The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1898-04-09

he told me Uncle Dallas would be
kind to me, and take his vacant place
And uncle is kind, after his odd,
abrupt fashion. ButAunt Alicia doesn't
care for me, and the girls look coldly
on my shabby dress and pale, worn
lace. Evidently am not q cousin to
be proud of. If I were ap heiress,
things would be very different!"
Poor little Rosabel! The world
looked very dark to her as she sat on
the window-sill of tho third-story back
roam in the Dallas mansion, which had
been unanimously voted "good enough
for Rosabel Raymond" md watched
the dull reds and grays Of the winter
sunset fading out behind the crowd.
ing spires Of the city.
How desperately she longed for the
snow-mantled fields, the black, leaf.
less woods of the country! She was so
homesick, so solitary, so alone!
ooh, Rosabel, are you here??"
It was her Cousin Medora's soft,
sweet voice. She disliked Medora more
than either Augusta or Bell although
sho could not tell why, and she was
vexed that Modora should see the
traces Of tears on her eyelashes. But
Medora pretended not to notice them.
"We were thinking, mamma and I, ~
said Medora, "that you must be ter
ribly dull without anything to do, oil
these dismal days"
1T is rather lonesome, "sighed Ros-
abel, wondering at her cousins un-
usual thoughtfulness.
"And so" added Medora, with the
sweet smile that Rosabel always mis-
trusted, "when Miss Armitage told us
of the place in tho china painting and
fowerdesignins rooms-you always
were an artist, you know, dear-I ex-
claimed, in that silly, impulsive way
of mine. The very idea for Rosabel!'
You SEQ, Miss Armitagc's protege-
Helen Hauvomonde-has gone to Rome
to prosecute her art studies, and there
is vacancy. And the salary would be
something of an object, Of course, be-
cause"
"Of course it would be an object, "
said Rosabel, quickly. "You do not
suppose that l do not feel my depen-
dsnce here?"
"And," added Melora, thinking it
best not to notice this outburst, "Miss
Armitage says you can obtain excel
lent board for four dollars week
with widow lady near tho Rooms,
and that you would save o good deal
of time and no end of Cur fares. So,
If you conclude to accept the position.
perhaps you had better come down
into the drawing room and see Miss
Armitage."
II there was anything which Rosa
bel Raymond loved, it was her pencil.
Water colors were expensive, and
drswing-boards came dear, and Aunt
Alicia thought it very unfeminine for
q woman to set up OH easel and pol
cite, full of oil'colors, 'like man, :"
so that her tendencies had, since her
residence in her uncle's house, been
literally starved. Here, at last, was
the much-longed-for opportunity, and
she rose with alacrity and followed
Medora dewn the stairs.
Mrs. Dallas and the Misses Dallas
were openly exultant whom Rosabel
was gone.
$50 dispiritingto have her around
oil the time, with her swollen eyelids
md pale facet said Miss Augusta.
"And so shabby rs she looked,
too!' said Mrs. Dallas. "And how on
earth was I to provide her with
wardrobe, when papa made such a
dreadful fuss over every dress that
came home from Madame Ficelle's for
my own girls?"
'"Of all things, poor relations are
the most intolerable" said Medora,
spitefully.
"But what are we to say if Mr..
Ballard asks after her?" blurted out
Bell, the most honest and least polite
of the family.
"say? Why, the truth" declared
Medora. "That she has left us!"
For the secret of Miss Medora Dali
lass anxiety to got rid of her pale lit
tie cousin, whose mourning was so
distressingly becoming, was the fact
OF Mr.. Hugh Billiards. admiration of
the white, statuesque face, the deep
larkspur-blue eyes, and the features
which were as perfect as any cameo.
Miss Medora had marked Mr.. Ballard
for her own prey, and declared war
upon any unfortunate pretender who
should come in her way.
"Perhaps, said Mrs. Dallas, hope
fully, "he'll never inquire about her
ct all"
Don't you believe it," said Bell,
with 4 significant nod.