The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1908-11-19
A
FORTUNATE
MISFORTUNE.

SoSoeeeO9see0eOeeOeOoooo0x
Miss Lovejoy had been at her
brothers house but little more than
week, yet already she had to con-
Tess to vague feeling of disappoint
ment.
She had not seen her brother and
mis- 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 dreary term of teaching: vet
now that reality had taken 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 woman
hood. and with the growth had come
change in father and mother which
made poor Aunt Ruth feel like an
alien and a stranger.
The merry, open-hearted brother
had become quiet and care-worn.
The bright, pretty, cultivated sister
in-law, as dear to Ruth as If united
to her by ties of blood instead of mar
riage, had faded into an almost shah
DiIy-dressed drudge whose only pur-
pose In life seemed to be to keen
Hazels bed of roses free from thorns.
Both had been as glad as possible
TO see their self-reliant. Independent
western sister; but it seemed to Ruth
as II their principal interest was in
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
20 admit that the grace and beauty
and accomplishments were there. but
the greater grace of heipfulness and
nlial 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's own few gentle attempts at
remonstrance 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 futilftv of
words and resolved to say no more
She did not wish to be regarded as
meddlesome and disagreeabIe.
Just now she was feeling particu-
hriy out of sympathy with the con-
oitions- AS she went steadily on with
the dishes she was washing. she could
hear her niece chatting in animated
fashion with caller in the parIor
She knew that it was Mr.. Bennett.
-$he young man who had called in
the afternoon TO see If Hazel would
sing at parlor concert to be given at
the Young Mems Christian Associa-
ton rooms the next week.
Mrs. Lovejoy had answered the hell
and informed him that Hazel was
out; but Hazel herself, when she
came home from her drive with 8 girl
friend, had spoken of meeting him.
and told as a great joke about his
remark that 'he would call again in
the evening, as the servant had as
sured him she would be In then"
IF the child had only seen what
1t meant" sighed Aunt Ruth to her
self.
But even Hazel's mother had
laughed the matter OF, although
} rather consciously and with a flush.
and when HaEel had smiled and said:
Never mind, mamma dear. When
get to be prima donna you shall
have all the servants you want" the
smile and the foolish promise had
salved the wound effectually.
AS the young people talked and
laughed together in the parlor. Ruth
could hear Hazel's mother moving
softly about upstairs, putting 10
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 Lovejoy rushing out found