New-York tribune., 1891-12-27
MISS SPARKLES.

Size might at times flame out into a rage when
things went wrong and her blood was up; but this
only redeemed her from tie mOnOtOny OF cheerful
ness and gave her the variety that belongs 10 flcn
nature OF the darker, the more sullen passions,
said OF her was that she was soon up" and some
times down" But in general she was MISS
SparkeS and the name expressed all that the
world loved or cared 70 know.
She had occasion enough for the exercise OF her
brightness, for she was an orphan, with no greater
protection than might be found In couple OF hne-
hearted brothers, one of whom was on Texan
ranch, and the other in one of Her MaJestys ships
as lieutenant in the Australian seas. Either OF
these men would have protected her with his
hearts blood but with all these miles between ner
ana them, they not very efficient Greai Hearts
and poor little Miss Sparklcs had practically no one
but herself as her guardian ana caTetakef for
wears she had fulfilled certain duties In the house
OF an old friend. She had been as the adopted
daughter of the widow who loved her, trusted TO
Ter, and found her own happiness IN the assocla-
hon which gave herself loving companion ana Miss
Sparkles an afectionate home. But trouble had
come between the Two and an enemy had sowed
tares, as enemies have the trick OF doing Anne
the old servant who had lived with her mistress
these twenty years gone had never quite liked the
close association of Miss Sparkes with the mistress
She grudged the cares that were given on the one
sidc, and the protection that was granted on the
Otner. She thought that Miss Sparkles would be
q vast deal better employed getting her living Ill
some quasi -menial way that would teach her her
place. rather than living here the daughter OF the
house where never daughter was wanted Wnat
did MiSsus want with young person hanging
look after her comforts and see TO her lads ana
fancies? And if she did want any one, why
should she not have her own niece oracle, sister
James eldest and as fine girl as ever stepped
She was bigger and taller than Miss Sparkes, ana
quite as good companion; and she was the eldest
of seven, and it would be the worlds" for sister
Jane to find her such good situation as this oil
llssus's would be. So she set herself TO WORK TO
try and GUST Miss Sparkles from the place and
wriggle her niece Oracle into It,
Heaven knows what she said. but she salq some
thing that proved quite efficient for it's purpose
aud for the first time in their joint lives together
the kind old friend and quasi mother began 10
doubt to suspect. and find fault with her adopted
daughter. The home which had once been Ike
a soft, warm nest lined with down became now
q cold, hard, prckly perch. where footing was not
too secure. Hiss SparlIles, who in times gone by
had never been known TO dsplease, could now
scarcely please the the LADY en MTs orS To To
her bright-eyed companion, now scarce ever SPOKE
a kind one Poor Miss SparBles opened those
bright eyes of hers to the widest but she could not
understand what passing about her. and Mrs
Grahame did not eNplaln-nor dld her ola Intla
Mrs Anne. Mrs. Anne would have been nttle
embarrassed had she essaycd to tell how she was
like a murderous shadow ever on the track OF the
girl she was seeking TO dspoSsess for the safe ap-
pointment Of one of her OWL 1t would ma rave sn pesn
how at every instant she stole into Mrs. Grahame
room when Miss SparlIles was away, SAYING in a q
low whisper: She Just did this" - She said
that :" Watch her when she comes. ana just see
how she looks :" She had some underhand WORK
going on, and ! can't abide them underhand ways
There's a girl, if you like, as true as true ana as
upright as they make them!" :" Call that good
needlework, mem? Why, my 1e!, niece Graeies rae WORK
would beat that out of the field" And so on
AS constant dropping wears away the hardest
granite. so do these lncessant Hslhuatiohs anu
fault-hndings make their mark on even the Sou
est beart-the strongest love. And when coupled
with this continual belittement OF one is the cor
responding exaltatiOn Of another. the SEED sowh
il sure 10 Cerminate ard distrust here reacts In
desire there AS Mrs. Grahame grew cooler and
cooler more dissatisfied with and eStranged from
Miss Sparlyes, she grew more Wlshful 70 see llls
nararon this Oracle niece to old Anne. her laiti-
mi friend and servant who was far superior TO
her own dscreditcd and dls2raced iaVorlte. ~
WAS in vain that poor dear Miss Sparkies trled 70
recover her lost ground. She had no toothoIG.
nothing by which to cling, and no tanglpie op-
stace 10 overcome: She was simply snpplhg
down the steep incline and each attempt 10 inake
stand and have il out resulted IN worse uscoin- ~
fture How can you have il out with pePfon
who denies that you have cause of complaint I:
How can you batter TO pieces with your Ilst an u
rommel. and only Yields to your blows and re-
turns Immediately to the old form When MIS-
Sparkes poor dear all IN angry 1eapS s,a TO te
her how or why or where she had Onended: that
lady put on her ciest look and answered pTlniy,
you have not offended me, Maria Have L na"e
No." said Miss Sparkles vehemently; and
only wish you had 1t would be more sa'tsiac- I
tory 70 know what had displeased you thah 10 pe
treated with this odd coOlness-so unhKe your
former self" o. . y
Am to be taken to task for my manner nam tbo,
asked Mrs Grahame, in reply. " DO you h9ld f tllal
10 be a very dutiful respectful thing 10 40 hoh
And Doc Door Miss Sparkles bafled at each turn
and every endeavor. felt there was nothing ior ~
hut silence. patience and doing her Desu 10 re,
cover the affection she had lost-Iost she coulo
not tell how. .,xs ro
rs painfully slow and lingering. The moral foi
lows the physical law, aud in the death of friend
shin are repeated the same conditions as tnose
OF tho body-or those which cut the lie between
hreat4 and spirit with a stroke as sudden as
Ightning flash. Ever Influenced by Mrs: Anne
tie old lady's love for her favorite gradually died
till at last the psychological moment cameGthe
times were fully ripe ana Graee % h gn' 6 oe
there now only wanted the occasion. Miss Spark
les must be dispOssessed. but she must be put III
the wrong and in manner made ,e 70 eTb T hfa
events generally do hang on iittle thlnGs anutra9
cdics which fill the world spring from initial cir
cnmstonces no bigger than mustard seed. Among
the domestic duties which Miss Sparkles had hith
erto ncrformed with such signal success was tha
OF the care Of the linen. Mrs. 9ranane q. n.u az.
fine stock of linen and was as proud oil IL as Sooe
Ionsekeener should be. During the daughter-hk'
epoch of Miss Sparkles's management no reason
able fault could have been or ever 1 au ,nseG hr
charge Rur now when Anne's niece Oracle came
in the successor, suddenly ere crac. as as tE dn
Ieneh say. the keys oil the nheh closeo VIZ 49,, H
handed and the care OF the Hheh was n""
How have deserved this ?" said Miss Spark
les, tamihg, as was not unnatural. mn u" w u'"'
NY duty. Why do you disp0s esS he c,,
Y" That is N.Y. affair, said Mfs Grahsme' surrey
] csn do what like with my own -, l..
Well the bngbt-eyed little glrl Dore thls heI h,
frs, snub direct i'm favor of a rival with as muci
patienre rs she could command-whlch, truth =
say. wac not overwhelming amount ohe W WuI'
make IL rather uncomfortable for her Fival, an
show her temper with perhaps less dlscreuoi
than h0neety -lcss prudence than sihcerIS
Al all events. she gave the occasion thAt wa
nd herSo oh n
that Mrs. Grahame found the fitting hsndie 10
the shaft she wanted 10 throw ana gave Hiis
sparkles her congo
So now. turned OUT from the soft. warm DeS
On 10 the bare and prlekly perch, the poor nttl