The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1890-05-24
A DEEP-LAID PLOT.
How Mrs. Carlyon Adopted Her
Relatives Unwittingly.

1t was bleak, clustering March day,
the dry snow blowing hither and yon,
the trees bonding before the bowling
blast. and Mrs. Carlyon sat before her
blazing fire OF camel coal, pretty lit
tie elderly lady in white lace cap, a
glistening black silk gown, and pair
of gold eyeglasses in her hand.
Through the partially open door one
could catch 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, glancing
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 n
good cry when ] heard it. Such pret-
ty. bold-faced boy as he used to be! Do
you remember, ma'am, when he painted
the poodle's tail orange color with your
best oil paints? And I never could keep
a coolly in the cale-jar or a jelly cup
on the pantry shelf when he was around,
bless his heartl 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 | 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
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 shamerr 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."
ut is most heartless" said the rector
OF the parish.
Its heathenish" 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 forgives"'
oh sister, have we got to stay in
this dreary place."
Little Nydia Linton clung, 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, 50 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"
IL 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 it luck, or chance, or the guiding
finger of Providence, that led her to the
very employment agency whose back
windows commanded view of the crys-
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 dogs-eared ledger on
the desk?
well, it amt exactly maid that
want" said Rebecca. There's maids
enough. But it's sort of companion.
My missus, she says she can't stand my
stumbling way of readin' the paper to
her no longer, and she says the lace
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 amt much, 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" siHd 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 bleared eyes. 'Miss-
Linton. did you say? Its name my
missus amt partial to. Amt you no
middle name? May? Well, then, we'll
call you Miss May. My missus she's as
full OF whims as an egg is OF meat
Dnt you'll suit hor-yes, think you'll