The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-07-26
P R | S CILLA,
OF y SYMPATHETIC TEMPERAMENT.
sy L. q. wALFoRD.



self for the time beins, she caught the
spirit Of the hour.
supposing for example that her temper
airy abode CHANGED TO Be n some remote,
old-fashioned spot lar from the 1la4a.uE
orowd-and supposing that her s"hsr-iA i.ii-
"a hosts devoted their leisure hours 90 CUE
tivatng scientific pursuits-to astronomy D.
botany. or archaeology who 50 rroi9lni-
Is interested as Scilla in The revelations OF
the telescope or microscope VINO SO
keenly alive 10 the value Of new 'hna.
or so ardent and untiring in exploring me-"
fields 10 conquer Not a f0wcr-not an
fnsect-not a crumbliue wall or lettering
ruin within reach. but she would pursue
or investigate. with what was for the mo-
ment an almost sacred enthusiasm
or. arain. did she hnd passing perch
IN the temple Of art. and did music or
painting. or the drama nh the measure
Of the thoughts Of those about her, such
a flame would be kindled in our little
Scilla's bosom as deceived even herself
into the belief that she had found for all
time her true vocation.
She would perchance be accorded
small part in some Forthcoming perform
How unninchingly would She rise betimes
DAY after day. in order 10 secure am hour
at the piano before breakfast How UNI
wearyingly would She attend rehedrsals'
With what unabated zest would she enter
into details and discussions. and with
what genuine. unaffected sympathy
hearken 10 the doubts and fears, hopes
and apprehenslOns Of all!
VA the same with CC.Ad every " Nor 90
and perhaps this was the reason why
Scilla was wanted everywhere leoIie
might say TO each other that u was q
charity TO invite Priscilla Daveuant-Who
had but a poor home. a widowed motner'
and few opportunities for displaying nef
charrns-but the plain truth was thdt the
bright, responsive yoUns cIeat Ule; Just Up. "l'
ening her eyes upon the world. tull OF good
will towards 1t. and ready 10 meet u hait-
way at every point was pleasant, USE
full inmate of any house.
Scilla could be reckoned upon TO take a
wiling part in whatever was going for
ward. and TO assimilate with any sort OF
party gathered together. Thdt was the
right kind Of young lady visitor TO nave,
according TO Lady A. and Mrs b., and
when these amiable hostesses ran over
their list Of names for future house-parues
in the ears of their respective spousc7'
and when the list concluded with Scilia
Gas the rooms ended In Scilla's. sure 70
be a tiny cupboard up a back starr, the
Tejoinder would be quick and ready
"Sciua Davenant2 An, to be sure. A
CHEEKY little puss; and Kindness TO ask
her
scilla was just eighteen; and for two
years had been going about in this de-
tached fashion-having indeed been taken
from school in order to accept an ellgi-
BILE invitation for the summer months.
The visit over. Mrs. Davenant thought
her daughter could do without any FUR
Their education. Perhaps this single fact
win place Mrs. Davenant before our read
ers.
With half dozen younger girls TO think
of to say nothing of school boys who IN
that house seemed to be ever coming
home for the holidays, she could only see
in any demand for the presence of the
eldest a source of congratulaton. Scilla
was her beauty, and-Wlth a sight was
hard she could be able 10 do so little for
her; but Scilla was such a favorite-with
q smile-that no girl was ever IN such luck
with invitations.
That the storm and stress of daily life
fell upon her own hard-wOrked shoulders
was nothing to the fond parent, so long as
she could despatch her eldest daughter oil
creditably. and talk OF her gaieties, OF
the admiration she excited. and the kind
ness she met with; therefore, can IL be
wondered at that the open. susceptible
nature thus trained. should have at any
rate begun 10 reflect back its training2
1t had seemed an even more than usual
~ fine opening in Mrs. DaVenants eyes
when a note had come summOning her
a country house in the west of England,
where she was promised a say time, and
in particular her fill of riding and driving
delights beyond the reach of "A girl
whose home was in a dusty suburb, where
a station fly was the only alternative 10
the use of her feet
Every friend and neighbor encountered
upon her homely beat that day was told
the news-told with Mrs. Davenants adj
ditiOns and eXtensionS-and laughed a lit
tie behind the faded mantiHas broad back
afterwards; but indulgently, because tho
poor woman was, they said. good soul, "
and because, of course it was great
matter to her TO have one OF her numer-
Gus brood taken OF her hands. especially
during the holidays OF the rest; and only
one OF two of the more thoughtful Won
dered whether Mrs. Davenant altogether
realized what she was doing when thus
eheerfully handing over the charge Of a
young, amiable, and impressionable girl
10 anyone who chose to ask for it2
But then it was nobody's place to speak
and we may just add that no speaking
would have been Of any avail; Scilla and
her mother would CONFORMITY have laughed
the idea to scorn. There was a great
intending. and stitching and gathering to-
gether of small effects, and the youthful
traveller was packed off TO her destina-
ton on the appointed day, TO sink or swim
as Fate chose.
Towards o'clock the train stopped al
a small country station, and a few min
utes afterwards Scilla, all joyful excite.
HEnt, IDuUu HeISClI driving on IN mgr
6ogcart, through lanes and valleys, over
hill ard down dale, on her way to AD-
bolts Hall.
OF Abbot's Hall and its owners she knew
about as much or as little as could be-
gathered during a two days intimacy al
another country house, where Mr. and
Mrs. Eversleigh had CHANGED to fnd, or
easy terms, a nondescript young lady
whom they agreed would be an ornament
al addition to their Easter party They
had OWNED that Scilla was to be haa
cheap-that no inconvenient appendices
in the shape of parent, or guardian, OF
even maid. would have to be tackled on
and accordingly had been as eager 10 Sc
cure her as she to be secured.
There, now, didn't / tell you? Charm.
ing girl, and as good a figuFe-head for the
boX-seat of the coach as any one need
want" cried the good-humored. jolly host
in perfectly audible aside directly tho
new arrival had passed within. having
been handed down from her high seat hy
three or four loungers hanging about the
door. Somehow we couldn't lay our
hands on any more young ladies' Thew
are scarce, it appears, just now
but little Sctlla Davenant is a
host in herself She'll keen us
old fogies going! Pity we have nc
youngster for her"
Your nephew is not coming. then2"
We'll, no; BAN a fool He viii come