Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1892-02-03
HABBETTEs

child judging from her slight figure
and general appearance; but tonigh
Babbette was eighteen.
They knew it in the great house, bu
what cared they for the birthday melt
Ing into blank night without even &
word or token of affection?
The tears dropped off the long lashe,
and bitterness settled over the white
face-so very white now in the deepen.
ing twilight.
Cousins Kate and Clara were In the
drawing room entertaining friends
and the soft light came through the
drawn curtains of filmy lace with 6
dreamy radiance suiting we'll the slow
sleepy music of the guitar some ono
was playing inside.
The girl pauzed to look in at the coy
enjoyment hungrily. How she loved
music; but then she could not sing.
No; the musical vein of the Wiltons
had failed to throb into her life for
some reason.
The big tears hcsitating on the dark
iashes, plashed down on the crimson
shawl, and Babbette turned away with
q choking sensation in her throat.
Out across there, thor gh, where the
lights twinkle through the trees, lived
. dear old friend, the gray haired rec
tor. How many happy hours she had
passed in that pretty cottage; the little
study with its modest ingram carpet
and softly shaded lamps, with its mar
row, green shutters opening out on a
long, old-fashioned piazza by day, and
closed on the little happy world at
night, was a paradise TO the lonely
girl.
Doubtless the low rocker in its snug
.",~rer waited her coming tonight as
often before, and they wouldn't mis-
her in there where the soft, sweet mu-
sic mellowed the air and floated out on
her desolate night.
No, there was no room for her any
~ay, had she chosen to have remained
indoors. Her place must be among
those in the drcary ways of life!
But the rector, kind old man, was
compamonable and n friend. She
would step in and have another of
those long, serious talks she delighted
in. Poor mani He, too, was alone
now, with mono but the housekeeper
TO look after him. His wife slept over
there in the churchyard, and his SON
wollI Babbette didn't mind of ever
seeing him.
He was away to college somewhere,
but the rector had told her that he would
be at home shortly. After his coming,
of course, Babbette arc~ed, she
wouldn't feel as free to occupy the
willow rocker at the rectOry, for.
Well, she was now IS and really a
child no more, for all Aunt Marie kept
her IN ankle dresses and long, childish
curls.
Tapping ut the study door she was
admitted by the gray haired clergyman,
az usual, who drew the familiar rocker
forward, and, pushing his books aside,
turned around for the talk he knew
was expected TO be forthcoming.
"And tonight am 49," said Bab-
bNtte, letting the shawl drop from her
shoulders with n weary gesture, "and
what have l accomplished, or where
is the prospective niche for Babbetto
Wilton?"
A step sounded in the hall. The
rector looked up. dts my son Max"
lie explained. "IIc came home yester-
day; didn't tell you, did /? Max ="
calling, "hcrc is our little friend whom
/ have spoken of SO often; come in and
see her"
"Oh, o myl" and Babbcttc looked
distressed rs she rose quickly to go.
"Stay, pleased" said the old man,
pleadingly. al do so want you and
Max to be friends, too"
At this moment the son came in, and,
seeing Babbette, came forward for an
introduction. al am happy to meet
yOu, Miss Wilton" he said, in a clear,
sweet tone that thrilled her with its
earnestness. "Father has written me
so often of you, and your delightful
visits which frightened the days other
wise very lonely for him"
Babbelte fidgeted with the frinrcs
of her shawl and wondered if college
folks noticed short dresses and scuficd
shoes, and what they thought of ''poor
beggars who couldd't appear we'll"
But the rcctor's son didn't seem to
notice any deficiencies in dress or
manner, and talked of her favorite
books and authors in an easy, chatty
way that made her feel at ease in spite
of her misgivings.
"Would you allow me TO walk home
with your" asked Max as Babbette
rose to go; ait is quite dark"
al have run across here after night
fall alone quite often" answered she /;
"but might fancy myself cowardly
for once" and, smiling, she accepted
the escort.
alt seems to me that we were never
strangers, Miss Wilton" said Max as
they walked slowly along under the
gloomy cedars. "Father has written
me so much about you that 1 was
anxious and glad to get home that
might make your acquaintance person
ally"
at isn't much TO know me-" re-
joined Babbetta, wearily. al am such
a cipher, and such a miserable, no ac-
count cipher, too"
"Please don't say such sad things"
he said, in a panied way; "try to see
the silver lining for yourself; you find
il for others. Let us be friends and
cheer one another up to grand, good
purposes in life"
al shall be glad" whispered Bah
bette, slinging to his arm in the dark
ness.
"Have you heard any news?" asked
Uncle Wilton at dinner one day some
weeks later.
''No, papa" chorused his daughters.
pray tell us"
"Well," said he, 'the rector's son
has fallen heir to a mint of money. BY
the death of a relative he becomes sole
heir to his property, worth about
million or So"
"Oh, my! and he is handsome and a
collegiate, toO," simpOred Kate, who
was fast approaching the old maid
line.
"We must invite him TO our party
down the river" put in Clara. "Fll