The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1900-08-11


"Oh," Priscilla said softly to herself
over and over, sit is like fairy story
it is all just like a fairy story r
And indeed it had come to pass as un.
expectedly and delightfully."- as do wonder
full improbabilities in the world of en-
chantment.
Priscilla was II. For the last nine
years she had lived in the old frame farm
house on Dry creek. 1t was pleasant
enough place, the square green farmhouse,
half hidden from the road by a grove oi
native timber A great Seven Sisters rose
struggled up to Priscilla bedroom window
and nodded its pale pink blooms there
every summer The aunt and uncle with
whom she lived-common, kindly people,
marvellous capacity for sustained labor
gave her limitless love. Beyond skim
ming the cream and keeping the bes
room in stiff and dustless order Priscilla
had little to do. Indeed, her good rela
tives considered her too fine for heavy
tasks. They were proud of her She
was straight, slender and graceful. Hel
hair was silken and yellow as the tassel;
of the corn which in July eneompassd
them in undulating seas of gold. Not al
the winds of the prairie could destroy the
pure fairness of her complexion. She had
laughing gray eyes, straight nose and
lips bright as geranium petals. Unhappi-
ly the spirit of discomfort was hers. She
knew that there was another world thar
that in which she lived-a charming and
enchanting world She had memories Of
city home where there were books and
pictures where clever people assembled
and sweet music resounded. She had
never overcome her resentment to certain
country ways Eating at the same table
as the hired hands was hardship to her
Her uncle and aunt would have been puz-
zled at such foolish pride. They had
never dreamed of separate table fol
themselves. But now her whole life was
to be different and delightful.
at happened back at the old farm in
Illinois, her aunt told her. "My sister
WASH much older than you are now when
the handsome young artist came sketchins
down our way. Mother took him to
board. He was always sketching and
painting. We thought he was just nice,
poor young man. He fell deeply in love
with Alice. 1t was only after they were
married that we learned he was the son of
proud and wealthy people in the east. He
wrote home the truth and was disowned
then and there. His father said he did
not want to hear from him alive or of him
dead. Harry took his young wife and
went to the city to earn his living. They
were doing well and had comfortable
home when your mother died. Harry
conld' t live without her He fretted him
self ILL., He brought you to us. 1t was
here he died. My, how happy it made
Elihu and me to have you, never having
had child of our own And now "a
sharp quiver coming into the leved voice
''when we were thinking you would marry
Willie Lester, who worships the ground
YOU walk on, comes this y
Her right hand brought the letter it
held down on the other with savage slap
Brown old hands they were, enlarged and
made unlovely by much toll Priscilla
took the letter and read it through for the
dozenth time
NY Dear Little Girl-After all these years
your grandfather has relented. | know the
memory of our boy hes been ever with him.
80 No h.tr nat
deal of money, as | suppose you now. We
shall spend some of it on trip abroad, you
accompanying us. If you succeed in pleasing
your grandfather, you will be great heiress
some day. Inclosed you will find check. to
cover your expenses to New York. Your
affectionate grandmother,
ELLEN WHYLAND.
''Oh, won it be grand to travel and
see the places I've read of and hear heav-
enly music and wear beautiful gowns p
She drew long breath Of ecstatic antici-
patton. She was too dazzled to recognize
the heartlessness of the letter in which she
reioiced. She did not know how cruelty
selfish were her own words. The grand
parents who had ignored her existence all
these years now summoned her without a
thought for those into whose lives she had
grown She, attracted by the brillance
of the bribe, was eager to go.
ssGrand r. echoed Mys. Willis. The
lump in her throat panied her. She NUT
tered something about the biscuits for sup
per and went away.
Will Lester came over that evening.
He was an overgrown young fellow, with
an awkward walk, handsome head and a
fresh color in his tanned cheeks.
$50 you are going away, Priscilla y
he said.
She dimpled and blushed coquettishly.
'sYes, I'm going away
Yesterday the knowledge that Will
Lester loved her would have thrilled her
with delight. All that was changed now.
On the morning of her departure Lester
went to Elihu Willis with look in his
blue eyes that was half determined, half
ashamed.
evil you let me drive Priscilla to the
train p he asked.
Willis, hooked of nose, gray of beard,
shabby of attire, irascible of speech and
just now bitter of heart, was about to irri-
tably refuse on the spot
'sYes, my boy r he said.
For suddenly he had recalled certain
dark, rainy, sweet scented spring night
when he had walked home from prayer
meeting with her who now had been his
faithful wife for 20 years and had kissed
her for the first time.
So Lester drove Priscilla to the train.
But it was not until they had left the