The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-01-24

-" ELL, Abby, Ida will be here
wv nextweek; she wants me to take
her to board for a spell"
Abby Merrill walked across the
room, sat down, and began to knit,
before she answered.: "Why? 1t isn't
summer"
"No, but her father and Mrs. Stan
ton are going to Seattle. and Ida
don't want to take the trip. l have
an idea she is not any too fond of her
stepmother. Anyhow, she wants to
stay here until they come back"
"Of course we shall have to take
her"
Mrs. Merrill looked at her daugh-
ter in establishment. "Of course!
Have you anything against it? l
thought you would be delighted.
You didn't want to let her out of
your sight when she was here two
years back. For my part. I'm glad
she's coming. She is such good COM
pany, and she never gives a mite of
trouble, just fits in, and is always
ready to help. 1t isn't every girl
who has been used to the best of
everything, like Ida, who would be
so fond of her country kinfolks."
''I'm sure, mother, her mother was
your own first cousin"
"Yes, but some girls wouldn't like
me any better for that. To be sure,
we are not to say poor but we are
different to the fine folks Ida goes
with in town"
"Yes," assented Abby, 81 suppose
we are. But I don't know why you
think l mind her coming. l just
thought it queer"
To tell the truth, Abby Merrill did
not share her mothers satisfaction
in the expected arrival. She admired
her cousin eXtravagantly. and it was
for that very reason that, just now,
she would have preferred that she
should stay away. Abby understood
perfectly that she was overshadowed
by her brilliant cousin. Ida Stanton
was unusually pretty, she had had
every advantage of education and
travel; moreover, she was clever. and
possessed of personal magnetism in
a high degree. Abby dreaded her
coming; how much she did not want
her mother to know. For the girl
was in love, and believed her affec-
ton returned, although no vows had
passed between her and her lover
There was a new minister at Mer-
rilrs Corner, young. unmarried, and
in Abby's eyes altogether lovely. He
ElyaH har haftar fhan ~ ~
in the congregation, she was sure of
that. But Cousin Ida was coming,
and how could any man fail to fall
in love with her? 81 wouldn't mind"
poor Abby said to herself. ''if there
was any chance that she would fall
in love with him. But she won't, she
will just break his heart, and make
him miserable. I always feel like a
sparrow by the side of an oriole when
I am with Cousin Ida, and I don't
suppose Mr.. Kirkland will look at me
while she is here"
Ida Stanton was really fond of her
cousins. She was a born f1irt and
held all men as her legitimate prey,
but she would not have hurt Abby
for a great thing, still less a small
one. When Mr.. Kirkland called soon
after her arrival, she welcomed him
as something superior to the young
farmers whom she expected to meet.
However. her long-lashed, hazel-gray
eyes were quick to see, and Abby's
blush and look of apprehension en-
1ightened her instantly. Islands off"
she said to herself, and gave her
whole attention to the shawl which
she was knitting for her cousin Jane.
Nevertheless, she was conscious that
the minister looked, not once, but
many times, in her direction, al
though, like good little girl she
spoke only when she was spoken to.
Was it her fault that Mr.. Kirkland
thought her voice one of the sweet
est he had ever heard, and listened
intently to the few words which she
spoke during his visit? When he left,
his visions were not of Abby's child
like blue eyes, but OF hazel ones,
yelled by long lashes, and of slim
white fingers fitting among meshes
of crimson wool.
When he called again, matters were
even worse. Mr.. Merrill was at home.
and, intent upon entertaining the
minister, he insisted that Ida should
sing and play 1t was impossible for
her to refuse, and her voice simply
entranced Arthur Kirkland. He was
passionately fond of music, and Ida's
was of kind which he rarely heard.
"You will join our choir, won't
you, Miss Stanton?" he begged.
But Ida smiled a negative. 'It
would hardly be worth while for the
short time | shall be here; but l al
ways sing in church, where there il
congregational singing"