The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1892-07-02

ed week before, and was still only six
teen. But it is only three months, you
know. Well, Lisa, you will be glad to
hear that | very soon got over my disap-
pointment; indeed, | have had good many
more since. l say, Lisa, now | look at
you again, you don't look half so well as l
thought you did. Have you been i'll ?"
1t was true Now the flush of pleasure
and surprise had faded from her face, she
looked, as she generally did, i'll and worn.
She murmured something about being over
tired this afternoon.
"You are, indeed, can see" he said,
"and you are sitting in an uncomfortable
chair all this while" He jumped up and
looked round the room. "Here, young
ster, move out of that, and disturbing the
stold Paul from low folding chair, he
brought it round to the fire, installed Lisa
in it; brought her footstool and screen,
and then reseating himself went on pour
ing out "reminiscences, while Paul stood by
with his mouth wider open than ever.
Their talk was all about the time long
ago when Lisa was merry, light-hearted
girl, the happiest in happy home, with
father, mother, brothers, and cousin all
ready to pet her; when life seemed one
long holiday, and time was reckoned by
skating expeditions and hay-making and
nut-gathering.
"And the piano, Lisa-the dear old
piano. Do you remember our duets on it
Can you still play the barrelorgan with
three notes missing? Do you remember
'Garryowen ?-our own arrangement, when
[ PLAYED the air down in the bass, and We
made it sound so gloriously inebriated ?
Could you play it now ?
''Let's go up stairs and try. Is there a
fire, children ?"
Jane said, "No, there isn't"
"Never mind, we can light it" said
Dennis. ado you remember when We got
up at four o'clock to gather mushrooms,
and never went further than the kitchen
fire We lighted it, you know, to cook
some breakfast, and then sat, making toast
and drinking coffee, until we fell asleep,
and didn't wake until cook came down
stairs to make the regular breakfast"
They had gone up stairs while he was
speaking, and Lisa lit the gas, and was
about to put match to the fire which,
after the manner of second rate households,
was ready laid.
Cousin Dennis said Allow me," and
took the matches from her, noticing the
hurt finger as he did so,
"Why, what is this, Lisa ?"
'Nothing, nothing at all.
Eyes, it is. How have you hurt it?''
at is nothing; only carrying heavy
books.
"Why, Lisa, since when have you taken
to reading heavy books And were you
so anxious to improve your mind that You
damaged your fingers ?"
1t impressed the children vaguely that
their mother did not say the books were
not for herself; they would have said so in
moment, and got all the sympathy they
could. Their mother got sympathy enough'
however, even on the misunderstanding
that she had hurt herself in her own service.
Cousin Dennis despatched Paul for vase
line, and Jane for an old haHdkerchief, and
made Just as much fuss over mother S
little ailment as mother would have made
over one of them. This astOnished the
children completely; and all the evening,
while Lisa talked and laughed like girl
over old, by-gone jokes, and by-gone scrapes
and adventures, they crowded round her to
listen, with respect for her unknown be-
fore.
Mr.. Railton, when told of Dennis Vests
arrival, remembered him family as for
ward boy, whom he had very properly put
down, but did not take enough interest in
him to be pleased or displeased at his re-
appearance until he heard about the
money. Then he was pleased, naturally;
the mere novelty of the thing was delight
full. In these hard times we are so much
likelier 10 meet with people who want to
raise money than people who want to invest
it. So he made Dennis welcome TO his
house, and gave him great deal of very
useful advice Dennis had a good deal of
money, as he had said, but it was scattered
at random over the globe, Wherever in
his restless life he had happened to acquire
money, he had invested it on the spot in
concerns good, bad, or Indifferent. The
good investments Mr.. Railton advised him
to leave alone. The bad were to be called
in at once-even at loss-but the indiffer.
ent were to be dealt with cautiously
The most extensive among the latter were
in Mergui, and it was settled between the
two men that West should go out again
presently, fortified by great deal of advice
from Railton, to dispose of them salts
factorily. Meanwhile, Dennis West went
often to the little house in Upton
Street, and the oftener he went the less he
liked it, Not only because on nearer
acquaintance he found Donald Railton to
be narrow minded, selfish, and contradic
tious, but because he saw Lisa necessarily
worried and 81 lighted, and had to see it il
silence.
Oh had once a true love,
And l had three Draw brithers. but hae tin
Ny father and my mither sleep in the mould th
day.
sit me iane-in the midst of a house full of yer!
unattractiye and intractable children.
Dennis hummed this very free adapta-
ton of one of Lisas songs one afternoon
in March, as he walked towards Upton
street. Poor Lisa The words just ex.
pressed her case. Once she had everything,