The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1903-05-29
SybilIa.


She wanted money, oh so badly. Ihi
was not the first time she had longed to
it, deeply, ardentlv longcd for anytnin!
III the shape OF muney-gold, silver, u
crisp bank-nOtes; but it seemed to be
that the desire had never been So keen ii
now. Only Il few dollars, just wha
would lie sufficient to take her away from
this dull disagrecabc place, and from thi:
constant toiling and drudgcry undcI
cross old Cousin IcIniina, WHO never gave
her pleasant word, and had only fault
| finding and sncers for all her earnest Gu
deavors to please. Why, only this morn
| ing-But here the current of the young
girls thoughts was broken by the Sounl
of a sharp, shrill voice from the neXt
| room.
"Sybilla," called Cousin Jernina
alt!rIly; ''Sybi!la, are you never coming
with those cakes
The cakes Alas. she had quite forgot
ten them i'll lnment!ng over her grey.
ances; but She dared not wait, So cntuii.
ing plate from The hearth, she hurried
i'll.
What do YOU cad these" asked Miss
lcmiIna, with a cuntemptuuus sam, us
her eye fell upon the few pale, cold spheres
which Sybilla was placing on the table.
What do you call these things, l say
Cakes" murmurcd poor oybilla, i'll
unutterahlc confusion.
Cakes" repeated Miss JcnIima, with
another smith, Il call them trash. Take
them away instantly, and bring me some
that | can eat
SybiIla started to obey; as she rcac,lcd
the door Miss JcIniua called out
You may eat those for your own
breakfast. Do not imagine that | Will
allow you TO waste anything i'll my
house"
With swelling heart and eyes that were
filled to Overlooking, sly billa turned away:
but her head was held proudly erect, and
her slight figure displayed all the hauShii-
ness OF which It was capable. Not for
worlds would size have allowed Miss
Itmima to see how deeply she was
wounded; but quickly subduing her
emotion, she prepared her cousins
tavorite breakfast dish more carefully,
and that lady cOndcSccntlcd to let the
meal pass without further comment.
I'm going out" said Miss Jemma,
stepping into the kitchen where Sybilla
was deep in the mysteries of baking. I'm
going away, and will not bc back until
supper time. Do you near what l say,
Sybilla:"
YES. ma am" answered the young
girl. whose heart leaped joytuliy at the
prospect of having Il long, quiet day to
herself; but demurcly though she spoke,
She could not conceal her satisfaction
from Miss Terminals keen eyes.
Want to get rid OF me, do YOU said
that lady. grimly. We'll, I'll try to ind
employment for You during my absence
Finishing all that baking, do up the
dairy work, sweep and dust the house
down, and then Here Miss Je-
NINA paused, and poor Sybilla hoped
tile catalogue was ended. but not so.
And then" continued Miss Jenlima,
you may whitwash the Kitchen
''Wliitcwash the kitchen" exclaimed
Sybilla, in dismay, all her airy visions
fading, as she was thus doomed to toll
through the long, sunny hours. Surely,
Cousin, YOU do not mean that | shall do
this. Why, it is only a few weeks since
it was done"
mo matterf for that, said Miss Iemima.
shortly; Il mean exactly what | say. |
do not intend, Sybiila Vernon, that you
shall eat the bread of idlencss, although
that is exactly what you would like to
do"
at is too bad" exclaimed the young
girl, while her eyes flashed and her checks
burned at the insult. at is too bad to
speak in that manner when all the time
YOU are making perfect slave of me-
Making Il slave of you, am |? Well,
and if am-wiat are you going to do
about it," said Miss JenuGa, while
dull spark lighted her cold blueey with
srouldering fire.
What are you going to do about it?
These words kept ringing in Sybilla sears
as she performed the numerous duties i'm
posed upon her by her unsparing task
mistress, and they were still uppermoSt
in her mind when Hiram came i'll to
dinner Hiram was Miss Jcmima's Irish
factotun. lie attended to the stock,
farmed the few acres belonging to the
place, and performed all the necessary
out door work. He was a tail, shy,
awkward fellow, but was faithful, honest
and Industrious, and Miss Jemima was
too well aware of his worth to venture
Oh many sharp words or looks while he
was present.
As Hiram sat at the table he was ap-
parcntlv engrossed with the numerous
viauds placed before him; but he was
also carefully ohservart of Svbilla, who
sat on the doorstep while the dropping
honcysuckle surrounded her with an
emerald frame, and with such look of
patient sweetness on her fair face that
the kind fellows heart was touched.
Sure, Miss Sybilla, aren't you well,
that YOUR SO pale like" he asked.
Quite we'll, thank you" answered
SyhiIla, with faint smile; but oh, Hi
ram. am SO miserable. If l could only
get away from icrc-hut that is inl-
possible, she added, signing deeply.
Now jist hear the likes of that, said
Hiram, sympathcticaliy. "But sure, miss,
| understand. The ould maids been up
to some of her nlanc tricks-nOw hasn' t
She
AT sic could hear you, Hiram"
"Av, but she can't" responded Ilirm.
cOolly Them ears, long as they are,
won catch sound ii mile. Bat tell me,
Miss Sybiila, what she's set you at, and
we'll see what can be done To circumvcnt
her"
Grateful for his kindness and sympathy,
and halt hoping that he might help her
i'll some way to attain her wishes, Sybilla
repeated he occurrence o! the morning;
Hiram heard her i'll silence.
When it was ended he arose abruptly
and Said,-
Come now, phase, Miss Sybilla, red
this kitchen right out, and I'll have the
walls whitcncd i'll Il iify."
"Oh, no, Hiram. that would ncvcrd",
answered Syhilla quickly. "It Cousin
| Jcnima should discover
"DouhtIess she'd raise the roof; but
she's not going to diskivcrit. responded
| Hiram, cOnposcdlv.
Accordingly Iiram's strong hands
soon accomplished the task, and while
Sybilla rearrangcd the furniture, he
said.-
It's too hard YOU have to work, miss,
but sure, don't know that you'd gain
anything by lawn
oh, I'm sure could" said Sybilla,