Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1899-03-16

pity Charlie Q iittie--a verY littIes
was the slow, deliberate answer Civ
en- by Helen West, in replying to
| her sister Sophia. who. after detail
ing the incidents Of her morning
calls. bad appealed to her for pity
toward Charles Armstrong. their
own cousin.
VERY thoughtfuIly said, sister
Helen. said Young man who had
been 2 ysrY anietlx readi.,s n :
dusky corner that his sisters bad
forgotten that be was there. What
has been done to Charlie 20 call
forth the pity of two such sorrow
ing looking damsels? One would
think be was to be set in the stocks
or some other punishing place, to
see your faces
Don't, john said Sophia. Il
will tell you. Charles has got mis-
taken in bis wife. He married her
for her pretty looks. you know, and
he finds now that she has no other
merit
Now vou are unjust. Sophia
SAID Helen warmly. Kate Arm
strong has good and noble qualities
only that no occasion has Jet drawn
them out.-Chsrles has spoiled her
With petting and fisttering her
beauty, and now he expects her to
be q perfect woman. l have not
much spmpathy for him.
Bravo, Helen that 10 generous.
at least, when we consider that
Charlie left you for Kate Ward
"A bit Of nonsense I cried Helen:
but the quick blush that overspread
her cheek told that there had been
some romance as we'll as nonsense.
We'll. we'll, will not tease you.
because see you are sewing for
me. That is pretty little gold
thimble you have there. Will you
tell me who gave you that? ldon't
believe that father gives you pin
money enough to indulge in such
articles, unless he 10 more generous
to you than he 10 to me. But new
er mind, / see You don't want to
tell me. So now tell me more
about Charley
Well, to begin at the beginning
No. Sophia. let Helen tell me
herself. ] consider her the more
reliable Of the two. You are apt
to exsggerate. you know
1t was not true-so bis sister was
not angry. Sophia had always
been remarkable for her straight
forward. conscientious way of
speaking; especially when the sub
j-ct was the faults of others; but
John preferred to hear what Helen
would say.
Well then. Kate has disappoint-
I'd his hopes in every possible way.
He is not rich, ss you know, and he
wishes her to be economical. She,
on the contrary. spends large Gums
for trifi-s she could do without
He wants her to give up going tn
balls and parties, except an occas-
ional one. She wants to 60 to all,
and, of course, must have numer
ous dresses. Then, after q course
of such amusements she is i'll and
unfit to perform the duties of her
family; lying whole days in bed or
on the couch; and when Charles
comes home the house is one scene
Of uproar and confusion with the
children and their nurse. don't
know as | can tell anything more
d.finite,' she continued relspsing
into her thoughtful mood, but this
every one knows-Cousin Charles
is q disappointed and unhappy
man.
John whistled I'm over young
to marry yet. And I'm very glad
that | am. No wife for this child
till he sees her in all her moods
You need not laugh. girls /; l shall
go to board With the family before
] propose
Helen was right. Charley was
unhappy. In years gone bv, when
she was scarce more than Q child,
Charles Armstrong had shown
great affection for his cousin Helen
for shich she was perpetuslIy Jest
ed at By the family. who all consid.
cred it child affair. not knowing
how deep vas the impression on
both. Sensitive and shy. Helen
avoided him while she dearly loved
him, and he. in &c of boyish in
| dignation, engaged himself 10 Kate