The Portland daily press., 1886-05-07
WAITING AND WINNINc
BY HELEN FOREST GRAVES.

1T don't matter so mucn now, SranuHld,
said Aileen, drying the tears that had spar
killed. on her cheeks like dew drops on rose
''Of course it is very silly for me to cry, but l
couldn't help it, just at first"
'tBut 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 ambitious
people They had come to Virginia and pur-
chased, at merely nominal price, the fine
old mansion that had once belonged to
luxurious planter, long since dead. Mr..
Harrington, who had been contented to raise
humble corn and pumpkins in the valley of
the Connecticut river, now devoted himself
to the more aristocratic crop of tobacco.
Mrs Harrington, who had been notable
Yankee housekeeper, hired two negro women
to do the homework, 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.
"All this is very fine" said she, but l
don't see what is to be gained by it. Danl
lose money, as true as you're bornv
money isn't everything grandma" said
her daughter-in, law, tartly
ssHumph!' 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
ssrr71.a anf oh
lima Harrington, grudgingly.
'Why couldn't she have been boy, so as
to help pa with the plantation?" said Nor
ma; mora airls 81,
sighed Juanta, whose baptismal name mad
been Judith.
"Ain't no use growlin' about it, said
pa" who could not be made an elegant
gentleman, let the family varnish and We
neer as they pleased. Here she is, and
here she's got to stay. / 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 itY'
Aileen was pretty, too, in her shy, wild
daisy way, with big blue-black eyes, reddish
brown hair, and a rich Titianesque com
nlexi,>n. The Misses Harrington were not
nrettv. This was another objection, al
though if was not generally discussed, and
AiIeen soon knew, by instinct, that the old
grandmother 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 freside blaze
Perhaps it was not her fault that Mr..
Hnmble-down fence and frightened her near
ly out of her wits; and she was douDtiess
not personally responsible for the fact that
Captain Dulany CHANGED TO be passing, and
resc, ,ed her from the big-horned enemy
with proud gallantry. :
ssrfa 1yos so very kind!'' said Aileen, visit
fullv. sDo ,-ou think, grandma, that ought
to tell nv aunt and the girls that he walks
With me when I 90 TO the post Office? or that
he gave me those beautiful, deep-blue asters
that they thought / focnd In the copse? OF
that it was he who discovered the big bunch
of mistletoe in Greenoughs N'HooSF
eWell, not unless they ask YOU salo olu
Mrs. Harrington, struggling her shoulders
For she had heard her three granddaughter
discussing the Dulany question with some
acrimony.
s.Tm the eldest Selma had said, tartly,
"and ] ought to have the first chance Ii
anv of us is to call with ma at Dulany
Beeches, it shall be me-!
"You always were selfish thing! sald
Norma. captain Dulany's mother has
large library, and you know very well that
I'm literary
s'I'm the youngest, and don't see why
should be poked into a corner always,
,pouted Miss Juanita-Judith.
But Selma, by strength of years and tongue
had carried her point.
60 when New Years Day approached, anu
A;leen timidly consulted Aunt Harrington
&c N what she should wear, that matron
onened her large, light eyes with counter
feited amazement ,,ro
not to come in at all The girls don't want
whole drove in the parlor. three Wonien
are quite enough. And you're SO young, you
know" ., s-,..s ,;,oro
"Two or three years hence will do very
we'll for you," said the relentless elder. Try
and put such silly nonsense cut of your
headw
And this was why Aileen was crying.
Old Mrs. Harrington understood it all very
we'll, She had been young once. She saw
the folly of interference in this particular
case, however.
~Dan'Ys wife likes her own way" said she
"she amt pleasant if she thinks any one is
meddIin, I'll tell yon what, Aileen-you
and IN 20 out to the big chamber over the
stun barn, and get Pomp to build us up
real good fire of pine logs in the old chlmbly'
There's carpet loom there and spinnln' :
wheel and all the fxin's and I'll show you
how used to spin fax when was gal
and weave rag carpet"
"Will you?" said Aileen, with Frightening
ewes. "Oh, grandma, how very, very nlc'