it ran, Il s'pose
! don't write very promptly, as you say,
but what with the baking and churn-
ing and locking after Frederiky-t
Danish Lady as she calls herself,
will be the death of me. with her airs
and her notions, putting onion in the
pudding, and cinnamon in the potatoes
when my back Is turned. She's got to
60, and oh, Lord. she's the seventh
since Christmas. As was saying, |
have so much to see to don't have
time to write. I'm glad You are coming
home to Thanksgiving. Your fathers
kind of poorly, and somehow nothing
suits him. He wanders about the house
picking up your books and notions
from the tables and holding them as if
they were a part Of you, and he sits
looking at your picture for hours, and
never speaking 4 ToT.l. Music is all
well enough III its pllea, bat I think
your duty is at homa, Kitty Payne. 1
never did think much Of girls meand-
ering off through the world in strange
ways. The place by the kitchen fire is
the woman's place, and she doesn't find
anything better, with all her seeking
after grand things.
"You'd never know the white calf.
It's grown tremendously, and Daisy's
colt is wonder to the whole neighbour
hood. I've dried piles of crabapples
and pumpkins, and we've got the fat
test gobbler for THANKSGIVING you ever
saw. l do hope You'll be home in time
to make the donghnuts and pumpkin
pics. won't turn my hand over to
anybody making pies, but your fathers
GIT 50 notional. Nothing tastes as it
IL u to when Kitty did the cooking.
For my part, Id be glad enough to let
'yod do the whole of it if you'd only
come.
"Your affectionate aunt,
=, "SABRINA PAYNE
"The sweet, safe corner of the house,
hold fire behind the heads Of children"
{ led Kitty, with moist lashes. Il
I t suppose Aunt Sabrina dreams
{ { she is almoit Il poet, but l will go
Va" Then she Turned the sheet and