Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-05-22
A DEEP-LAID PLOT.
How Mrs. Cariyon Adopted Her
Relatives Unwittingly.

1t was bleak, clustering March day
the dry snow blowing hither and yon
the trees bending before the bowling
blast, and Mrs. Carlyon sat before hel
blazing fire of camel coal, a pretty lit
tie elderly lady in a white lace cap, z
glistening black silk gown, and a pail
of gold eyeglasses in her hand.
Through the partially open door one
could catch a glimpse of waving palms
and pink-bloomed azaleas in the tiny
observatory. and the whole house bore
the stamp of quiet and luxury.
$50 my half-brother, Linton, is
dead?" said Mrs. Carlyon, glancinq
down at black-edged envelope which
lay on her lap.
''Yes, ma'am," said old Rebecca, the
maid, who was arranging the Dreaded
outlets and omelette on the breakfast
tray. "And l declare, ma'am. had a
good cry when heard it Such pref
ty, bold-faced boy as he used to be! Dc
you remember, ma'am, when he painted
the poodle's tail orange color with your
best oil paints? And l never could keep
a cooky in the cake-jar or a jelly cup
on the pantry shelf when he was around,
bless his heartI Dead-and left three
children! 1t don't seem possible"
Mrs. Carlyon compressed her lips.
And they want me to take Them"
said she.
Old Rebecca came little closer.
''And you will, ma am, won't you?"
Certainly l shall mott" (Rebecca
stepped quickly back Lewis Linton
had his half of the property, and he
squandered it lie married a woman
that l detest He had his own way
through life. Now l mean to have
mine. The eldest girl must be eighteen
at least-quite old enough to earn her
own living. The two little ones must
go into an institution. / wash my hands
of them"
And this was Mrs. Carlyon's decision,
from which no amount of reasoning
could move her.
Its a shamer cried old Rebecca, dis
solving into tears, as she remembered
the handsome boy who had been at once
her torment and her delight in the days
of ''Auld Lang Syne."
sit is most heartleSs!" said the rector
OF the parish.
Its heathenishr' declared Mr..
Trumpet, the lawyer.
But Mrs. Carlyon needed never a one
of them.
Its my missus, all over" said Re-
becca. "Mr. Lewis Linton offended
her mortally when he married the Can
ada young lady, instead of taking to her
friend, Miss Sarah Sequin, the heiress
And my missus, she's one that never
forgets, nor she never forgivesr'
''Oh! sister, have we got to stay in
this dreary place."
Little Nydia Linton chung, with tor
rent of tears, to her sisters shabby
black gown, while Clare, her twin, lay
in disconsolate heap on the floor.
Candace Linton would have liked to
fall down and cry, too, but she knew
that she must control herself She was
eighteen and the twins were only eight.
BE brave, Nydia," said she. Don't
lie there, Clare. They'll be very kind
to you here, and you must learn all you
can, so as to be ready, one day, to come
and live with me, when I've made my
fortune"
But can't we go with you, sister,"
pleaded little Clare, laying her cheek
against the hem of the rusty black
gown. We'll be very good and quiet"
And we can do lots of things"
chirped Nydia. Papa never would
have gone away and left us in place
like this. You don't love us as papa
did"
1t was little less than heartbreak for
Candace to tear herself ruthlessly from
the embraces and entreaties of the little
ones, but with the aid of Sister Agnes,
the kind matron, she contrived to do So
and She took the train to New York, to
try and solve that stern problem of life
earning living.
Was 1T luck, or chance, or the guiding
finger of Providence, that led her to the
very employment agency whose back
windows commanded a view of the crvs-
tai dome of Mrs. Carlyon's conserva-
tory?-that brought old Rebecca thither
before her name had been entered half
an hour On the big dog's-eared ledger on
the desk?
We'll, it amt exactly a maid that 1
want" said Rebecca. There's maids
enough. But it's sort of companion.
My missus, she says she can't stand nv
stumbling way of readin' the paper to
her no longer, and she says the lace 1
mend amt fit for no one to wear; and she
says must bring some one back that
can read, and play music, and write
notes, and sort O. help the time go by.
The wages ain'tmuch, but it'll be first
class home for any one as is lucky enough
to suit"
There's young person just come
that wanted some such place" said Mrs.
Satisfy, referring to the dog's-eared
volume.
And Candace was brought in, her
color changing and her heart beating.
Lord bless usl" croaked Rebecca.
opening her blesced eyes. Miss
Linton. did you say? It's a name nv
missus amt partial to. Amt you no
middle name? May? Well, then, well
call you Miss May. Ny missus she's as
full of whims as an egg is of meat. |
But you'll suit her-yes, think you'll |