The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-05-13
MISS SPARKLEs.

four seas. She might have her moments
of depression, as we all 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 cheerfulness, and
gave her the variety that belongs to
rich nature. OF the darker, the more
sullen passions, she had not trace; and
fine worst that could be said of her was
that she was ''soon up" and some
times down" But in general she was
"NIiss Sparkles," and the name ex-
pressed all that the world loved or cared
to know.
She had occasion enough for the xer-
else of her brightness, for she ives an Or
phan, with no greater protection than
might be found in couple OF nne-
hearted brothers, one of whom was on
a Texan ranch, and the other on one OF
her Maiesty's ships as lieutenant IN the
Australian seas. Either of these men
would have protected her with his hearts
blood; but with all these miles between
her and them they were not very etti-
cient Greathearts; and poor little Miss
Sparkles had practically no one but her
self as her guardian and caretaker For
wears she had fulfilled certain duties in
the house of an old friend. She had
been as the adopted daughter of the
widow, who loved her, trusted her, and
found her own happiness in the assocla
ton which gave herself a loving COM
panion and Miss Sparkles an atfectlonate
home. But trouble had come between
the two, and an enemy had sowed tares,
as enemies have the 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 her
mistress. She grudged the cares that
we're giyen on the one side and the pro-
lection that was granted on the other.
She thought that Miss Sparkles would
he 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 daughter was wanted.
What did Missus want with young per.
son hanging around, when she, her old
Anne. was there to look after her com
forts and see to her fads and tancleS?
And if she did want any one, why should
she not have her own niece, Oracle, SIS
ter James eldest, and as fine girl as
ever stepped? She was bigger and taller
thon Miss Sparkles, and quite as good a
companions; and she was the eldest OF
seven. and it would be ''the worlds" for
sister Jane to fine her such a situation
as this of Missus' would be. So she set
herself to work to try and GUST Miss
Sparkles from the place and wriggle FER
niece Oracle into it,
Heaven knows what she said, but she
said something that proved quite eff
Gent for its purpose, and for the first
time in their joint lives together the
kind old friend and quasi-mother began
to doubt, to suspect, and find fault with
her adopted daughter. The home which
had once been like soft, warm nest
lined with down, became now 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 kind one. Poor Miss Spar
kles opened those height 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 a little embarrassed had she
essayed to tell how the vas vas like muir
dAfgKe was seeking 70 Gp u lisp for the
Sale appointment of one of her own. 1t
would have been a sorry and sordid
revelation had she shown how at every
instant she stole into Mrs. Grahame's
room when Miss Sparkles was away, say
ing in low whispers: "She just did
this "She said that" "Watoh her
when she comes and just see how she
looks" "She had some underhand work
going on, and can't abide them under
hand ways myself. All! you should see
my niece. Oracle! There's a good girl,
if you like, as true as true, and as up
right as they make them!" Call that
good needlework, man? Why, my
niece Gracie's work would beat them
out of the fieldm And so on.
As constant dropping wears away the
hardest granite, so do these incessant in
situations and fault-fndings make their
mark on even the stoutcst heart-the
strongest love. And when coupled with
continual belittlement of one is the cor
responding exaltation of another, the
seed sOwn is sure to terminate, and dis
trust here reacts in desire there. AS
Mrs. Grahame grew cooler and cooler
more dissatisfied with and estranged
from Miss. Sparkles, she grew more
wistful to see this paragon, this Oracle,
niece to old Anne, her faithful friend
and servant, who was so far superior to
her own discredited and disgraced
favOrite. 1t was in vain that poor dear
Miss Sparkles tried to recover her lost
ground. She had no fOothold, nothing
by which to cling, and no tangible OBJ
stacle to overcome. She was simply
slipping down the steep incline; and
each attempt to make stand and haYe
it out resulted in worse discontinue.
How can you have it out with person
who denies that you have cause of COM
plant? How can you batter to pieces
with your fist an India-rubber ball that
gives you no solid part to pummel, and
only yields to your blows and returns
Immediately to the old form? When
Miss Sparkles, poor dear, all in angry
tears and vivid flush of eager scorn, be-
sought Mrs. Grahame to 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,
Maria. Have made any complaint"
"No; and / only wish you had! 1t
would be more satisfactory to know
what had displeased you than to be
treated with this odd coldness-so I'M
like your former self"
''Am | to be taken to task for my
manner?" asked Mrs. Grahame, in re-
ply. 'Do you hold that to be very
dutiful or respectful thing to do from
you to me, Maria?n
And poor Miss Sparkles, baffled at