Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1891-08-21


elect from tic -- District, who
brought his daughters to Jacksonville
in order to accelerate the slow con-
valescence Of Fanny, tho youngest,
who was just up from scarlet fever
"But Gladys is always discovering
hidden treasures. / wouldn't like TO
count the number of times that her
swans have been transformed back
Into geese before her very eyes; ELI,
FAM"
"But Alice is really gem, papa"
declared Fanny, siding audaciously
with her sister.
(Which is Alice? The little girl
with the curly hair?' asked Colonel
Ayrault.
'Ycs, papa. Do be kind to her;
wont you? She is some relation of
Mrs. lladgiirs, and she's certainly a
lady by manner and education"
81 try to be Kind to everybody;
don't |, Fan?" archly asked the colonel
"Yes, papa; but Alice is so scnsi-
tive"
"Pm sorry for hcr, thcn,n said Col
onel Ayrault. ali she has her own
way to make i'll the world, a sensitive
nature is sorrry endowment. And
now Gladys, get your pen and ink. |
want you TO write some business let
tiers for me-"
Rather unwillingly, GLADYS laid
down her novel and went to look for
her desk. In the bedroom beyond,
Alice SlviIle was just hanging clean
towels over the rack and replenishing
the solid old cwers with fresh water.
"Oh, Alice said she, "can't You
spare few minutes. to write some
letters for papa? You write such II
beautiful, clear hand. and
Alice colorcd little. but answered
"Ccrtaiuly," with ali due pFomptness,
and Gladys brought her triulnphantly
into the sitting room.
"lIere's an amanucnsie, papa" said
she, "that will bring you deal more
credit than | can ever do"
1t was Alice Savillc's first lesson in
writing from dictatfon. but she ac-
quilted herself nobly, and Colonel
Ayraut expressed himself as entirely
satisfied. But when the work was.
: -sl1rifsn inIvti and sic Rad biusifingiy With
drawn, the member of Congress looked
laughingly across the table at Gladys.
"My daughter" said lie, "he:e is
the key TO the riddfe.'
"What key, papa?' sail Gladys.
"What Fiddlc?'
"Don't you remember" said he,
"the mysterious manuscript"
Fanny jumped up and clappel her
hands.
"Whatp cried she, 1.-THE stray
leaves about Sir Alexis and the beau
tiful Geraldine Aubrey that were
found scattered about in the orchard
that day after tho galc?"
Exactly" said tn, member of
Congress. "And this handwriting is
exactly the same"
ooh, papa" cried Gladys, "may |
congratulate her on being able to i'm
agine so beautiful story-io turn it
into such exquisite languagc?'
"No," said Colonel Ayrault. "Say
nothing at all. Don't you see how it
might embarrass herr"
"But she really must be a genius,
papa" was the oDinisa Sf Gladys,
prone to fero-and-her0lne worship.
"Aham laughed Fan "How about
my rara avis now? Isn't she really
and truly a white swan? Whittier
than any lily?"
After this, Alice Saville was the
chosen companion and favorite of the
member of CONGRESSES two daughters,
rather to the surprise and critical re-
marks of the other boarders.
81 amt bit surprised" said Uncle
Brom. "Sho ws, brought up TO be
lady, and lady she'll be to thc end Of
the chapter, no matter if she was
scrubbin' floors or scourin tins"
But one day Gladys forgot her
fathers words of caution and un-
guardelly revcald to Alice Saville
how she and Fan had found the miss
ing pages all blown about the orchard.
To her surprise Alice burst into tears,
and Gladys, in her panic and uncer-
tainty, ran into the other room where
Col. Aryaalt was writing as usual.
"Papaw she cried. "papa. do come
in here AMI see if you can COM
fort Alice /"
The girl,' tears were dried in an
instant. Bat Colonel Ayrault rallied
her a halo after playful fashio IL.
and showed her the very rain-staincd
sheets that he had found.
"You have no cause to blush for
them, Miss Saville," said he. "The
faucies are exquisite and clothed in
most appropriate words. Had writ
ten this sketch ! should be proud of
it,
And then, checrea by his words of
encouragement, she told him all her
hopes and fears, the dreaming aspira-
tons and the blighting fuliiIlment.
A week afterward Gladys Ayrault
came 10 her father with flushed cheeks