The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1904-09-24
Selett Sturp.
A DELAYED HERITAGE.

Eleanor II Porter. in ltpPinenii Magazine.
When Hester was two year, old wheezy
hand organ would set her eyes To sparkling
aud her cheeks to dimpling, and when she
was twenty the Maiden Prayer. played
hy a school eirl. would 6ll her soul with
ecstasy
To Hester all the world seemed full OF
melcdv. Even the clouds IN the >ky sailed
slowly along in time to a stately march III
her brain. or danced To the tune ef q
merry ~chotti~,hc that sounded inr her ear
alone Aud when she saw the sunset
from the bill behind her home there wa
always music then low aud tender II ih,
c,,lur. were ~,fi aud pale tinted, grand and
awful ii the sind blew ,hrriS aud tatIer'
Of storm clouds acr~s Parpl'ng ,ky. Al
tins was within Hester but without
There had been bat little r,om in Hes
ter life ior music Her days were an
enilsy,, round "f di,hws-hiug aud baby
,rudrne fr>t for her mother, later tor
herself There had been ~ money for
music lessons. na time lur piano practice.
Hester : childish heart had -wellrl with
bitter envy Whenever ,hr saw the coveted
music rolI swinging FROM >nme playmate :
hand At tI,aG time her iavoritc AJAX,
believe had been 10 play at going for a
music lesson. viih a carefully modelled TO
of brown paper suspended by a string from
her fingers.
Hester was forty nos Two sturdy
t-,ys aad a .rrI Of nine gave her ,hr,e hun.
sry mouths lo ie.,l and ,ix active feet 2.
l,rp in hol,.lr-s stockings. Her husband
had been dead two years, and life vas .
struggle and a prohIcm. The boys sh,
trained vigorously giving just measure OF
loSe and carr ha, the sirl--ah, Penelop'
,hsuld have that fur which she herself
had sa l,us,,l Penelope should take mu
sac l,--sas'
par,ng al Ihosc ulne years since Pene
lure hai ulmr - her trcgurnl dim. aus
quarter. with an ucyE ~iouai hs'f ,1ilar,
haI iouul their way into an old stone js'
va the top shelf n the pautry Ii hae
bscu dTrary and piqch,ag eeouDmy that
mad. ESe-iblr this hoard 1T silver, and Il,
effects had bseu only too visible in Hes
ter turusd and ipcaded garments, 10 say
nothing oi her wasted 6gere aud eolorles'
check. FrRslope was uine now, an,
Hester is,mssi It a titIins time 10 begir
the spending u her treasured wealth,
First. the instrument it must be 1
rented one, Of cour,c Hester went about
she hb0T ii proeuI.ng Il IN state Of ex
alttyl bliss that sas 10 measure eompen
-l,iion fur hes lsug years Of sacri6ce
Her task did not prove TO be han
unv The Widow RutlrF, about 10 :,
South Tor the winter, vas more than glat
10 leave her piano IN Hester tender care
and the dollar month rent which Hesiel
At iir,g Insisted upon paying was finally cu
IN half. much to the Widow Butler sat
isfaetlou aud Hester grateful delight
This much accomplished, Hester turne,
her s,ep- towards the white cottage where
IN lived Margaret Gale. the music teacher,
Ms, tale. careful. conscientious, but
Of limited experience, placed her service
at the disposal ii all who could pay th,
price -lhiriy hve cents an hour; aud sh,
sraciouSly accepted the name Of her new
pupil. Pentering ''enelope Martin on hel
book, for Saturday mornings at ten o clock,
Then Hester went home to te" her young
daughter Of the bliss in store for her.
Strange TO say, she had cherished the
,rsret oi the old stone jar al these year,
aud had never told Penelope of her high
destiny. She pictured now the cb;ld :
JOY, uncon>eiously putting her owl min,
wear old, music hungry self in Penelope +,
place.
Penelope, she called gently.
There was scurrying Of light feet down
the uucarpetej back stlirs, aud Penelope,
brrathls,s, rosy, and Smiling, appeared in
the doorway.
Yes, mother
Come with me, child, said Hester,
her voice ,teruly solemn in her effort tc
keep from shouting her glad tidings before
the time
The woman led the way through the
kitchen aud dining room and threw open
the parlur door, mOtioning her daughter
into the Sombre room. The rose-c0lor
faded from Penelope cheeks.
Why, mother what-what is it?
Have been-naughty?' she faltered.
Mrs. Martins tense muscle, relaxed and
she laughed Historically.
No, dearie. no. II have something
to tell YOU. she answered, drawing the
child to her aud smoothing back the dis
ordered hair. What would you rather
have-more than anything else in the
world? she asked then, unable to keep
her secret longer, she burst out, II We
got it, Penelope!-oh, I've got it
The little girl broke from the restraining
arms and danced wildly around the room.
'Motherl Really? As big as me
And will it talk say papa and mamma
you know
What
Something in Hester dismayed face
brought the prancing feet to sudden stop.
''It-its a doll, isn't it?' the child
stammeIed
Hester hands grew cold.
IA dollr' she gasped
Penelope nodded the light gone from
her eyes.
For a moment the woman was silent
then she threw back her head with little
shake and lauohed forcedly
"A doll!-why, child, it's as much
nicer than doll as-as you can imagine,