The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1888-01-05

quietly entered the hall. Tho matron met US
and led us all into the long reception-room,
used to receive visitors. There seated in
large arm chairs wero two ladies' One was
young, not moro than thirty five and strik-
ingly handsome. Her beauty being of that
dark bright kind that does not fade but
ripcns. She was richly dressed in darl1-bluo
velvet, with costly lace at the neck and
wrists. On her head she wore q jaunty hat,
the samo shade as hor dress and ornamented
with dropping white plumcs that swept to
her shoulders. Her dark hair was arranged
about her shapely head in rich coils and tho
small hands folded in her lap were exquis-
itely glovcd
Inotcd all this, child though was, in the
few moments l stood thorc, and, though
most children would have been attracted
toward the beautiful and dainty-lookng
lady, only shranlI away, fColing strange
rCpulson, almost amounting to fear, towards
hcr and wishing l could hide myself behind
the matron's ample skirts My next glance
fell on the other lady, who sat quite still,
looking up and down the limo of faces before
her, as if vainly searching for some particu-
lar ono amongst us. She was exactly tho
opposite of her companion i'll looks and bear
ing. | remember, even then, wondering
that they should be together. Sho was a
woman at least fifty years Of age, and oven
moro, perhaps, for hcr hair was thc1ly
spriuklCd with gray and thcro were hard
lines about her mouth and eyes that spoke
Of age or care perhaps both, but n strange
look Of suppressed pain scomCd imprinted
upon her whole face. But even whom youth
| had lent her tho charm and freshness Of
| girlhood she must still have been very plain {;
| her complexion was sallow, her eyes gray,
| small and keen as u fCrrctS, her check
| bones high, her figure tall and angular,
| with large hands and wrists; her dress, of
| some gray stuff, was SCant and short; she
| wore II brown shawl and some flat, ugly
sort Of ~ bonnet and glassCs. Such, in
| brief, iS the description Of those two women
| as | remember them that afternoon SO long
| ago.
| Tho nlatron waited until we were all quiet;
| then she spoke in her gentle, even tones
''My dear children, thcsc two ladies wish 10
adopt, as their own, ono of you little girls.
| l am glad TO say can surely recommend
| each and all Of you as obcdent and truSty
| children, and hope, if this kind lady should
| conclude TO take one of you, you will try
| and sec the benefit Of tho change, and act
| acCOrlingly.n
| This was n set speech Of madam's; wo
| had heard it often before, and therefore
| paid littlc attention to it, except to stare
| moro iiNrdly at the floor.
| Tho CidNr lady arose at this and came
slowly down tho long line, scrutinizng
| sharply each face before her, not as if MAX
| ing choice, but rather aS if searching for
some resemblance Finally she reached the
matron, at whose side | stood, or rather hid,
for felt a fear Of the wcll-drcssCd woman !;
l felt little less than an absolute terror Of
this one, who, with her kccn gray eyes,
seemed to SEQ straight through me. | hoped
She would pass ne by, but she did not. She
paused, and, layinga hand on my shoulder,
drew me out Of the shadow into tho full
light that came in through the hall windows.
! hiNSh"d crimson, and hung my head, my
heart beating almOStt t1 %uiTuCatiun, so fright
CnCd NdS |, wiliir the woman slowly inspect
cd lnc from head to foot
Ilold up your hcad,' she commanded, in
her bru&Guo way. obcycd her. She took
one look III my eyes; Il Gh'am Of intelligence
| flashed in her face. '''rhc same" she NUT
tered; "thr very samr. Now, what is your
name, little girl!" Ehc inquired.
! "DOrcaS LYNN" usWcred, shyly.
"DOrcLs; yes, yCs.' Then, turning to the
matrOn, she inquired very particularly in
| regard 10 my past history, from whence
came, Clr., Ctc, all Of which madam an
| swCr"d to the best Of her ability, giving her
| the brief history with which the reader is
already familiar.
This explanation seemed 10 entirely satisfy
| Miss Armund (fOr such learned was her
namC), for she exclaimed, almost eagerly, /
Thought: "Shc'll DO; III take her"
Then, turning TO her companion, she in
Qutrcd: "Ilavc you any thing 10 say, Lcna?'
The other Indy had remained seated, APP
parrntlY quite indifferent as TO what her
companion was doing, but at her question
she arose and came slowly down the room
TO Whrrc stood. She gave nc ono looll-l
| look so full Of hatred and malice, that it
seemed 70 SCprCh my very soul; but her
tones were smooth and soft as sho an
| SwCrCd:
"lf YOU arc satisfied, Maria, l nri con,
tent"
81 am quito satisfied" answered Miss AZ.
| mund, in meaning tone.
"'rhCu ii is settled" answered tho other
| and she swept back to her scat by tho win