The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1890-07-26
A DEEP-LAID PLOT.
How Mrs. Carlyon Adopted Her
Relatives Unwittingly.

It was bleak, clustering March day,
the dry snow blowing hither and yon,
the trees bending before the bowling |
blast, and Mrs. Carlyon sat before her
blazing fire of camel coal, pretty lit !
tie elderly lady in white lace cap,
glistening black silk gown, and pair
OF gold Eyeglasses in her hand
IhrouSe .ae partially open door one
could catch a glimpse of waving palms
and pink-bloomed azaIeas in the tiny /
observatory, and the whole house bore |
the stamp Of quiet AID luxury.
80 my hals-orother, Linton. is
dead2" said Mira Carlyon, glancing
down q. black-edged envelope which
lsy, on her lap
4 ssYeA ma'am," said old Rebecca, the
maid, who was arranging the Dreaded
outlets and. omelette ON the breakfast
tray. "And declare, ms'am, had
good cry when heard it Such . pref
", boid.facea boy as he used to bel Do
you remember. ma'am, when he painted
the poodle's tail orange color with your
best oil paints? And never could keep
cooky in the cake-jar or jelly cup
ON the pantry shelf when he was around,
bless his heart! Dead-and left three
children! It don't seem possible"
Mrs Carlyon compressed her lips.
sand they want me to take them"
said she.
Ola Rebecca came little closer.
ssAnd you will. ma'am. won't your"
Certainly shall not!" (Rebecca
stepped quickly back.) Lewis Linton
had his half Of the property, and he
squandered it. He married woman
that / detest He had his own way
through life. Now / mean to have
mine. The eldest girl must be eighteen
st least-ouite old enough to earn her
own living. The two little ones must
70 into an institution. wash my hands
Of them"
And this was Mrs Canyons decision.
from which NO amount of reasoning
could move her.
..Its ! shame!' cried old Rebecca, dis
eolvinR into tears, rs she remembered
the handsome boy who had been 1t once
her torment and her delight in the days
Of s'Av1d Lang Syne."
ssIt is most heartlessw said the rector
u the parish.
ats heathenishr' declared Mr..
Trumpet, the lawyer.
But Mrs. Carlyon needed never one
Of them.
ssIt's my missus, all over" said Re.
becca. s'Mr. Lewis Linton offended
her MORALLY when he married the Can.
ada young lady, instead Of taking to hel
ho hAfpaau
And my missus, she's one that never
forgets, nor abe never forgivesr
ssOhl sister, have we got to stay in
this dresry placer"
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 Il
tall down and cry, too. but she knew
that she must control herself She wal
eighteen apd the twins were only eight
ssBe brave, Nydia. said she. Don
lie there, Clare. They'll be very kind
to you here. and you must learn all yo'
can. 20 g to be ready. one day. to come
and live with me. when I've made m.
fortune"
ssBut can't we go with you, sister,
pleaded little Glare, laying her cheel
against the hem Of the rusty blacl
gown. "We'll be very good and quiet
"And we can do lots Of things,
chirped Nydia. "Papa never wcul'
have Rone away and left US in . plac
like this. You don't love US as pap
did"
It was little less than heartbreak 70
Csndace to tear herself ruthlessly frou
the embraces and entreaties Of the littl
ones, but with the aid of Sister Agnes
the kind matron, she contrived to do 60
and sue took the train to New York, I
try and solve that stern problem Of life
earning living.
Was IL luck, or chance, or the guidin
finger Of Providence, that led her to tn
very employment agency whose bac
windows commanded view of the crys
tai dome Of Mrs. Carlyon's conservs
tory?-that brought old Rebecca thithe
before her name had been entered hal
IN hour on the big dog's-eared ledger Q
the desk?
W0kls II 8iu OxeSsAy uAoAo sAASS
WANT said Rebecca There's maid
enough. But it's q sort Of . companion
My missus. she says she can't stand m
stumbling way Of readin' the paper
her NO longer, and she says the lace
mend Amt fit for no one to wear; and sh
says must bring some one back thi
can read. and play music, and writ
notes, and sort o. help the time 60 b,
The wages ain'tmuch, but it'll be frs
class homo for any one As is lucky enoue
to suit /"
There's young person just CON
- that wanted some such place, said Mr.
Satisfy. referring to the dog's-ears
q volume
And Candace was brought In, b.
color changing and her heart beating.
"Lord bless usl' croaked Rebecc
L. Al~o~nl ksnf{co