The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1894-04-20

had sacrificed gloves and boots in the
pursuit of wonderful boughs and inac-
cessibie flowers He had listened To
Georgina till his ears fairly ached and
he was divided in his own mind as to
whether the performer or the listener
deserved the most pity. He had ad-
mired Cordelia in every variety of COS
tune, in every effective attitude: had
seen her eyes raised, and the long
Iashes of the dropping lids; and mar
veled at the whiteness of her hands at
the profusion of her curling hair; had
considered her a beauty, a weariness.
and burden of spirit
But he could find but little time to
speak to Maggie. He saw the evidences
of her industry and taste in every de
tail of housekeeping; knew whose skill
directed the servants, whose fingers
filled the flower vases. whose eyes
were everywhere. But the very per-
lection OF all these arrangements kept
the little woman too busy for many
idle moments, and in the evenings the
Older sisters were all-engrossing.
Two months had passed and instead
of June roses early fall fruits and flow
ers were abundant at MossvaIe when
Paul Goddard passed again through
the village and called at DR. Clements
office.
Il am so sorry" said Howard, as he
cordially shook his friend by the hand
All the girls are away. Uncle James
invited them to pass a month at the
White mountains, and they deserted
me-
Then you are alone?'
.'Oh, not entirely. Maggie stays to
keep house for me-
trude if i stay a day or two, Howard?''
'lntrude, Paul! Far from it / am
not busy, and Maggie was telling me
to-day that time actually hangs heavy
upon her hands. You know she WIS
always running for the others. So now
the little damsel has time to enjoy her
self, and we have had some lovely rides
and drives Maggie does ride beauti-
fully and her horse Is very fond of her.
IL was trCe that Maggie was finding
many leisure hours while her sisters
were away, and Paul found that the re
tiring, modest girl was one of the pleas
antest companions it had ever been his
good fortune to meet
1t was an amusement the young physi-
clan enjoyed to draw out the accom-
plishments that had been overshadowed
by her sisters loudly proclaimed talents
and attractions. He found nat Mag
gle could sing, with swee; bird-like
voice, though she never attic pied the
difficult songs in which Gre gina was
supposed to excel. She cou play sim
pie pieces with feeling and ,.xpression,
and her fingers would fairly dance over
the keys in livelier music. that required
no wonderful talent or elaborate exc
cution.
nd f,,1 h.,
child-like face became IN Paul God
dard's eyes. There was charm in the
constant cheerfulness that kept the
rosy mouth ever smiling aid sweet;
there was a beauty of expression in
the brown eyes that mere form and
color can never give; there was an at
traction always in the exquisite neat
ness of dress that was never stiff and
prim. though SO carefully arranged.
Howard Clements. who loved his
friend. and had hoped to secure him as
brother during his former visit,
opened his eyes wide in amazement
as the days wore away and Paul lin
gcred in Mossvale. During his first
visit Howard had hoped to see him
yield TO the destinations of the elder
Misses Clements. and no maneuvcring
mother ever took more pains than this
brother To- display the talents and beau
ties of his sisters That anyone would
look twice at Maggie when in the COM
pany of the others had never occurred
to Howard.
But in the light of Paul's evident ad-
miration the brother began to contem-
plate with different emotions the pos
sibility OF losing his little sister. lie
had borne with perfect composu-e the
prospect of parting with the others IL
seemed no great hardship, even when
the separation involved the disappear
ance of Nora's masterpieces and
Georgina's musis rack. But to lose
Maggie was quite another matter.
who" Howard asked himself in
dismay-"who would superintend the
servants and keep the house in order?
Who would wait with cheerful smiles
upon him when the duties OF his pro-
fession obliged him to ask for meals 1T
all sorts of irregular hours?"
Visions of Nora in paint-bedaubed
dresses. Georgina with frowsy hair
and Corielia in inert beauty presiding
over the household filled Towards
brain; and. while he lamented, he adj
mitted that ..Paurs head was level in
his apparent choice.
Maggie could scarcely believe she
heard Alright when Paul Goddard
pleaded for the giit of her love and
promised all loyalty and devotion if she
would come to preside over his home.
But" she said, you cannot really
love me"
Il really can and do" was the reply.
But I'm so plain and SO stupid.
Howard said" She paused and
blushed-
well, what did Howard say?"
Never mind !"
Tell me. That's a darling"
He said. then, that 1 was sure to be
an old maid. and after the others Were
all married | was to stay here and help
him keep up bachelors hall L really
don't see" she added, earnestly, 'how
Howard will get along"
"He must do as do"
Howe"
seek darling little housekeeper
for a wife"
cerned, the first Miss Clements who
was married was not the artist, not the
musician, not the beauty, but only
Maggie.-N. Y. News
The MoujIk Czar.
Alexander Ill. seems determined to
live up to his sobriquet of the moujik
czar." He has just affixed his sigma
ture to a project of law now being