Evening star., 1898-08-06

iiSf leeHHSS ShS Delt q SE.spI recognition OF
some benefcent being who mad rolled this
golden apple at her feet, and felt as il she
really should like to do good in her
sphere. sa
1t so CHANGED that, passing through a
small gate in the park. SIZE saw walking q
| little ahead of her a young girl whom she
at once recognized as Il Miss Amelyn, one
OF the guests ofsthe evening before. Miss
DesDorough remembered that she played
the accompaniment of one Or TWO songs
upon the piano, and had even executed a
| long solo during the general conversation,
without attention from the others, and APP
parentiy with little Irritation to herself
suosiding afterward into an armchair,
quite on the fringe of otner peoples con-
Versation She, had been called my dear
Dy one or two dowagers, and by her Chris
.lan name by the earl, and had a way OF
impaIpably melting out of sight at times.
These trifies led Miss Desborough to con-
clude that she was some kind of dependent
OF poor relation. Here was an opportunity
TO pesln her work of doing good. She
quickened her pace and overlook Miss
Amelyn.
Let me walk with your" she said gra-
ciously.
The young English girl smiled assent. but
iooked her surprise at seeing the cynosure
OF last nights eyes unattended.
On, said Sadie. answering the mute
query. Il didn't want to be shown round
py ANYBODY, and I'm not going to bore you
with asking to see sights either. Well just
walk together; wherever you're going is
good enough for me-"
Il m going as far as the village" said
Miss Ameiyn, looking down doubtfully at
Sadies smart French shoes-''if you care
TO walk SO far" Sadie noticed that her
companion was more Solid1y booted, and
that her straight. short skirts, although
less stylish than her own, had a certain
character, better fitted to the freer outdoor
life Of the country. But she only said. how
ever, 'The village will do" and gayly took
her companions arm.
But I'm afraid you'll find it very unin-
teresting, for l am going to visit some poor
cottages, persisted Miss Amelyn, with a
certain tfmid ingenuousness of manner
Whlch, however, was as distinct as Miss
Desborough's bolder frankness. II prom
ised the rector's daughter to take her place
today"
And 1 feel as if I was ready to pour oil
and wine to any extent" said Miss Des-
borough, 80 come along!"
MISS Amelyn 1aughed-and yet glanced
around her timidiy as if she thought that
Miss Desboroush ought to have larger
ana more important audience Then she
continued more confidentially and boldly:
But it isn't at all like summing you
Know: Inese poor people here are not
very bad, and they are not at all extraordi-
nary"
Never mInd," said Sadie, hurrying her
along. After pause, she went on: You
Know the priory very well, l guesS?"
II lived there when 1 was little girl,
with my aunt the Dowager Lady Bever-
daie said Miss Amelyn. when my
cousin Fred, who was the young heir died
ana the present Lord Beverdale succeeded
he never expected it, you know, for there
were two lives, his two elder brothers be-
sides poor F'redss between, but they both
died-we went to live in the Dover House"
The Dover House?" repeated Sadie.
Yes; Lady Beverdale's separate prop
e=.x.'
But l thought all this property-the
Priory--came into the family through her"
10 n1a typc nj.
put the oldest son nearest male heir
always succeeds to the property and title''
DO you mean to say that the present
Lord Beverdale turned that old lady out?"
Miss Amelyn- looked shocked Il mean
10 say she said gravely Lady Bever-
Gale would have had TO go when her own
son became of age. had he lived" She
paused. and then said timidly: Isn't it
that way in Anerica?"
Dear. no." Miss Desborough had
faint recollection that there was some
thlng IN the Constitution or the Declara-
tion or Independence against primogeni-
ture. mol the men haven't it all their
own way there! Not muchv.
MISS Amelyn looked as if she d;d not
care TO discuss this problem. After a few
moments Sadie continued: You and Lord
Aigernon are pretty old friends / guess?"
NO replied Miss Ameiyn; '.he came
once or twice to the priory for the holi-
uays When he was quite a boy at Mari
borough-for the family weren't very wei,
cH, and his father was in India He was q
very shy boy, and of course no one ever
thought of him succeeding
MISS Desboteugh- felt half inclined 20
be pleased with this, and yet half inclined
to resent this possible snubbing of her fu
ture husband But they were nearing the
village. and Miss AueIyn turned the con-
versaton to the object of her visit 1t
vas new Village-an .uphandsome Village
for all that 1t stood near one of the eafos
of the park. 1t had been given ovor ~
some mines that were still worked in its
Hiclhltyeana to the railway, which the
uncle of the present earl had resisted-but
the railway had triumphed and the sta
ton FOR Scrooby Prfory was there. There
was grim church on the hill of a black
ened and Weather-beatened stone with n
few grim Amelyns reposing cross-legged in
the chancel, but the character of :he vii
!age was as different from the Priory as if
IL We're IN another country. They stopped
at the rectory. where Miss Amelyn nro-
Vided herself with certain doles and pitts
which the American girl would have aug-
mented with a five-pound note but for
Miss Amelyn's Mortified concern las
many shillings would do. and they would
be as grateful" she said more they
wouldn't understand
Then keep it, and dole It out as Won
like" said Sadie, quickly
But l don't think that-that Lord Rev
erdaie would quite approve" hesitated
Miss Amelyn.
The pretty brow of her companion knit.
and her gray eyes flashed vivacii,ls
pertly; besides, you say these are not his
poor Take that f5 note-or-PH double n.
get it changed into sovereigns at the sta,
ton and hand 'em round to every man
W oman and child"
Miss Amelyn hesitated-the American
girl looked capable of doing what she said
perhaps it was a national way OF aims
giving! She took the note with tho men
tai reservation of making a full confession
to the rector and Lord Beverdale.
She was right in saying that the poor of
Scrooby village were not interesting There
was very little squalor or degradation: their
poverty seemed not descent, but a condi
ticn to which they had been born. The
faces which Sadie saw were duIled ana ana
thetic rather than sullen or rebellious
They stood up when Miss AmeIyn entered
paying her the Difference, but taking ffttIs
note of the pretty butterfly who was with
her-or rather submitting TO her frank chr
iosity with that dull consent of the poor as if
they had lost even the sense of priyacy-or
a right to respect. 1t seemed to the Amer
lean girl that their poverty was more indi
Gated by what they We're satisfied with
than what she thought they missed If Ia
to be feared that this did not add to Sadie's
sympathy. All the beggars she had seen in
America wanted all they could get. and She
felt as If she were confronted with an in
ferior animal
There's wonderful old man lives here ~
said Miss Amelyn as they halted before .