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

and tragedies which Ill the world spring
from initial circumstances no bigger than
q mustard seed.
Among the domestic duties which Miss
Sparkles had hitherto performed with
such signal success was that of the care
of the linen. Mrs. Grahame had q fine
stock of linen, and was very proud Of IL
as a good housekeeper should be.
During the daughter like epoch of Miss
Sparkle's management no reasonable
fault could have been found with the
manner in which she had fulfilled her
charge. But now when Anne's niece,
Oracle, came In a. the successor, suddenly,
cricl cracl as the French say, the keys OF
the linen closet were demanded, and tho
care OF the linen was handed over to the
newcomer.
How have deserved thisf" said Miss
Sparkles, flaming as was not unnatural.
~ have done my duty. Why do you dis
possess mef'
"That is my affair."" said Miss Gra-
hame. Surely can do as ! like with
my ownf"
Well, the bright-eyed little girl bore
this, her first snub, direct in favor of
rival with as much patience as she could
command-which, truth to say, was not
an overwhelming amount. She did make
it rather uncomfortable for her rival, and
show her temper with perhaps less discre-
tion than honesty-less prudence than
sincerity. At all events she gave the oc-
casion that was wanted, and put herself
SO much in the wrong that Mrs. Grahame
found the fitting handle for the shaft she
wanted to throw, and gave Miss Sparkles
her congo.
SO now, turned out from the soft, warm
nest on to the bare and prickiy perch, the
poor little girl was cast into space, and IL
she fell to the ground altogether, neither
Mrs. Grahame, instigated by Anne, nor
Anne, influenced by greed and jealousy
and the worst form OF nepotism, cared.
1t was the fashion in the house to speak
of Miss Sparkles as ungrateful, wild
tempered, neglectful, impossible. 1t was
the fashion to pretend that all and sun
dry had borne many things because OF
her furious passions-because OF her neg
lect of duty; and that they were all well
quit of her, an incubus as she had become.
And Oracle took her place gallantly and
played into her aunt's hands, as IL was in
tended she should.
In the neighborhood where this little
story was enacted lived wealthy man
not only little, but a great deal older
mired this bright, vivacious, clever little
girl, with her ready wit and untiring
helpfulness, her good humor, general
ability, keen perceptions and perspicacity.
He had admired and loved her, and in
some sort envied his neighbor, Mrs.
Grahame, for the possession of such a
pleasant little singing bird for whom he,
too, would have been fain to find q suit
able cage.
But il never occurred to him to disturb
existing arrangements, and he kept him.
self too tightly in hand to allow himself
to regret, to desire, to plan.
When, however, the pretty girl was dis
possessed, and 80 unfairly and 30 uncere-
moniously treated, he reconsidered his
own position and hers, and thought 1t
over within himself, wondering IL It
would be possible-if il would be wise-if
it would be right? But nothing venture,
nothing win, and at least he might sound
Miss Sparkles himself, and hear what she
thought about the matter.
Would shef Could shef He was thir-
ty- five years older than she, but he was
hale and hearty, and at sixty he matched
her twenty five with not too bad q grace.
At all events he loved her, and was willing
to give her his name and his fortune, IL
so be that she could love him and content
herself as his wife.
And when he asked her, the little girl,
bruised and sore and desolate as she was,
unprotected, friendless, homeless, turned
to him with that gratitude which, when
mixed with respect and personal liking
makes no Ill substitute for love, and said:
eyes, she loved him we'll enough to be
his good and faithful wife, and she would
l- a. l. IT, n
ing him happy, SO that he should never
regret the trust he had placed In her.
And thus, as Is often in life, her trouble
became her wellspring Of Joy, and her fall
was the platform on which she found her
prosperity. The marriage turned we'll
| in all respects grandly well. Miss Sparkles
with her brightness and her vivacity,
brought the sunshine of youth and gaiety
| into her husbands erstwhile gloomy
house.
Loving no one else, she loved him with
her whole heart, and never knew the
| moment when she regretted her marriage.
| Nothing could be more harmonious than
her life, nothing more prosperous, moth
| ing more perfect. 1t was q round of
pleasantness and an uninterrupted food
of sunshine; while poor Mrs. Grahame,
between Anne and her niece, was as grist
between the upper and neither milestone
iron between the hammer and the anvil
and could no more call her very soul
her own.
And her beautiful store of linen
dwindled strangely and rapidly, and what
was left went into decay and was left to
ruin unrepaired. This was her punish
ment for listening to malevolence, and
being weak enough to believe evil reports
unsu bstantiated by facts or proofs.-The
Queen.