The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1889-01-24
ALMOST PERSUADED.

ho gaslights iickcred; every doorstep,
avery opon easement in this densely
populated quarter of tho city was
packed full Of humanity, striving to get
brea of air.
Lilly Gormond had come homo 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
Ipend 4 week at her brothers farm on
the Come cticut River.
How strange and empty tho little
room looked, with the vacant rocking
chair and work basket so unwontcdly
tidy.
81 wish she was back again." Lilly
sighed, as she dropped into q chair, and
began listlessly to eat her supper, of
slice of bakers bread broken into
bowl of sky blue city milk. II wonder
why Uncle Mark didn't ask me, tool 1
suppose he thought I couldn't leave the
store; but l could have got a few days
vacation l am sure; or perhaps they had
but one spare room, though l could
surely have slept with mother, just as
do here"
Lilly Germond did not know how
much good Uncle Mark Stevens dreaded
a meeting between his son Bea and
"any feather headed city girl" as he
expressed it.
"Ben is as good as gold" reasoned
Mr.. Stevens, talking tho matter over
with his wife; 'and I don't want any
silly coquetto playing with his feelings.
If he's to have a wife-as 1 s'poso it's
in the nature ofthings he should have
some timc-Iet it be some sensible girl
as will ho 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 n kin to
us, anyway you can fix it, aud it II only
be exposing Ben to temptation and
folly"
'It seems kind O hard though" said
Aunt Almira, "to separate mother and
child"
'Mary's my own sister," said Mr.
Stevens, "and Pm wiIlin' to give her
country air and change of scene. But
don't owe no duty to Mary's step
daughter, as know of."
But when Mrs. Corr I'D them of
LiIly's sweet temper a.. .-tiont toll of
her long days of work in the store, and
her cheerful evenings Of sewing for her
mother, the hearts of both of these old
people softened in some degree.
'Father," said Mrs. Stevens to her
husband, 'Mary's step-daughter must
be different from what you and me
s'posed. almost wish-don't you7-
that we had asked her here, too2'
$50 do l." said Uncle Mark. "Look
here, Almlra! Ben is going to take a
load of cord-wood into town on Thurs
day. S'posc we tell him to go around
by Bracken street and bring Mary's
step daughter cut for surprise to her
mother-ehp'
Kiad Mrs. Stevens frightened all
over
That will be real nice plan," said
she. 'And il Lilly is anything like
what Mary says, guess we shan't have
no reason to regret it, 1t does seem too
bad to think of anybody cooped up in
the hot city such weather as this"
If tired, overworkcd Lilly Germond
could have known all this how her
heart would have leapod up within her !
But we are not always aware how near
the angel of doliyerance is to US; and she
was very rcbellious in her heart this
night.
'Tts all one wretchcd tread mill of
toll and drudgory," sho murmured to
herself, with never prospect of change
or reczeation One might as well be
dead"
Just then, Arietta Wales, bright
young factory girl who boarded on the
floor above, knocked at the door.
'Au alone, Lilly" said she. 81
thought as much. Well. I've got such
plan to propose to youl John Merton
is going to take me to the Gleetul Soci-
ety's ball tonight at Windfoyd hall.
! And he's got ticket for an extra lady {;
and SO, why can't you go with us2'
app Lilly Gormond turned red and
pale. "But-mothcr don't approve of
balls"
''Of course she don'tr' retorted Arl-
eta, with toss of her yellow, much
/ befrizzed hair. "She's old and pokoy,
and you are young and gay. Besides,
she's only your step other, and you
can't expect her to feel for you as she
would do if she were your own mother" Z"
Lilly frowned n little, but she passed
On to the next objection.
'pve got nothing to wear" said she.
eyes, you have-that pretty white
| muslin with the needle work founces.