The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1903-06-13


These words kept ringing in Sybilla' s ears
as she performed the numerous duties i'm
posed upon her by her unsparing task mis-
tress, and they were uppermost in her mind
when Hiram came in to dinner. Hiram
was Miss ,Jemima's Irish factotum. He
attended to the stock, farmed few acres
belonging to the place and performed all
the necessary outdoor work. He was a
tall, shy, awkward fellow, but was faith
full, honest and Industrious, and Miss Je-
NINA was too we'll aware OF his worth to
venture on many sharp words or looks while
he was present.
As Hiram sat at the table he was ap-
parently engrossed with the numerous vi
ands placed before him; but he was also
carefully observant of Sybilla, who sat on
the doorstep while the dropping honey
snckle 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 p he asked.
"Quite well, thank you" answered
Sybilla, with a faint smile; "but oh, Hi
ram, am so miserable If I could only
get away from here-but that is impossi
BILE, she added, signing deeply.
"Now jist hear the likes of that, said
Hiram, sympathetically. ''But sure,
miss, understand. The ould maid been
up to some of her name tricks-now hasn t
she?''
eff she could hear you, Hiram
Gay, but she can't, responded Hiram,
coolly. 'Them ears, long as they are,
won't catch sound mile. But tell me,
Miss Sybilla, what she's set you at, and
we'll see what can be done to circumvent
her,
Grateful for his kindness and sympathy,
and half hoping that he might help her in
some way to attain her wishes, Sybilla re-
peated the occurrence of the morning
Hiram heard her in silence.
When it was ended he arose abruptly
and sale, =
"Come now, plase, Miss Sybilla, red
this kitchen right out, and I'll have the
walls whitened in a jiffy.'
"Oh, no, Hiram, that would never do, !"
anwered Sybilla quickly. eff Cousin Je-
NINA should discover
doubtless she raise the roof but
she's not going to diskiver it, responded
Hiram, composedly.
Accordingly Hiram strong hands soon
accomplished the task, and while Sybilla
rearranged the furniture, he said
It's too hard you have to work, miss,
but sure, I don't know that you d gain
anything by LAWN. .
"Oh, I'm sure l could,' said Sybilla,
very eagerly. II should be able at least
to secure servants wages for servant S
work. But it is useless thinking of it, as
| have no money! she added despond
ingly.
"And if you had, miss, where would
you go?' he asked.
"To the city," answered Sybilla.
stMrs. Henderson, friend of my mother
would I feel sure, receive me into hel
house until | could secure some employ
ment, 7 don't think that everyone would
be so hard as Cousin Jemima,' she said
her lip quivering.
Touched by the plaintive sweetness Of
her voice, and the tears shining in the
dark eyes, Hiram shook his huge fist We.
hemently in the direction Miss Jemima
had taken, and muttering an anathema on
the could maid,' departed to perform his
own neglected duties.
The next evening as Sybilla was sitting
on the porch, Hiram approached, and hav'
ing silently slipped small package into
her hand, hastened away as silently as he
had come. Surprised at his singular man
ner, Sybilla fastened to her own room and
having opened the parcel found therein
several bank notes and the following lines
"Miss Sybilla: Enclosed plase find
sum mummy which I hope will be enuff te
take you to the Teddy you told me about.
Nobody kin blame you, for lawn this
cross ould cratur, who trates you SO badly.
Don't be too proud, miss, to accept thi'
trihe from the likes of me, and may every
blessing fall upon you. And when you
are rich and happy, don't forget ould Hi
ram.
With beating heart and fearful eyes,
Sybilla examined her treasure, and ther
proceeded to make arrangements for leav,
ing her uncongenial home. 1t would be
best, she thought, to make no response te
Hiram, as, if ignorant of her plans, he
could not be blamed by Miss Jemima.
But some day, she doubted not, it would
be in her power to repay his kindness, and
he should then receive it back with four
fold interest
At the dawn of day slender figure
might have been seen walking quietly
and rapidly away from Miss Jemima
gate, and shortly afterward Sybilla was
being whirled on the wings of steam to-
ward the great city. She had formerly
resided there with her parents, and al
though some years had elapsed since their
death and her removal to Miss Jemima S,
the city sights and sounds seemed delight
fully familiar. She found Mrs. Hender-