The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1890-05-24

you're Lewis Linton's daughter, amt
you, from Bidwick, in Canada? My
pretty dear I've held your father on
my knees many time when he wasn't
knee-high to grasshopper But Mrs
Carlyon mustn't know-nol no! Well
win her over In spite OF herself-see IL
we don'tw
And Candace, who had vein Of ro.
nance in her girlish heart, entered
willingly into the conspiracy.
In one thing Rebecca was right. Mrs.
Carlyon was pleased with her new com.
panion. Miss May "suited her" in all
respects.
"And the marvel of it," said she,
laughingly, lis that old Rebecca isn't
jealous. never had companion in
the house before but that she was half
mad with jealousy. How have you won
her heart, my dear?"
And Candace dropped her head, and
said she did not know.
"Rebecca, look here" said Mrs. Carl
yon, one day to her old servant, ~
want to talk 20 you. Where is Miss
May? Watering the azaleas? Well,
shut the door; she mustn't hear"
"Ma'am," gasped Rebecca, you're
never going to send her away?"
mo, you old goose! Send her away,
indeed! What ever should l do without
her9 No. it's quite another thing I'm
thinking of. This old house is dull,
isn't it, Rebecca?"
"Well, ma'am, it isn't exactly gay"
"And it's twice too big for us, you
know"
"It is pretty roomy place, ma'am."
"Miss May was crying this morning
when / came into the room, suddenly"
said Mrs. Carlyon, in mysterious whis-
per, land / never rested until coaxed
the secret out of her." (Rebecca started
guiltily.) "Think, Rebecca she has
two little twin sisters in an orphanage
in Montreal" (Rebecca recovered her.
self again.) Now, Rebecca. wouldn't it
be delightful surprise for you to go to
Montreal and get those dear little girls
and bring them here?'
'Lawk ma'am" gasped Rebecca.
"The rector is always preaching to me
that l ought to adopt homeless child"
added Mrs. Carlyon, "and here's two OF
'em. Miss May showed me their photo
graphs-real golden-haired little beau
ties | know I'm a queer, cranky old
woman, but | always was fond of chill
dren. Here's the name of the street,
Rebecca, and the number I'll let Miss
May suppose you've gone to visit your
widowed sister, and you shall bring 'em
here. What surprise it will be! How
l shall enjoy it!''
"The Lord be good to mew thought
Rebecca, 'but I'm gettin' into regular
Guy Fawkes tangle of plots and mys-
teries. However, don't see no way but
to go ahead and do what my missus says
Here goes"
And one long June day, when Miss
May came home from doing errands for
Mrs. Carlyon, with bunch of long
stemmed roses in her hand, she found
Clare and Nydia in the boudoir, play
ing with an old-fashioned wax doll and
a box of Chinese puzzles, which Mrs.
Carlyon had rummaged out of the store
closet for their benefit.
"We're adopted, sister!" they cried,
gleefully. THE pretty old lady in the
white lace cap has adopted u.s. And,
oh, isn't it a pretty place? and have you
seen the tall palm tree and lemon tree
with real lemons on it? It's like COM
ing to Heaven, only we haven't had to
die first"
"What funny things children do say,
to be sure" said Mrs. Carlyon, furtively
wiping her spectacle-glasses; but she
was not displeased. "Well, Miss May,
how do you like my surprise? My!
don't begin to cry, hate tears'-.with
IL. Il 4
her own withered cheeks. ''And you
needn't thank me; l won't be thanked"
The children skipped off to play
with the white cat, whose silver-belled
collar was a perpetua al challenge to
them.
Candace fell on her knees and buried
her face in Mrs. Carlyon's lap.
81 love your she sobbed. "Oh, how
love you."
Strengthening herself up. 81 can't
stand no more O. this. l must confess,
or bust!'
'What?" calculated Mrs. Carlyon.
''I'm hypocrite and deceiver," said
Rebecca.
SIS the woman crazy?" said Mrs.
Carlyon.
"And I've cheated you all along" per.
sisted Rebecca, raising her voice to a
perfect howl. Eyes, discharge me!
don't deserve no character! Turn me
out of doors! For Miss May amt Miss
May at all, but your own blessed niece,
Mr.. Lewis daughter, and the blessed |
children are your own flesh and blood.
Do as you please with me, but don't
turn them out For it's my doings,
every bit of it,
And Rebecca ended with a piteous
wall, that brought Clare and Eydia and
the white kitten to the rescue.
''What is the matter with the kind
old woman with the crooked nose?"
said Nydia. "Please don't scold her,
Mrs. Carlyon"
''Say Aunt Carlyon, my dear" said
the old lady. mo / won't scold her.
IL begin to see through the mystery
now / planned a surprise for you,
child" to Candace. "And / am still
more surprised myself But I'm not
angry-dont think it. i do believe you
all love me-" as Candace covered her
white, withered hand with kisses, and |
the children clung about her neck, "and
so we'll all thank the Lord for His mer-
cies! Rebecca, don't stand staring there, |
but go and open jar OF green gage |
plums for lunch, and tell the cook to
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