The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-05-25
GOOD OUT OF EVIL.

Ohc hou tuc DIlRDttSt oyto oht VIZ oaAA
niest smile to be found within the four
seas. She might have her moments OF
depression, as we ell have, and she might
at times flame out into rage when things
went wrong and her blood was up, but
this only redeemed her from the monotony
of cheerfulnsss and gave her the variety
that belongs to a rich nature. Of the
darker, the more sullen passions, she had
not a trace, and the worst that could be
said of her was that she was "soon up"
and 4" sometimes down" But In general
she was Miss Sparkles," and the name
expressed all that the world loved or cared
to know.
She had occasion enough for the exercise
of her brightness, for she was an orphan,
with no gr ater protection than might be
found in q couple of fine hearted broth
ers, one of whom was on a Texan ranch
and the other in one OF her majesty's
ships as lieutenant in the Australian seas.
Either Of these men would have pro-
tected her with his hearts blood, but
with all these miles between her and them
they were not very efficient Greathearts,
and poor little Miss Sparkles had practi-
cally no one but herself as her guardian
and caretaker.
For years she had fulfilled certain du-
ties in the house of friend. She had
been as the adopted daughter of the
widow, who loved her, trusted to her and
found her own happiness in the associa-
tion which gave herself loving compan-
ion and Miss Sparkles an affectionate
home.
But trouble had come between the two
and an enemy had sowed tares, as enc
mics have 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 Sparkles with the mistress. She
grudged the cares that were given on the
one side and the protection that was
granted on the other.
She thought that Miss Sparkles would
be vast deal better employed getting her
living in some quasi -menial way that
would teach her her place, rather than
living here as the daughter of the house
where never a daughter was wanted.
What did missus want with a young
person hanging around when she, her old
Anne, was there to look after her COM
forts and see to her fads and fancies?
And IL she did want anyone, why should
she not have her own niece, Oracle, sister
James eldest, as fine girl as ever stepped?
She was bigger and taller than Miss
Sparkles, and quite as good companion; !;
and she was the eldest OF seven, and it
would be " the worlds for sister Jane to
find her such agood situation as this of
missus would be. So she set herself to
work to try and oust Miss Sparkles from
the place and wiggle her niece Oracle into
ii.
Heaven knows what she said, but she
said something that proved quite efficient
for its purpose; and for the first time in
their Joint lives together the kind old
friend and quasi-mother began to doubt,
suspect and find fault with her adopted
daughter.
The house which had once been like a
soft, warm nest lined with down became
now a cold, hard, prickly perch, where
footing was not too secure. Miss Sparkles,
who In times gone by had never been
known to displease, could now scarcely
please the lady.
Mrs. Grahame, who in times gone by
had never spoken a harsh word to her
bright-eyed companion, now scarce ever
spoke q kind one. Poor Miss Sparkles
opened those bright-eyes OF hers to the
widest, but she could not understand
what was passing about her, and Mrs.
Grahame did not explain-nor did her old
maid, Mrs. Anne. Mrs. Anne would have
been little embarrassed had she essayed
to tell how she was like murderous
shadow ever on the track Of the girl she
was seeking to dIspossess for the safe ap-
pointment of one of her own. 1t would
have been a sorry and a sordid revelation
had she shown how at every instant she
stole into Mrs. Grahame's room when
Miss Sparkles was away, saying in q low
whisper:
"She just did this;" "She said that"
"Watch her when she comes, and just see
how she looks;" "She had some under
hand work going on, and / can't abide
them underhand ways myself. All! you
should see my niece, Graciel There's q
girl, IL you like, as true as true, and as
upright as they make them!" "Call that
good needlework, mem? Why, my niece
Gracie's work would beat that out of the
fieldi" And so on.
As constant dropping wears away the
hardest granite, so do these incessant in
situations and fault findings make their
mark on even the stoutest heart-the
strongest love. And when coupled with
this continual belittlement OF one is the
corresponding exaltation OF another, the
seed sown is sure to germinate; and dis
trust here reacts in desire there. As
Mrs. Grahame grew cooler and cooler,
more dissatisfied with and estrapged
from Miss Sparkles, she grew more wish
full to see this paragon, this Oracle, niece
TO old Anne, her faithful friend and SER
want, who was so far superior to her own
discredited and disgraced favorite.
when Miss Sparkles, poor dear, all in
angry tears and vivid flush OF eager scorn,
besought Mrs. Grahsme 10 tell her how
or why or where she had offended, that
lady put on her iciest look and answered
primly: "You have not offended me,
Marin. Have / made any complaint9"
"No," said Miss Sparkles vehemently;
"and only wish you hadl 1t would be
more satisfactory TO know what had dis
pleased you than 10 he treated with this
odd coolness-so unlike your former self"
"Am I to be taken to task for my man
nerf' asked Mrs. Grahame in reply.
"Do you hold that TO be very dutiful or
respectful thing to do from you to me,
Marian
Ever influenced by Mrs. Anne, the old