The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1888-11-15
ALMOST PERSUADED.

A sultry evening had closed over the
great city. Overhead, the stars shone
family along the close, narrow streets;
tho gaslights lickered; every doorstep,
every open easement in this densely
populated quarter of the city was
packed full of humanity, striving to get
a breath Of air.
Lilly Germond had come home late
from the store. She was tired and dispir-
tied; and the gentle little step-mother,
to whom she always turned for SYM
pathy and tenderness, had gone to
spend week at her brothers. farm on
tho Ccnnec cticut River.
How strange and empty tho little
room looked, with the vacant rocking
chair and work basket so unwontedly
tidy.
81 wish she was back again." Lilly
sighed, as she dropped into chair, and
began listlessly to eat her supper, of a
slice of bakers bread broken into a
bowl of sky blue city milk. II wonder
why Uncle Mark didn't ask me, too! l
suppose ho thought I couldn't leave tho
store; but l could have got a few days
vacation I am sure; or perhaps they had
but ono spare room, though I could
surely have slept with mother, just as l
do here"
Lilly Germond did not know how
much good Uncle Mark Stevens dreaded
meeting between his son Ben and
"any feather headed city girl" as he
expressed it.
"Ben is as good as gold" reasoned
Mr.. Stevens, talking the matter over
with his wife; 'and 1 don't want any
silly coquette playing with his feelings.
If he's to have wife-as l s'pose it's
in the nature ofthings ho should havo
some time-let it be some sensible girl
as will be real companion to him that
you and me can take comfort with. But
don't ask Mary to bring that step
daughter o hers here. She's no kin to
us, anyway you can fix it. aud it'll only
be exposing Ben to temptation and
folly"
1T seems kind o hard though" said
Aunt Almira, ''to separate mother and
child"
"Mary's my own sister," said Mr..
Stevens, "and Pm willin' to give her
country air and change of scene. But
don't owe no duty to Mary's step
daug ghter, as know Of"
But when Mrs. Germond told them ol
Lily's sweet temper and patient toll, Of
her long days of work in the store, and
her cheerful evenings of sewing for hcl
mother, the hearts Of both of these old
people soltened in some degree.
"Fathcr," said Mrs. Stevens to hel
husband, "Marys step-daughter mus
be different from what you and mt
s'posed. almost wish-don't you9-
that we had asked her here, too2'
$50 do l." said Uncle Mark. "Look
here, Almlra! Ben is going to take ,
load of cord-wood into town on Thurs
day. S'pose we tell him to go around
by Bracken street and bring Mary:
step daughter out for surprise to he
mother-ehP'
Kiad Mrs. Stevens frightened all
over.
"That will be real nice plan," sale
she. Sand if Lilly is anything lik'
what Mary says, l guess we shan't hav,
no reason to regret it. 1t does seem to,
bad to think of anybody cooped up il
the hot city such weather as this"
If tired, overworked Lilly Germone
could havo known all this how he
heart would have leaped up within her
Bit we are not always aware how nea
the angel of dcliverance is to us; and sh
was very rebellious in her heart thi
uight.
'It's all one wretched tread mill o
toll and drudgery" she murmured t
herself, with never prospect of chang
or recreation! One might as we'll b
deadw
Just then, Arietta Wales, brigh
young factory girl who boarded Oh tn
floor above, knocked at the door.
'All alone, Lilly" said she. 6
thought as much. Well. I've got sue
a plan to propose to you'll John Msrto
is going to take me to the Gleefu Sci
ety's ball to ight at Wind ford hall
Aud he's got ticket for an extra lady
and SO, why can't you go with us9'
'1p' Lilly Gormond turned red an
pale. "But-mother don't approve Q
balls
''Of course she don'ti' retorted Ari
eta, with toss Of her yellow, much
befrizz,d hair. 'She's old and pokcy
and you are young and gay. Besides
she's only your step mother, and yo
can't expect her to feel for you as sh
would do if she were your own mother.
Lilly frowned little, but she passe
on to the next objection.
'Tve got nothing to wear" said she
"Yes, you have-that pretty whit
muslin with tho needle work hounco.
Nothing can be prettisr than that An
John does so want you to GO. He's gc
friend coming-such genteel youn
man! Do come, Lillyl Think no
much nicer it will be than sitting hel
IN this stuffy hole, with Mr.. Booker
baby crying next door, and old M
Farren playing the flute overhead.
81 promised mother not to go oil
anywhere ia the evening while she W;
] gone" hssitstsd Lilly.