St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1896-02-21
my CHOICE.
MAID MARIAN.

" ""St 'S"hHS UtNSSu TIC lICu idSC
curtains, and looking with gloomy eyes
upon the sunlight that was flooding the
the flower garden.
Just my luck! OF course, when |
wanted to go to Aunt Bernice's the car
riage must go to the shop, and that
stupid Marie had a blue feather put in
my hat when | told her a white one. |
know that ] am the most unhappy girl
alivei"
An angry stamp Of the oot emphasized
the words, and a flood of tears seemed
just ready to iall, when the click OF the
iron gate caused Marian to turn quickly.
A dear old lady was tro,ting briskly up
the walk, a little basket on her arm, and
her soft, gray curls bobbing gayly upon
either SIDE OF her wrinkled face.
why. it is Miss Hannah" Marian
cried, eagerly, a sudden smile breaking
over her gloomy face as the door opened
and a chirpy voice said:
How are you, my dear? No, | cam
not stay, | only came in to beg a few of
your lovely flowers for an invalid friend
| am going to see."
"You are welcome to as many as you
want, Miss Hannah. / am sure that
they do no good there in the yard. Just
wait until | get the scissors" Marian
replied, the old cloud creeping back over
her face, and in a few minutes they were
in the garden, the basket bling rapidly
filed with the choicest blossoms, while
Miss Hannah listened to a flood of pee
wish, discontented words. A faint sigh
passed the old lady's lips as she looked
at the d~aintily dressed little girl, COM
planning so bitterly because one of her
bright, happy days had contained a
slight disappointment.
Everything goes wrong. Whenever
plan anything, something is sure to
happen every time" Marian cried, fret
fully, as she tossed a white lily into the
basket.
Miss Hannah did not reply at once;
she seemed to be thinking deeply, with
her eyes fixed upon the beautiful, stately
house rising at their side.
THAT will do, deary," she said at
last; then, resting her wrinkled hand on
the pretty golden head, she continued
gently: marian, my dear, l want you
to do me a great kindness; will you take
a pretty cluster of these lilies to No. 10
Walnut street and give them to Nellie
Raymond? She is a dear friend of mine.
Tell her | sent you"
An instant Marian hesitated, for Wal
nut street was a poor place, where her
aristocralic little feet had never been.
Then obcying a sudden impulse she kissed
her dead mothers old friend and said,
pleasantly: why yes, Miss Hannah, l
will do that for you. go for my music
lesson this afternoon, and can come back
by Walnut street"
Thank you, my dear. Do not forget
the lilies, and when | see you again you
must tell me what you bring away with
you" Then with a farewell kiss and
smile she went her way, while Marian
slowly mounted the wide marble steps of
her home.
II do not see why Miss Hannah sent
flowers here. The idea of lilies in a
place like this" Marian thought, with a
tilt Of her dimpled chin, as she stepped
cautiously upon the porch of a very tiny
house.
Come in, please" called a blithe voice
in answer to her timid knock, and,
clutching her great bunch of lilies tightly,
she opened the door slowly and entered.
Such a bare little room, with its few poor
articles OF furniture, but O, so fresh and
clean! In a large armchair by the Win
dow a girl near Marian's own age was
sitting, her hands busily knitting.
will you please find a chair ?" she said,
turning her soft brown eyes toward Ma
rian; then receiving no answer, she con-
tinued: Il do not know who you are,
for l am blind"
81 am Marian Esmond, and Miss
Hannah Grey sent these lilies to Nellie
Raymond" Marian answered, advancing
to the old chair and looking with won
der into the bright face turned toward
her.
II am Nellie. o how kind of you both,
and how sweet they are!" the blind girl
cried eagerly, as she lifted the snowy
blossoms carefully. II feel almost like l
see them when they touch my face so.
But sit down, will you not? Tatters'-
touching the huge gray cat curled up in
her lap-"and Iare alone this afternoon"
Marian paused a moment irresolutely,
then drawing a chair near the window
she seated herself, her eyes resting, as II
fascinated. mon the animated face before