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

There had been a heavy frost in the
night, and when the sunlight fell
athwart the old chestnut, flakes OF
gold drifted through the crisp air as
the leaves relaxed their summer hold
and rustled to their winter sleep. But
Rhoda gazed at the pretty sight with
unseeing eyes and a frowning brow,
her heart untuned to the mornings S
gladness.
The cuckoo in the dining-reom
clock thrust out his head and chirped
the half hour, then his little door
closed smartly. Rhoda glanced up
impatiently. Half past seven and
papa will have to hurry his breakfast.
AS for Sibyl, suppose she is-just be-
stirring herself. Everything goes
wrong since mamma left us p Her
that this " IS my 81 birthday, But nobody i5 5d
else will" A pang of self-pity made
the tears overflow.
They can't even be on time for
breakfast by way of a celebration,
she murmured, her irritation growing
apace. Just then her fathers CHEEKY
voice was heard in the hall and Rhoda
made haste to conceal her tears, half
ashamed of her morbid mood. If her
eyes were suspiciously red, Mr.. Vim
ton apparently failed to notice it.
"What, waiting for YOUR snail of a
father?" he cried. ooh, I see I am
a trifle late," as his eyes followed
Rhoda's reproachful glance at the
clock. Eve won't wait for Sibyl."
Rhoda presided over the coffee pot
in dignified silence. No, her father
certainly had no remembrance that
this was one of the special days that
her mother was wont to celebrate, her
elder daughters birthday. Oh, how
many sweet observances would pass
with her mother Rhoda ratified the
cups to hide the little sob that escaped
her control. No, the others must not
pass there, too, she must strive to
fill her mothers place.
Mr.. Vinton, with a word of apollo
gy, had taken refuge from the severe
silence in the morning paper, glancing
at the headlines as he hurried his
meal. However, he heard the sob
and cast keen glance over the top of
the paper at Rhoda's downcast face.
Poor little woman," he thought
tenderly; chow she tries to fill her
mothers place But it is too heavy
a burden for young shoulders. She
is feeling the strain in more ways than
one."
''Is there peace in this humble
dwelling?" cried a gay voice outside
the door, and bright eye twinkled
mischievously at the crack. do for
give me, dear people, but l quite for
got the passage of time. 1 put my
head out of the window to say good
morning to the glorious day, and the
shower of falling leaves held me spell
bound"
Rhoda did not deign to look that
way. A perverse spirit had taken
possession of the girl.
"You must make haste, now," she
said, severely. But, as Sibyl hutter-
ed by her on her way to her seat,
something caught Rhoda's unwilling
eye.
Now, Sibyl," she said, in disap-
proving surprise, why have you put
on your new gown? 1t is not intend
ed for ordinary school wear. Oh,
dear, 1 wish you would show some
sense Of the fitness of things -
Sibyl bit her lip and cast an ap-
pealing glance at her father, who, for
a moment, looked a trife uncomfor-
table.
"Oh-er, 1 forgot to tell you that 1
promised Sibyl that she might take
lunch with me in town today" he
explained. II suppose the new gown
is in honor of the occasion. She has
some errand to do, 1 believe, so she
will not come home until the latter
part of the afternoon. You will have
a good, long day to yourself, daugh-
ter. I hope it will be happy one, !"
he added, gently, as he rose from the
table.
"Thank you," Rhoda said, coldly.
"You will have to hasten, Sibyl.
1t is too late to go by the electrics.
You would better go to town on the
train"
"Alr right" Sibyl assented cheer
fully. "I'll be with you, papa, be-
fore you get to the corner" and she
proceeded to finish her breakfast with