Middletown transcript., 1891-08-13

ing mlseries OF country where wal
and tumult wereA.fe, knowing tina
her husband would be near at hand
than to be left to the mercy Of two
relatives whose hearts seemed wither.
ed as their features. But then, or
the other hand, he knew that should
anything happen to him his little Low.
would be safe; and his belief in hel
tact and fascination was such that ht
hoped she would speedily cause hi
aunt's coldpess and pride to melt.
Come into the garden, love- he
whispered tenderly =" | want to show
you my favorite spots. You will soen
feel at home here T.
Cissie felt doubtful on that point, as
she glanced appealingly towards the
two grim sisters but she would moi
sadden her husband by putting hel
thoughts into words.
\ r
Cyril had been gone more than a
week but the old ladies had mol
learned great deal more of their
nephew's wife, the girl who sat with
slender hands clasped and eyes full Of
an unspoken longing and misery, fol-
hours together never stirring or speak.
ing, and who, if she went out into tae
garden, would pace up and down the
grassy paths with unseeing eyes, and
dry sobs rising in her throat and
seeming as if they would choke her.
No one gave any heed to her suffer
ing ; she was with strangers in a
strange land /; and, though her heart
cried out in bitter anguish for the
loving father she would see no more
and for the tender husband she might
never see again, her lips uttered no
complaint, and she was deemed heart
less by her elderly relatives, to whom
this dry-eyed sorrow was unknown.
It's time that girl was made use
full" announced Aunt Susannah at
length. after impatiently watching
the slender figure so monotonously
pacing up and down the garden alley.
"Quite time," Miss Elizabeth
agreed. I've thought SO repeatedly,
Susan"
But what can she do ?"-hope-
lessly. ats my belief the girls lit
tie better than a fool! Fancy-she
has never been to school! | suppose
she can neither read nor write !"
Well, then, it's quite time she
learnei," said the younger Miss Gra-
ham.
!" But who is to teach her? I'm
sure should never have patience J"
81 WILL" announced Miss Eliza
beth, whose eyesight was beginning to
fail and who thought it might not be
to have a reader at her
beck and call.
My dear sister, what herculean
task r said the elder sister; then, not
to be outdone in generosity" and |
will teach her to make 1he beds.
There is no time like the present she
shall begin at once. Mrs. Cyril
Mrs. Cyril !"-raising her voice as the
girl turned towards the house.
Did you want me, madame r
said the girl, in dull, listless tone.
We want to make you useful, !"
replied Miss Susannah, in a grandiose
manner. "and fitted for the position
in which fate has placed YOU"
"Oh, Miss Graham" returned
Cissie, papa said that we ought al
ways to be learning, and that when a
girl left school, her education was
only beginning
+" Very unorthodox opinions, my
DEAR" replied Miss Susannah.
It was the first time she had ever
addressed her nephew's wife by any
other title than that of Mrs. Cyril.
"I If only one of my husbands aunts
would fall ILL.," the girl thought, per-
haps they would find 1 am not the
utterly useless being they at present
!" But they were both SO
healthy that there was little chance of
her being called upon to show her
skill in the healing art.
Now, then, Mrs. Cyril" said
Aunt Elizabeth, as the girl entered
the room where the old lady was por-
ing over the morning paper, bring
seat aBd I will give you a lesson in
reading"
i" In reading, Miss Elizabeth ?"
echoed Cissie in a puzzled tone.
" Yes; it's quite time you learned.
e And do you imagine | don't know
how to read % said the young wife.
" I understood you to say you had
never been to school,
Nor haye 1; but dear papa
taught me himself. Shall l read this
paper to you pin a pretty coaxing
manner. 81 always used to read the
for him.
/" Yes, my dear, if you please my
eyes are not SO good as they used to
be-"
And then Mrs. Cyril brought a
little stool and sat down beside the
old lady; and Miss Elizabeth enjoyed
her paper that morning better than
ever before, for, as she sat with closed
eyes, the girls voice now sad, now gay,
brought every scene before her as
clearly as though it had been
photographed. The two we're laugh
ing heartily over scene in court, as
Cissie first spoke in the solemn tones
of the judge, then in the half-bullying,
half.bantering voice of the counsel
for the defendant, and next in the
rich full brogue of a witness, a true
son Of !" ould Erin" when Miss Gra-
ham entered the apartment. She
looked grim and grave as usual but,
on her sisters explaining the cause Of
their mirth, she consented to be ap-
peased And from that time the
morning paper was always read aloud
by Mrs. Cyril, and both spinsters
heartily enjoyed hearing it. Gradual
ly, too. they found that Cissie was not
the ignorant child they had i'm
agined her to be, but well.informed