Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1896-01-02
A ANEWYEAR ROMANCE


day. Why shouldn't 1: Every other girl
does.
''It's a sinful, wicked waste Of time, "
said Mrs. Vane, "when the quilting Is
so behindhand and there's such deal
of sewing to be done. P"
but life isn't all for work, " plead
ed MurieL "And Mr.. Clifton is coming
all the way from the city in his sleigh
to see me. Oh, mother, please let me
have a loaf of homemade cake and some
red apples and real cream for the coffee
Just for this once! It's only one day
in the year. Do, mother -
STUFF and nonsense - said Mrs.
Vane, who was one of those aggravating
women who make up their minds on
the least possible grounds and then
pride themselves on adhering to their
word. "I've said no, and l mean no.
When was a young girl [ wasn't set
ting my cap at every fellow that came
along.
Mother" cried Muriel, in an agony
VI hOulluCu pAAdCJ w ONt AAASt~AA ~ '''J
that | do such thing?"
'You think a deal too much Of the
beans anyway" said old Mrs Vane,
screwing up her thin lips. "And I'm
going to break up that sort Of thing
See if l don'tp'
1t was with difficulty that Muriel
Vane, naturally high tempered girl,
checked the indignant retort that rose
to her lips. Surely, surely, it was not
right that she, girl of IS, who was
earning her own living by teaching in
the district school, should be treated
like child Of s; that her tyrannical
old mother should place no confidence
whatever in her sense Of right and deli
cacy. Up to this time she had rendered
the tribute of an unwilling obedience
to Mrs. Vane's behests, and now she
felt that the moment for just rebellion
had come. She felt that she could not
live any longer in this cramped, mig
gardly sort Of way, with the very Jumps
of sugar for her tea meted out to her,
one by one, and the pippin apples for
her lunch dealt sparingly forth, as If
each one were nodded in gold. Mrs
Vane took her lamp away at o clock
every night. She dictated to poor Mu
riel as to the very color Of her dresses
and the number of yards which she
might purchase for them; in fact, the
girl scarcely dared to think for herself.
Could she live thus always! she asked
herself. Was it right that she should!
tAt all events, mother" said Mu
riel speaking in a low, determined
tone, II shall receive my friends on
New Years day. 1t is my privilege,
and / claim 1t |"
"Humphp' was the contemptuous re-
joinder, but there was world Of mean
ing in it.
SO Muriel retrimmed her one black
silk dress and bought now ribbon sash
and baked a great, golden New Years
cake filed with plums and studded all
through with translucent bars of citron
and herself hargained with the grocer
for two pounds of real Java coffee with
as little adulteration of Rio, Maracaibo
and chicory as he could bring himself
to concOct.
II can use the china that my grand
mother Vane left me in her WILL"
thought Muriel. 'That, at least, is
mine, although mother would never al
low me to unpack 1t J"
She was busy decorating the walls of
the little parlor with laurel leaves and
long, dark green trails Of princes pine
on New Years eve, when her mother
came into the room.
"Muriel," said she, Il want to send
some dressed chickens and peck of
those golden pippins to your Aunt Dora
at the lighthouse Jenkins boy is ready
with the boat, but he's such limb that
l don't, for the life of me, dare to trust
him with the apples and the bag Of
hickory nuts. want you to go and ask
Aunt Dora for the pattern Of the new
bedquilt-the philadelphia pavement,
you know"
"Very we'll, mother" said Muriel in
the old submissive way. But isn't it
rather late?"
"Pshawl" said Mrs. Vane. why,
the sun is an hour high yet. You'll be
back long before dark if Jenkins boy is
spry with the oars"
Aunt Dora, Mrs Vane's only sister.
was a worthy scion of the family tree
tall, masculine and hard featured. She
had always taken the entire charge OF
White Reefs lighthouse, even although
the official appointment was conferred
upon her husband, and when one day
that public servant departed this life,
things went on precisely the same Mu-
riel was not fond Of her Aunt Dora, and
her Aunt Dora regarded her as a poor,
chicken hearted creature-Vane all
over" But Muriel did feel sorry for the
lonely old woman, and she thought that
even q pair of fowls and few apples
this unwonted manifestation Of sisterly
feelins-were worth carrying to White
Reefs So sho made haste to don her
wadded cloak and little fur edged hood,
and TO draw on the scarlet woolen nit
tens, which she herself had knitted dur
ing those long, dreary winter evenings
when she and her mother sat in silence
opposite each other, for Mrs. Vane never
invited any company, and gave her
neighbors but scant welcome when they
came Of their own accord.
Jenkins boy" was ready with the
boat, a small, ferret eyed youngster,
with an intensely freckled face and a
furtive, sidewise glance, which Muriel
always distrusted; and as they glided
out over the water, already dyed with
che orange reflection Of sunset, in the
direction Of White Reefs lighthouse,
Muriel leaned her chin in her hands
and thought Of Nr. Clifton.
What would her mother say If she
knew it all-that Paul Clifton loved her
that he was coming to ask for her ct
the maternal hands the very next day
1T will be Of no use, " she thought
sadly. Mother will say no. She de-
sires me to marry Squire Sedley, who
is bald and deaf and twice my age, and
who only wants me because his house
keeper has struck for higher wages and
he thinks u wife would be better econo-
my. But we can wait, Paul and !. We
will wait. !"
And then they ran up alongside the
tall, spectral cylinder Of the lighthouse,
FOR the tide was high and landing was
comparatively easy. and Muriel sprang
lightly ont Of the boat, looking up at
the fiery eye IN the lantern above.