Middletown transcript., 1901-07-13

a mockery the name seemed,
I'll as. from time to time, I glanced
el in the piece Of glass that hung
over my table and did duty as
a mirror.
The face saw therein reflected, whose
charms the crack across the. surface Of
the glass did not tend to enhance, seemed
iD-ftted for such a name.
One associated it with something irail
and lovely, skin pure and white. hair
If golden tint, and eyes Of heavens
avn blne; but, aIas the sun had not dealt
mereifullv with my complexion. The
rnoced glow Of rich. unromantic health
was e On nv cheeks; coils of hair, black as
midnight, grew in persistent luxuriance
mon nv head, and the eyes which took
IN the picture we're Of the same ihky hue.
How often the riotous blood fingered
II nv face as my father would laugh, and
sav batting me on the shoulder, with a
Glance downward at the hands brown as
III own busy at some homely task:
80 this is our Lily. All, well, my
oirI lilies toll not, neither do they spin,
and that, you know, would hardly suit a
moor farmers daughter.
Sometimes I pictured my mother, not
as / remembered her, with that tired,
heavy look on her dear face, but young
and lovely, bending down over the child
they placed for the first time in her arms,
living happy day dreams for its future,
and 50 giving it the pretty, romantic
name which the tall, awkward girl, in
after wears, bore so.ungracefully.
was thinking these thoughts one
evening, when the door opened, and Reed
Barton appeared on the threshold.
"Good evening, Miss Lily" he said, in
bis right CHEEKY tones. 'I have run over
to ask favor Of your mother Can ! see
her? All. here she comes"
Then without further delay, he un'
folded his plans, and told US how young
lady wished to spend few weeks in the
country and, having known his mother
had written to ask if she might come tc
them; but his mother being too frail II
health to undertake the charge, he hac
to try and see if we would not do 50.
Mother hesitated We had never takeI
stranger into our family circle; but
added my voice in favor Of the scheme.
's1t shall be no additional burden t
YOU, mother, dear, and it will be, in man,
ways, real help to US"
So, after little pleading and few OBJ
stacles overcome, sine gave reluctant as
sent.
Two weeks later Florence Ellis came
That morning | had been UP with III
lark. had gone over everything in tl'
large, pleasant room we had awarded t
our guest.
The linen, lavender scented, fresh from
the press, lay in ivory whiteness upol
| IIlG OIu ldSllOHOu DSh5 ItiS iiitttUiAiso' -
and fresh upon tile floor, tile curtains fel
in even folds, looped back with blue rib
bon; and, when every available recepticl
was filled with flowers, stepped hacI
and surveyed my WORK with pride.
But, oh! how mean, and p;tiful il al
looked, when she for whom | had pre-
pared it took possession.
The idle dreams had so often indul
ged in-the hopeless longings Of the pre-
per being who should possess the nam
50 cruelty awarded me-were all realize
in Florence EIlis's presence.
Tall, daughter of the gods, divinel
fair, words fail in my description OF he
beauty beauty which was enhance
by all the luxury Of dress and skillfu
taste wealth could 50 readily procure her
she stood, very queen in the room t
| which I had proceeded her Then he