Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1901-02-21

| Af ILL, ADDgs lah VIII be here
wv next week; shewants 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 1 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 az her daugh-
ter in establishment. "0f counsel
Have you anything against it2
thought you would be delighted
You didn't want 70 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 mite OF
trouble. just fits in, and is always
ready 10 help. II isn't every girl
who has been used 70 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"
eyes. but some girls wouldn't ike
me any better for that. To be sure,
we are not 10 say poor, but we are
different TO the fine folks Ida goes
with in town"
"Yes," assented Abby. II suppose
we are. But l don't know why you
think I mind her coming. ! just
thought IL queer"
To tell the truth, Abby Merrill did
not share her mothers satisfaction
in the expected arrival. She admired
her cousin extravagantly, and il 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 affee-
ton returned, although no vows had
passed between her and her lover.
There was new minister at Mer-
rilrs Corner, young, unmarried, and
in Abby's eyes altogether lovely. He
liked her better than any other girl
in the congregation, she was sure OF
that. But Cousin Ida was coming,
and how could any man fail to fall
in love with herr II 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. / always feel Ike a
sparrow by the side of an oriole when
| am with Cousin Ida, and l don't
suppose Mr.. Kirkland will TOOK at me
while she is here"
Ida Stanton was really fond Of her
/ cousins. She was a born fiirt and
held all men as her legitimate prey,
but she would not have hurt Abby
for 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-
lightened her instantly. Hands on,
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 a good little girl, she
spoke only when she was spoken to
Was IL 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 sh'
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 meshe
of crimson wool.
When he called again, matters wer'
even worse. Mr.. Merrill was at home
and, intent upon entertaining tn
minister, he insisted that Ida shoul
! sing and play. 1t was impossible TO
: her TO refuse, and her voice simpl
entranced Arthur Kirkland. He wa
: passionately fond of music, and Ida
was of kind which he rarely heard
you viii join our choir, won
you, Miss Stanton?" he begged.
But Ida smiled a negative. q
would hardly be worth while for tn
short time l shall be here; but I a
ways sing in church. where there