The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1890-05-24

ana Inc marvel Oh IL, SdAO ohO'
laughingly, lis that old Rebecca isn't
jealous. ! never had a 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 bead, and
said she did not know.
"Rebecca, look here" said Mrs. Carl
yon, one day to her old servant, 81
want to talk to 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 do without
her? 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"
1T 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 I 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 a 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 ought to adopt homeless child"
added Mrs. Carlyon, land here's two of
em. Miss May showed me their photo
graphs-rcal golden-haired little beau
| ties. know I'm 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 EN-
here. What surprise it will be! How
shall enjoy it!'
''The Lord be good to mel" 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 ard 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
stemmCd 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.
"Were adopted, sister, they cried,
gleefully. The pretty old lady in the
white lace cap has adopted US. 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
! -,sss ais rIS--~a.- .tVu-Il. NI.-- M~a,
how do you like my surprise? My!
don't begin to cry, l hate tears"-.with
| the crystal drops cOursing rapidly down
her own withered cheeks. And you
needn't thank me; | won't be thanked"
The children skipped off to play
with the white cat, whose silvcr-belled
collar was perpetual challenge to
them.
Candace fell on her knees and buried
her face in Mrs. Carlyon's lap.
81 love you"' she sobbed. "Oh, how
I love YOU"
Look here" said old Rcbecca,
Strengthening herself up Il can't
stand no more O this. l must confess,
or bustn'
"What?" calculated Mrs. Carlyon.
I'm a hypocritc and deceiver," said
Rebecca.
as the woman crazy?" said Mrs.
Carlyon.
"And I've cheated you all along" per-
sisted Rebecca, raising her voice to
perfect howl Eyes, discharge me! I
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 arc 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 Nydia 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, l won't scold her.
II begin to see through the mystery
now. l planned a surprise for you,
child" to Candace. "And l am still
more surprised myself. But I'm not
angry-don't think it. do believe you
all love me-" as Candace covered her
white, withered hand with kisses, and
the children chung about her neck, land
so we'll all thank the Lord for His mer-
cies! Rebecca, don'ts stand staring there,
but go and open jar OF green gage
plums for lunch, and tell the cook to
send us up chicken croquets and green
peas and plenty of sponge cakes. Chill
dren like sweet things!''
So she accepted the situation with
admirable philosophy, and old Rebecca
trotted away, muttering to herself:
I'D otter be down in the lowest deeps
IF Of oil tho 6bc I,1a +o1