The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1895-12-04


girls came in--for nobody was to know
of her return-but somehow it all leak
ed ont And Lois had never been to her
mothers folks at all, but all the while
she had been in neighboring town,
trying to get work to support herself
But she was too young, and too pretty,
and too alone in the world, and she had
broken down in the struggle and had
just been able to crawl home-to die.
at most killed the Miss Pettingills,
and they always felt as if her death was
owing to their hard ways l guess it
was too, for they were the hard New
England kind, and she warm and they
didn't understand. They meant well,
but they didn't understand.
There was silence after she had end.
ed, until Margaret looked up archly.
"Really, Aunt Mahala, you ought to
write series of Recollections and
The Story of Lois would make such a
charming beginning. What a pity you
did not think of doing it beforep
Nonsense, child ~ said Miss Mahala,
with the characteristic Dillingham; toss
of her head
Iul i uItdl It--gpu really ollpllu,
| persisted Margaret, who liked to tease
her stately aunt ''It is a debt you owe
| the public You have no right to hide
| your light under bushel And it would
be great thing for me to become
known as the grandniece of the talented
writer, Miss Mahala Dillingham;. "
The summer drifted by. The usual
round of visitors from city friends and
relatives came to an end at last, and
Miss Mahala and Margaret were once
more alone together.
One autumn morning, breakfast Just
ended, Miss Mahala nervously cleared
her throat. Margaret, " she said, "have
you half an hour to give me? have
something to read aloud'-
Margaret looked on in amazement as
Miss Mahala drew closely written roll
of manuscript from her silk apron S ca
pacious pocket and smoothed it with
trembling hands
Il thought a great deal about
what you said, Margaret" she began,
"and came to the conclusion that you
might be right, and [ had no call to hide
my light if the talent for writing had
really been given me. So | began, as
you suggested, with The Story of Lois, ,
and when that has been published L can
go on and write more Of my 'Recollec-
tions.
Margaret was astonished at this un
expected result Of her testing words.
But controlling her first hysterical de-
sire to laugh, she composed herself to
listen to Miss Mahala' S first literary eff
fort, with the respect which was due to
her years, and which was soon mingled
with genuine surprise.
Miss Mahala had told the simple story
in quaint, old fashioned way, which,
though rambling, was full of unexpect-
ed pathos. With careful revision and
certain necessary corrections the little
story would be quite suitable for publ
cation, for which it was Enthusiastically
designed.
Miss Mahala's faded cheeks glowed
with excitement when she had finished,
and she listened with evident delight to
Margaret expressions of congratulation
and surprise.
'Then it's all right, she sighed in
relief. II was kinder afraid when l
came to think, for, you see, don't
know much about the modern, newfan-
gled ways of spelling, and all that, be-
cause in my young days we just began
every noun with capital. But, after
all, thought, it's the printers bust
ness to see to the spelling, so l amt go
ing to worry about it any more, and you
can send it right on for me this morn
ing "
But, Aunt Mahala, can't won't
you-that is-may I-copy it for your"
Its copied all right 1 only wrote
on one side of the paper, though that
did seem like a wicked waste And,
Margaret, 1 am going to send it to The
Eastern Star-that editor has always
treated you so we'll. And here's the let
ter I've written him. l just told him
how came to write the story, and that
| was your greataunt, so, of course, he
won't expect to treat me like an ordi-
nary young beginner. And l told him
this was just the first one of my Recol-
Lotions, and l asked him if he wouldn't
like me to send him the rest as soon as
they were done. "
&" But, Aunt Mahala, and Margaret
looked aghast at the little old lady, who
was so elated and SO confident of success
How could the necessary corrections
be made and the too confidential letter
be suppressed without cruelty wounding
Miss Mahala S pride?
Margaret's resolution was soon form
ed.
=" Aunt Mahala," she said, "there is
something must do this morning, and
If your story goes by the afternoon ex-
press it will reach the editor just as
soon as if it was posted at once. Let me
take it. I'll stamp it and see to every
thing. It's lovely, and I'm as proud of
you as can be. Don't worry any more
about it, and please let me be undis-
turbed until dinner time.
Once up In her own room behind lock
Ell doors Margaret began the work Of re-
vision. II was impossible to let the
manuscript go out as it was, and al
though she hesitated before drawing her
nor, tbrc,,c oh tho fret c,,narA,,ouc xuord