The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1900-03-24

1Ao'C CdIS, now, CaullOnoQ a
grutf voice below. Without down
ward glance, the girl arose stiff1y, and
with a set face, walked steadily down
the stairs and threw the hall door
wide open.
'Oh, dear !" cried a clear young
voice in vexation, "I did SO hope you
would not be about, Rhoda. Now
the edge is taken off the surprise.
Why, what has happened?" For
IRhoda had rushed down stairs and
seized her in her arms.
L "Sibyl!" she cried, "are you real
Ily safe? Where is papa?" AS she
spoke her eyes were fixed upon the
men, who were busy with some object
in the wagon.
"Safe?" Why shouldn't 1 be
sate?' her sister cried in astonish-
-maaf. Papa is delayed in business
and cannot come out until the E
O'Clock train. What is the matter,
dearest?" beginning to be frightened,
in turn, as the light from the hall
showed her Rhoda's face.
"What is that? Are you telling
me the truth about papa?" the elder
cried, gripping Sibyl's arm until she
WINGED.
"That IS your birthday present
from papa and me-" Sybil explained
at once. "P1ease set it in the hall, "
she said quietly to the men, who were
staring at Rhoda curious1y. Come,
Doda," and she drew her sister up
the steps and into the dimly lighted
drawing room. "Now tell me all
about it. At that moment careless,
light-hearted Sibyl foreshadowed the
womanly strength that would one
day be hers. Her touch brought COM
fort aud peace. Trembling and un-
strung, Rhoda gave her but an inco
herent explanation. The color faded
in Sibyl's cheeks, and her clasp on
Rhoda's hands grew closer.
"Oh, Dora," she cried, "God has
been very good to me. Do you know
how it happened that I did not take
that train?" A note of awe crept
into her voice. "Papa and I search
ed long time before we found just
the writing desk that we wanted for
your birthday gift. Itwas so late then
that Noyes & Westcott's teams were
all out and they would not deliver it
until tomorrow. So papa hunted UP
an expressman upon whom he could
depend for Of course we must have it
here tonight. We could have brought
it yesterday but papa could not leave
his Office. was so anxious about
it l."
She stopped and looked askance at
Rhoda, who was hanging upon her
words. 81 am afraid you won't like
it"-and she gave an embarrassed
laugh -"but after they started,
vas afraid they might make some.
il would do no harm, if I would feel
easier, so hoped onto an electric
cat, and when l overlook them, l got
out and asked the men to let me ride
on the express wagon. 1t was dark
and nobody knew me-" she ended,
apologetically.
Rhoda was gazing into the pretty,
flushed face with strange intensity.
"Do you know" she murmured,
that I have filled my birthday with
bitter, selfish thoughts, while papa
and you were planning for my happi-
ness. ! thought you forgot-that
you did not care-and it is through
your thoughtfu1ness and care that
God has spared you to me p
Somebody ran up the steps and a
key clicked in the lock.
"Rhoda !" called Mr.. Vinton.
MY poor little girl l'' and as she ran
to meet him, he caught her in his
arms. II saw Kenyon, he said,
after an interval, land he told me
you had heard of the accident and
were waiting. 1t has been a woefu1
birthday for my little woman p His
eye was caught by the dainty, slen-
der-1egged mahogany desk, now di-
vested of its burlaps, the light strik-
ing answering CLEANS from its polish
ed surface. "You need not keep the
desk, Rhoda,' he said, quietly, look
ing across her tumbled locks to read
acquiescence in Sibyl's sensitive face.
cit will recall too much that is best
forgotten. Sibyl and I will find
something else to tell of our love and
appreciation of Our sweet little house
mother"
Rhoda fell on her knees before the
desk and laid her arms lovingly across
it, "but do let me keepi it." she cried,
humb1y, but it will help me to re-
member other things. Besides, if it
hadn't been for the desk, you-oh, I
can't even think of it !" She shut
her eyes and pressed her cheek against
the satiny wood. Mr.. Vinton looked
at her with sudden structure of the
heart. At the instant, her face was
like that of her he had loved and
lost awhile. observation-disclosures.
TO RELIEVE COUGHING.
A persistent and ANNOYING cough