Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-12-18
AN AFTERNOON CALL


azines and newspapers. In one of the
Latter she discovered this item:
Miss Marian Ross arrived Saturday
from Sparkling Springs. Va She leaves
next week for Bar Harbor and other gay
centers.'
''Go over and call. said my mother;
'sperhaps she VIII give you Whit Of
the ocean"
Before coald demur she had rung
for George 20 bring around the cart and
ordered Tns out OF the house.
/ chose a short cut 20 Ross hill. a
country road bordered breast high with
blackberry and elder bushes. There
was much'up bill and down patchwork
and many q loose stone over which 10
stumble, bat the pony was fresh, trees
shaded ths read, Wild grapevines waved
their sprays in cur faces, and an occa-
sioral breeze waited Us the fragrance o.
the elder blossoms.
Crossing a bridge and looking down
through the tree tops 10 the creek far
below could see the cattle drinking
velvet skinned Attorneys, whose grace
ful limbs showed pedigree ia every line.
Skirting the base OF Rose hill we
turned into the avenue and climbed
toward the gates. which formed q cres-
cant and swung from huge stone pillars
almost hidden by woodbine.
The gates barred entrance to the drive
way: otherwise the place was not in
closed by wall or hedge-the great green
hill stretched away in its beauty for
every one 70 see. A rustic seat was
placed Hospitality on the boulevard that
even a stranger might tarry and enjoy
the view far away over the Hill and val
ley TO thas line Of misty blue which
marks the end of vision. On my way to
the house | espied a hammock under the
willow trees down by the spring. Surely
white dress was futtering from il.
Bidding pony stand ran down the hill,
70 b. received literally with open arms.
my dear Harriet, how did you divine
that l was longing for you? But did
not like 10 add myself to your burdens.
am so depressing
.Oh. but my mother is better, and be-
sides l an always glad to see you"
al am so tired OF myself that feel as
II every one else must be tired of me too.
! was even grateful TO my horse for SEEM
ing glad To welcome me home. We are
10 match for dumb brutes in affection.
We chatter away al our best qualities,
our affection and earnestness, and-that
reminds NE, you were not at church yes
terday. l was. l sat in the pew be-
tween the two doors, where the breeze
eouid fan me and the green trees look in
ct me (there were very few other specta-
torsl
''The yellow windows were framed by
tho shadow of the ivy on the outside, and
the choir boys sang Ike birds. The ser
mon was so good-an aboNt-oh, / for
get what it was about, except that he
said tho word translated good means
earnest--to be good is TO be earnest. I
was afraid before that never could be
good. but now am in despair. never
realized how frivolous was until Maud
She was always serious enough
for both OF Us"
We were sitting in the hammock.
which vibrated slowly, encouraged by
an occasional touch Of her white slip
pered foot on tae turf. Before IA the
spring trickled from the earth and ran
away q tiny thread of silver, Just water
enough TO keep the pebbles glistening
and TO give drink TO the ferns which
leaned over it. l congratulated Marian
on the luxuriance OF the green fronds.
knowing that the sisters were fond Of
them. as they had been gathering them
for years on their travels. and each fern
bad It's pleasant "reminiscences.
Nov. said Marian, there Is an In
stance Of how serious Maud is. 1t would
brsak her heart 20 know that she had
balf Che associations attached TO the
wrong ferns. but it only makes me laugh
0hsn she hangs the California story on
! fern know we brought from the vir-
yinia mountains. or when she tells how
he dug that one ia an old churchyard
n Norristown, Y. J.. near Washington's
when Aunt Lefty herself
Identified il as one sue sent MS from nli-
sois. from Che banks Of the Sangamon.
Didn't l'1coIn wade or fish or some
hing IN trn Sangamon7 Yet believe
hand Is happier thsr I am; at least / an I
urs there is something lacking in me
low that sac IS married. After one has +
'wned = sister 50 long it is hard TO have
oms man with no claim st all come and .
AIRY her 81. Whatever she has had /
ave always had. until now she has a
husband and | havs noae-nos that
vant one. bus she insight have waited. i
Since We were little girls we had I
tanned that * ever there was a wedding 4
a the house It should be double one.
'ut when reminded her she laughed at
he idea. said waiting for me was hope
sss, that such an indeCisive person as i
rouf1n't know my fate when saw him.
hen coui3n't help saying thar IL ny
sts expected ne 70 recognize him he
gcuid certainly have % De handsomer
han her Henry. OF course there was !
uarrei. ana after that dared not sus-
&C. even in my own mind that Henry
ras net an Apollo. and IL was exhausted
r preparing for the wsdding was
fraid e. heave a sigh.
Il lust fastened a smile on nv face
nj kept il there till al was over.
Yhen I took it or after they were gone
spa sa;d I looked Ike a ghost IN my
rrn house. re offered O. take me
esne where. hut I know pleasure resorts
r. piScss - m2rtyr'iosn 80 hinL. Hia
la ~ recrcation i 70 50 6shirg with
x q men ard stess Ike an aboTiEiue.
!, fssia him 81 fe ccpd peTsuasie Mss