The true northerner., 1899-06-14
The Story of Irene.
BY Eope Daring.
ID EALLY, truly coming to live with

j EALLl truly cOullllS u i've WIFI
\ us, mamma? Oh, how glad 1
ami" said Mabel Brown.
Mabel and Maude Brown had just en-
tered the sitting-room of their farm
house home, after spending long sum-
mer afternoon with playmate. Their
mother had told them that a letter had
been received from the guardian of
their cousin, Irene Brown. Irene's
parents had died year before, and the
little orphan had continued to attend
school in the city where she had always
lived. Now she was coming to Brown
Farm to stay. Mabeps delight was
shared by .Maude. The sisters looked
much alike, being fair and plump, with
merry blue eyes and brown hair. Mabel
was ~ and Maude 10.
"Irene will be just between u.s."
Mabel said, gleefully, "for she is IL.
We will have such good times. We can
play with our dolls and dishes and"
with Leon, too" interrupted Maude.
"I'm sure he is the very best thing we
have"
Just then the baby brother, who was
only big enough to talk in cunning
broken words, ran in and was delight
ed at the return of his sisters. He was
a pretty child, his face all pink and
white like an apple blossom, and his
hair clustering around his head in tiny
golden curls.
1t was q week before Irene came. In
this week the little girls were very
busy. All the clothes of their numerous
dolls were washed, and the two play
houses were put in perfect order and
adorned with the little maidens' choic-
est possessions. One of these play
houses was upstairs in what was called
the wing chamber" and the other out
under the wide-spreading branches of
an apple tree.
Irene reached the town, four miles
distant, late in the afternoon. Mr..
Brown met her there, and it was sun
down when they reached the house.
Mrs. Brown and her daughters hurried
down the path TO meet the newcomer.
She was slender and dark with black
eyes and black hair, which was woven
into two long, heavy braids. She timid-
ly returned the caresses of her aunt
and cousins. 1t was not until they
started for the house that she spoke.
"Be careful, that is mine," she cried,
taking from Mabel the pink silk para
sol she had started to carry to the
house.
Mabel flushed little. Leon came
toddIng down the path, and Irene
dropped everything to hold out her
hands 10 him.
"Oh, what dear, sweet baby! Is he
nv cousin? Will he let me kiss him?"
Leon did this after little coaxing.
Irene was tired and was glad to soon
go with her aunt to the large upper
room which she was to share with Ma
bel and Maude. The traveller was no
sooner in the small white bed which
had been prepared for her than she fell
asleep.
The next morning was clear and
warm. Irene's face was bright when
she took her place at the table. The
windows of the dining-room opened di-
rectly onto the branches of the tall
pear tree where the bluebirds had built
their nests for many years.
The little stranger enjoyed the huge
red raspberries, the oatmeal and the
creamy milk. She laughed over Icons
funny ways, and when she sprang
down from the table she nodded gayly
In response to Maude's invitation to "go
play"
The dew lay heavy on the grass of
the orchard, so Mrs. Brown told them
to go to the playhouse upstairs. They
ran away TO the long, low room, whose
walls were covered with rough, gray
plaster. There was little furniture ex-
cept trunks and boxes. The single
window was shaded, like those below.
by the branches of the pear tree, and
the sun peered through the gently wav-
Ing leaves, making an ever-changing
pattern Of light and shade upon the
oare floor.
Mr.. Brown had kindly brought up the
box containing Irene's toys and re-