Middletown transcript., 1891-08-13

the Grahams with that of nobody
and not even a pretty one r
/ 81 think Cissie is sweet.looking !;
and you know, sister. she may grow"
looking with admiration at the tall
angular form Of Miss Susannah
/ And while this conversation was
going on, the little +" nobody" was in
a very heaven of delight over her
husbands first letter from Soudan
81 hope you are happy, my hearts
treasure, Notwithstanding the weary
distance which separates US. My
thoughts are ever with my dear wife,
and long with an unutterable long
ing for the time when may clasp
you again in my arms. Try to make
friends of the poor old aunts. If once
you can pierce the outer crust of call
business and reach hearts you will be
enshlined for ever side by side with
your unworthy husband If they are
unsympathetic, try and bear with
them for my sakes7 but I have great
faith in the power of your loving,
tender nature to thaw the stubborn
pride of theirs"
Again and again Cissie pressed her
husbands letter to her lips.
4" If love and patience can do any
thing, | must succeed" she murmur-
ed; and her face was radiant with
love. Il will win them for you, my
darling /! Already l think they do not
dislike me SO much. IF only I could
make myself of use to one or both /
know I'm not clever, but I have one
gift. Doctor Roberts always said |
was born nurse. Oh, why are they
both so dreadfully healthy ?"
The war news was read out anx-
iously by Mrs Cyril, and with de-
light she saw her husbands name
mentioned for bravery. Day by day
Cissie's heart pined more and more
ior her hero, and day by day it
sank lower and lower as she watched
the grim faces of his two kinswomen,
which never seemed 10 brighten with
affection for her, although she tried SO
hard to please them both, and ex-.
ecuted deftly the household tasks
delegated to her by Miss Susannah,
and stitched and felled and herring
boned the charity garments for Miss
Elizabeth's Dorcas basket, never re-
ceiying a word of praise or commend
alton in return.
A few days later-one Thursday
morning, during the reading of the
newspaper-Miss Susannah became
SO giddy that she had to be assisted
back to bed, and it was deemed ne
cessary to send for the busy country
doctor.
When he came, he looked sharply
at Cissie, who was sitting calmly
bathing the sufferers head, and then
he glanced at Miss Elizabeth, who
kept fidgetlng backward and forward
and wringing her hands, while she
sighed and moaned dolefully.
"iGo down stairs, my dear Miss
Elizabeth" he said. This young
lady and | will look after your sister.
You are not afraid ?"-turning to the
girl.
Oh, no, indeed, Doctor p she re-
piled. in a low clear tone. 4" You
will tell me what to do p
Yes-yes. We shall do very
well now"-as the younger sister left
the room.
Miss Graham gave sigh of relief.
Promise you won't leave me-" she
said to Cissie.
OF course not -cheerfnlly-"you
will soon be we'll. dear Miss Susannah." D."
i" Call me aunt Sue,' as Cyril doe"
lin faint tone" and kiss me,
Cissie."
Yes, dear aunt Sue!" said Mrs.
Cyril an there were tears in her
blue eyes as she stopped and pressed
her lips to the fever-bright cheek of
the old woman, who seemed quite
satisfied to be left in Cissie's charge.
The young girl did not leave her
either day or night till the crisis was
past; and then, before aunt Sue was
we'll, the younger sister was laid up
with the insidious disease, and the
young nurse had two patients, who
equally shared her constant minis
trations.
1t was joyful day for Cissie when
they were able to descend to the
morning room, for the hitherto prim
and formal sisters showed their thank
fulness to her, and she felt that she
had really won their respect as we'll
as their love.
And Cissie had another cause for
rejoicing that day. There was
letter from Cyril which announced
that she might expect to see him any
day, as, having been invalided home.
he was returning to England. And
even as the girl-wife read and reread
her husbands epistle there were sud-
den sounds of the galloping of horses
and rolling of wheels; then came a
great changing Of the gate.bell, and
Cissie, rushing into the hall, was
taben off her feet and clasped closely
to the breast of a bronzed- bearded
traveller who was no other than Maj.
Graham himself-for he had won his
promotion.
There was much to hear on both
sides, and both aunts were greatly
astonished when their nephew turned
TO his wife and said
And, as passed through, called
on your trustee, and he has promised
to come down next week."
And who may that be?" said
Miss Susannah.
"Old General Grant," replied
Cyril. You know, of course, that
Cissie is her mothers heiress. Her
mother belonged to one of the oldest
families in Scotland; she was Lord
Clanronald's only child"
The aunts never told Cissie that
they had considered her little no
body Cyril, however, knew some