The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1908-11-13
A
FORTUNATE
MISFORTUNE.

Miss Lovejoy had been at her
brothers house but little more than
a week, yet already she had to con-
fess to a vague feeling of disappoint-
ment.
She had not seen her brother and
his wife for more than seven years
during all OF which she had longed
for them with the homesick intensity
Of the exile. The anticipation of this
Homecoming had cheered her through
many a dreary term of teaching: yet
now that reality had aken the place
of anticipation, she found something
lacking.
The old home was still the same,
and her brother and his wife were as
kind as ever; but during this time Of
separation their only child had grown
from childhood almost to WON s.~-
hood and with the growth had come
a change in father and mother which
made poor Aunt Ruth feel like an
alien and a stranger
The merry, open-hCarted brother
bad become quiet and care-worn.
The bright pretty, cultivated sister
in-law, as dear 10 Ruth as If united
to her by ties of blood instead of MAJ
riage, had faded into an almost shah
bily-dressed drudge whose only pur-
pose in life seemed to be to keep
IaZel's bed Of roses free from thorns.
Both had been as glad as possible
to see their sell-reliant, independent
Western sister; but it seemed to Ruth
as if their principal interest was i'm
noting the effect upon her OF Hazel's
grace and Hazel's beauty and Hazel s.
accomplishments. That had been
The constant theme OF conversation
when Mr.. Lovejoy was not TOO preoc-
cupied TO talk at all or his wife had
an infrequent moment of leisure.
Now Aunt Ruth was quite ready
to admit that the grace and beauty
and accomplishments were there. but
the greater grace OF helpfulness and
tilial gratitude seemed to her both
lacking and unlocked for Nor was
the girl wholly or even principally TO
blame. No return had ever been de-
manded of her for all that had been
given, and the idea OF giving unasked
was yet unborn.
Ruth 5 own few gentle attempts at
remonstrauce had been met with such
an air Of mild surprise. such earnest
disclaimers on the part OF the par
ents, that she had seen the futility Of
words and resolved 20 say no more.
She did not wish 20 be regarded as
meddlesome and disagreeable.
Just now she was feeling rartiou-
larly out OF sympathy with the con-
ditions. AS she went steadily on with
the dishes she was washing, she could
hear her niece chatting in animated
fashion with a caller in the parlor.
she knew that il was Mr. Bennett.
the young man who had called I'm
the afternoon TO see If Hazel would
sing at parlor concert to be given at
the Young Mems Christian AssUcia-
lion rooms the next week.
Mrs. Lovejoy had answered the bell
and informed him that Hazel was
out: but Hazel herself. when she
came nome from her drive with a girl
friend, had spoken OF meeting him.
and told as a great Joke about his
remark that he won ssscal again in
the evening. as the servant had as
sured him she would be i'm then.
II the child had only seen what
II meant sighed Aunt Ruth 20 her
self
But even Hazels mother had
laughed ne matter OF. although
rather consciously and with a ausn.
and when Hazel had smiled and said.
Never mind. mamma dear. When
I get 10 De prima donna YOU shall
have all the servants YOU want. the
smile and the foolish promise had
saived the wound efectuallv.
AS the young people talked and
laughed together in the parlor. Ruth
could hear Hazel's mother moving
softly about upstairs. putting 20
rights in her prompt. methodical
way the things which Hazel had left
scattered about when she made her
toilet and hurried down TO meet her
caller.
Then by and by door opened, and
suddenly there was the sound OF a
fall and a suppressed cry OF pain:
and Miss Loveioy. rushing out, found