The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-11-17
Ayerting a Parallel.
MISS REBECCA JOCELYN had been
IVk gardening and was as full of fire

lW gardening and was as full of fire
and hope as the young plants she tend
ed; she therefore felt impa tient upon
entering the sitting-room to find her
sister in tears.
What is the trouble now, Annie p
she asked, ungraciously. How fool
ish to sit here with the blinds closed,
the glorious morning light and air
shut out, crying-as if you haven't
everything to make you happy!"
Miss Annie raised a tear-wet face,
and rose with gentle dignity. Re
becca," she said, TREMENDOUSLY, eff at
times l seek shade and solitude, it is
because they correspond to my inner
life. Be more charitable in your jIdg-
ments and remember that each heart
knoweth its own bitterness"
As Miss Annie's heels clicked softly
up the stairs, Miss Rebecca looked
after her remorsefully. TT is too bad
of me-" she said, and she threw open
the blinds, letting a food of sunshine
into the room. Her feelings are much
finer than mine and abe is emotional.
l wonder what alled her this morning?"
A magazine lay in the chair her sis
ter had vacated, and, taking it up,
she seated herself by the open win
COW and turned the pages. First, a
long article on bee culture, profusely
illustrated she wondered Annie
would read the magazine, being so
mortally afraid of bees; following il
was a story, and the page was wet
with tears. Here was evidently the
cause of her sisters emotion, so she
read the story. 1t was such a one
as all readers are familiar with in
some form-young charms outshining
old ones, and ensuing grief, In this
particular story maiden lady's heart
had long been dedicated to a gentle
man who had also seemed to prefer
her; then her hopes are abruptly
shattered by the appearance on the
scene of a slip of a girl, her niece,
whoinfatuates the gentleman and mar
ries him.
When Miss Rebecca reached the con-
clusion, she raised her eyes and
looked out of the window with con-
tracted brows. 1t was rather pa
thetic, to be sure, but why should it
so affect Miss Annie? Her wandering
gaze alighted on the house opposite
and a smile broke over her face. at
couldn't be that, could it," she ex-
claimed. and fell to looking at it so
hard that an elderly gentleman who
was just coming from the door raised
his hat and stood bareheaded under
the impression that so fixed a smile
must be meant for him.
The hall clock struck nine. at is
nearly train time" commented Miss
Rebecca. Betty must be welcomed
properly" and she arose and began
to rearrange the already neat room.
Upstairs in her own room, Miss An
nie sat drying her tears. ut is too
bad! 1t is really unbearable! I can
see it all. Betty, how could you'll She
reached for a picture that lay on the
table and looked epToachfully at the
fresh young face. Betty. how could
you!" Her sobs burst forth again.
"Something must be DONE" she said.
"If | only dared confide in Rebecca!
Could l in a general way, wonder?"
a ring of the doorbell brought her
TO her feet. shes here!" exclaimed
Miss Annie, tragically, but before the
traces of tears could be removed, Miss
Rebecca was at the door, saying that
Col. Wellby, their neighbor over the
way, had sent them basket of choice
lettuce, with his compliments.
Miss Annie stood trembling. Il have
only one question to ask, Rebecca," she
said solemnly, did he know Betty
would be here?"
Betty! He doesn't even know we
have a niece"
Miss Annie sat down. 81 don't feel
quite WELL" she explained. You will,
of course, return our thanks to Col
Wellby. 1t was very nice of him, very
kind and thoughtful"
"rve already returned thanks" re-
piled Miss Rebecca, also seating her
self. "Col. Wellby is a neighbor we
ought to be grateful for, Annie" she
said, invitingiy.
81 realize it," faltered Miss Annie.
"He is a gentleman" continued Miss
Rebecca, "of good heart and sound
common sense"
81 know it," assented Miss Annie.
I'm trying to say that believe Col.
Wellby is in love with you, and be-
1ieve, too,that you're in love with Col.
Wellby. Why don't you settle it be-
fore something happens?" and Miss
Rebecca, startled at her own boldness,
fed from the room, reaching the hall
US the bell rang again, this time really
announcing Betty. Much commotion
followed, during which Miss Annie had
no time to reflect on her emotions.
Miss Betty Jocelyn was lively girl
of IS and won her way a once into the
hearts of her aunts, Miss Annie and
Miss Rebecca, though the former was
20 and the latter 30 years of age. 1t
was almost a trial to Miss Annie that
she liked the girl so much. Before she
had been there week Betty had rev.
olutionized the staid little establish
ment; her popular songs had taken
the place of Miss Annie's ballads on
the piano, her half-fnished pieces of
fancy work lay here and there about