Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1894-12-21
but there was large field for charitable

|
but there was large field for charitable,
labor.
was always stronger in Hayward il
the summer than in the city in winter
and had become quite Lady Bounti
full, in quiet way, among the mil
hands and their families Then How,
ard ran down often to see me.
But the summer of which l write
found many of the former recipients
my soups, medicines and money hat
gone away, and strangers filed theil
place; but it was too common in Hay
ward to excite even remark, and
was glad to know my crooked little
figure soon became familiar to the new
corners, and the children soon learned
to love me
had been in Hayward only shorl
time when | found my place in the
hearts of the poor people was ably con
tested by a Miss Payne, whose nam,
was in every mouth. She was so beau.
tiful, so good ! All her life she had
lived in Hayward, but quite away from
our part of the town. 1t had never been
in her power to spend money until she
came of age, the fall preceding the SUN
mer of which | write, but now she scat
tered aid with generous hand.
"She is an angel one enthusiastic
woman said to me.
was very anxious to meet this para
gon, and | was soon to DO gratilied. My
heart surrendered after ono interview,
during which sho never let me suspect
she noticed my deformity. We were
fast friends very soon. Together we
visited our poor folks, together we drove
about the country, or took such walks
as my strength allowed.
Oh, how | loved her The delicate
tact that could minister to my weak
ness, keep me from fatigue, never showed
itself in any word or look that could
painfully remind me of my infrmities
She became my guest for the summer,
confessing that her own home was lonely
and unattractive.
think it was in August | wrote to
Howard, begging for sight of his face,
and | ventured ono line: "Have you
forgotten Grace Alton p
The answer came promptly, promis-
ing mo weeks visit, aud answering
my question:
II have not seen Miss Alton since
you left; she is away for the summer"
1t was still August day when How
ard came. | was lying upon the lounge
in the hall, the doors open at either end,
when saw him coming up the steps of
the piazza. Miss Payne was in the viii
lage doing my work and her own, for it
was one of my sick days.
"You are pale to-day" Howard said,
after we were started for chat; "but
you look better than have seen you for
long time Have you been very
lonely /"
told him then of my companion,
and while spoke could see the genu-
inc admiration and honor kindling his
large dark eyes.
"Sho must be noble woman" no
said
"She is noble woman When she
is not in Hayward she has regular cor
respondents who keep her Informal of
tho needs of the mill hands, and dis
tribute the money she sends"
Payne Payne p said my brother,
musingly 81 never knew but one Payne
hero, Bertio-Miss Atoms uncle"
"Down here" | said demuroly, "they
call Grace Alton Miss Payne
"You cannot mean that it is Grace
Alton you have been describing to
me p
al do, Howard"
"Ilow we have wronged her -
"Sho is my guest" | said, "and has
gone to the village. Don't you think
you want to see her 2"
My brother kissed me gratefully and
left me without saying another word.
My patience was not too heavily
taxed They came back soon 1t need
cd but one look into the faces to SEQ how
the wooing prospered When, few
months later, the young couple stood be-
fore the altar to exchange the VOWS that
bound them for life, knew that in ev-
cry noble ambition my brother had found
an earnest, true-hearted sympathzer in
her whom we had so harshly judged TO
bc-Only butterfly.