Tombstone epitaph., 1890-03-22

] - to hear Mollie talk Do you know what my brother Harry said about you the other day? de called you a real little enthusiast "
 Moliie looked slightly puzzled. ''I don't know whether to take that as a com pliment or not" she said. ''He might have thought made too much fuss over little things"
 The girls laughed. 1T should call it a decded compliment" said Helen. ''and ] should be charmed if any one said i, about me-"
 Don't be alarmed, they never will, '' said Bessie.
 Helen sighed. 'I know it,' she answered, iii a mock melancholy tone ''No one appreciates me. Nobody under stands me. When l leave this dreary world 1 shall have the inscription on mg tombstone:
 ''She hath done what she could
 And been misunderstood"
 When the small breeze excited by Hel- ems nonsense had subsidcd, Bessie in- guired, with provoking coolness, ''MOllie. what would you do if you should go out camping as you did last summer, where you cannot by any possibility have 9 piunOE'
 This was q question, and for a minute an omnibus silence ensued. Then Moliie said, with cheerful vagueness: ''Oh, ! shall find some way, 1 ain sure"
 ''Migh1 practice on an old tin pan," put in Bessie, sarcastically.
 ''Yes, said MOliie, gravely. "That's 2 good idea, and I'll remember it. Or i might take some papef and mark off E keyboard of an octave or two and paste il on plank. I could play beautifully on that and it would at least keep my fingers Hmber."
 "Bravor cried Amy. ''NIollie, you're genius "
 ''So she is, and I should love to enjoy her edifynG company longer, but sup pose I must go to my old painting lesson" |" .ighed Helen.
 ''Old painting lesson," echoed Mollis ''I thought you liked it."
 50 l should, if I could paint flowerf and people and things, but as for sitting and looking at an old vase for two hours gazing along a pencil to get the proDOr- tions, I think it's stupid" growled Helen ''I know 1 could paint ten times better b did the things that I liked"
 ''Whe you converse upon topics be yond your comprehension, Miss Starr. you do not create an impression of yOuJ knowledge, but only expose your pro found ignorance" prosed Mollie, in l. grandiOse manner.
 ''Well, shan'U stay here to be 1auGhec at, said Helen. Its time I was there, this very misunderstanding at the clock. Good by, Mollie." And giving her : nasty kiss she took Bessie's arm, ana the three girls hurried from the room.
 During the months that followed Mollie had abundant opportunity to test the strength of her resolution. At first the sense of novelty and the enthusiasm that always accompanies a new idea made her self imposed task an easy one, but gradu- ally this died away, and many times was Yhe music neglected until almost bed time, when she reluctantly left the pleas. ant game or fascinating book to do what. with a little forethought, might have been an agreeable duty. Mamma had beer told of the plan, and had laughed ali the formally worded "Resolve,' bui heartily approved of it, and now, though she sometimes wondered at her daugh- ter's forgetfulness, she held her peace. remembering that it was Mollie's affair, E really neglect it, her wounded pride and the sense of failure would be sufficient punishment. And by and by Mollie dis. covered the value of little system, and then she might have been seen everS morning, directly after breakfast, practic. ing with an energy and determination that went far toward conquering the difficulties of the complicated exercises.
 1,r. q -o1 ATz11. 1.11r summer fitting, and one pleasant day iU June the four girls were gathered to- gether in her little sanctum for good by talk"
 "Oh, dearr' sighed Helen. ct does not seem any time since winter, and now Us summer again, and shall miss you so dreadfully"
 "Ditto," answered Mollie, brightly ''But perhaps it won't seem any time tiD autumn, and then I shall be back, you know. And you will not miss me long, for in another month you will be revel. ling in the treasures of Martha's Vine. 1ard."
 q know it." groaned Helen. 'But q whole month in this dreadful city, with tbe thermometer over eighty, and every e0ul away, and nothing to do-ohr'
 | look so dnleful, O. you'll give us all the blues. You've made even Mollie lool sober.''
 Nollie contradio led this statement by bpaming smile that was reflected in the more cheerful You are the most com fortable girl" she said. T don't believe you ever were homesick in your life.''
 Iy- have tried hard enough"
 The girls broke into chorus of lauCh ter. Fried to be lOmesick! What dC you mean?''
 ''Just what I said," answered Mollie. stoutiy You know last summer mammp went to Europe, and left me with Auul Lnda? Well, everybody kept saying Poor little girl, how you must miss yCul nother! Aren't you dreadfully home s2ckr until 1 began to feel really troubled because I wasn't And one night I tried to cry myself to sleep thinking about it. But twas no use. I never did cry easy, and l thought l was the most heartles: crett,ire alive. So wrote to mamma thiS everybody seemed to expect me tn n, homesick, but I wasn't, and hoped sht would not feel hurt, tor tried real hMT, out was having such Il good time that cOuldn't."
 'Well," said Bessie, larghing, ''that'i m original idea. But, to change the sub ect, are your things all packed?"
 All except my ribbons and laces, 8nh nose go m the top tray, you know"'
 And tho ElUsicy' asked Bessie, mis sn1evously.
 "Safe ls 4 eorner oi my trunk" Va