Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1892-05-27
MISS SPARKLES.

She had the brightest eyes and the sun
niest smile to be found within the four seas.
She might have her moments of depres-
sion, 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 a rich nature. OF the
darker, the more sulen passions, she had
not a trace: and the worst that could be
said of her was that she was 'soon up
and 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 greater protection than might be
found in a couple of iine-hearted brothers,
one of whom was on Texan ranch, and
the other in 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 efficient Greathearts; and poor little
Miss Sparkles had practically no one but
herself as her guardian and caretaker.
It
the house of an old friend. She had been
as the adopted daughter of the widow who
loved her, trusted to her, and found her
own happiness in the association which
gave herself loving companion and Miss
Sparkles All affectionate 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
itraI xt+it1 mic
gone, had never quite liked the close asso-
citation 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 i'll some quasi
mental 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 Mssus want with a
young person hanging around when she,
her own old Anne, was there to look after
her comforts and see to her fads and fan
cies? And if she did want any one, why
should she not have her own niece Grace.
sister James eldest. and as fine a girl as
ever stepped? She was bigger and taller
than Miss Sparkles, and quite as good a
companion; and she was the eldest of sev-
en-, and it would be 1.-THE worlds for sister
Jane to find her such a good situation as
this of MiSsuS's would be. So she set herself
to work to try and Gust Miss Sparkles from
the place and wriggle her niece Oracle into
it.
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, to
suspect, and find fault with her adopted
daughter. The home which had once been
like soft, warm nest lined with down be-
came 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 scarce
ly please the lady. Mrs. Grahame. who in
times gone by had never spoken harsh
word to her bright-eyed companion, now
scarce ever spoke a kind one Poor Miss
Sparkles opened those bright eyes of hers
to the widest, but she could not under
stand 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 she was like muir
derous shadow ever on the track of the
girl she was seeking to dispossess for the
safe appointment of one of her own. II
would have been a sorry and a sordid reve-
lation had she shown her how at every in
slant she stole into Mrs. Grahame's room
when Miss Sparkles was away, saying in a
low whisper: ''She just did this" ''She
said that ''Watch her when she comes
and just see how she lOoks;' "She had
some underhand work going on, and
can't abide them underhand ways myself
All. you should see my niece Oracle
There's a girl. if you like, as true as true
and as upright as they make Them "Cal
that good needlework, mem? Why, my
niece Gracie's work would beat that out OF
the fieldr' 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 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 terminate, and dis
trust here reacts in desire there. As Mrs
Grahame grew cooler and cooler, more dis.
satisfied with and more estranged from
Miss Sparkles, she grew more wishful tC
see this paragon, this Oracle, niece to ole
was so far superior to her own discrediteC
and disgraced fayOrte. 1t was in vair
that poor dear Miss Sparkles tried to re
cover her lost ground. She had no foot
hold, nothing by which to cling, and NJ
tangible obstacle to overcome. She wa.
simply slipping down the steep incline
and each attempt to make stand and hav,
ii out resulted in worse discontinue. How
can you have it out with person who de
MES that you have cause of complaint.
How can you barter to pieces with YOU
fist an India-rubber ball that gives you NJ
solid part to pommel, and only yields t
your blows and returns Immediately to tn,
old form? When Miss Sparkles, poor dear
all IL. angry tears and vivid flush of cage
scOrn, besOught Mrs. Grahame to tell he
how or why or where she had offended
that lady put on her iciest look and answer
ed primly: "You have not offended me
Maria. Have l made any complaint?n
"No" said Miss Sparllles vehemently
"and l only wish You had! 1t would bI
more satisfactory to know what had dis
pleased you than to be treated with thi
odd coolness-so unlike your former self
Gam l to be taken TO task for my man
ner?" asked Mrs. Grahame, in reply. "DC
you hold that to be a very dutiful o.
respectful thing to do from you to me, Ma
ria?"
And poor Miss Sparkles, bafiled at eacl
turn and every endeavor, felt there wai
nothing for it but silence, patience, and do