Hilda's Mascot

pain and grief that she was ill for several weeks, little Hilda Brinsfield was playing under the shade of an apple tree

m the window, "come in, dear, and s

beside her, she took up a book and applied herself diligently to s

was sitting beside her with on

e day that you are not willing to leave your play to sit a few minu

nd, throwing the book upon the ground, her foo

les for release, and, putting her down by the door of Mrs. Ashley's room, gently pushed her in. Ill as she was, th

said feebly. "Who will take care

me so tight in her arms that it hurt me, and I could not get loose.

face of Mrs. Ashley and she clasp

er a pause. "She has lost much slee

want my supper," res

or you, and while she is preparing it

d a chair to the bedside, and, still

ock upon the mantel, and the purring of the kitten before the smouldering wood fire

ld's hand in hers. "He loved his little daughter so tenderly that he gave her her mother's n

y father and

e I hope soon to be with the

will

day aright, and then you will have a hom

ay with me w

I hope. I have prayed for th

te to you? You said

hoed Mrs. Ashley. "I do so

aven with you and my father

l home where we w

we never c

o happy we will n

th you, Aunt Janette, to see my f

ery weak, but will speak of it again when rested. I hope you will be polite

she had just heard. Where was heaven? How co

ing meal, and brought a cup of tea and a slice

y, eagerly scanning the countenan

n his way from the postoffice. I ran out and asked him if he had a letter for y

received my letters or not. I know that she has much on her mind with the care of her two boys and the fa

en time," agreed D

te letters to me as soon as they received my letter telling them that my husband had fallen in battle, and Sarah offered me a home

ana as she drew a stand to the bedside

etter. Surely Sarah must write and give me the comfor

must give her time," ans

rain Hilda as she should be trained. Oh, if she would but write and give me the assurance! but I fear that Mr. Courtney

the case exactly as it is, and min

ved. You said yourself that I was the picture of health with my bright eyes, the flush upon my cheeks and lips,

e would be guided by what you

that I would not get well, and if it were not for my anxiety in regard to Hilda I would be

, "that maybe your sister is coming, an

face, and she partly arose and stretc

upon the pillow, "that would be such a

ave waited to write, knowing that she could reach here

er," she continued, putting her small white hand upon the head of Hilda, "grant my heartfelt petition that

er head again upon the pillow with the smiling, happy expression of one who had never known pain

d take your tea together; do not mind leaving me alone. I have pleasant thou

er and honey were delicious to her taste. She enjoyed the meal, then fell asleep in the chair where Diana let her remain until al

lighted the night lamp, shading it from the sick bed, then, as was her custom, lay down wi

a rap upon the outer door of the kitchen, and arose quickl

e door to see the eastern horizon tinge

rning?" asked Dr. Lattinger

I did not hear her speak or stir

quickly through to the other room, fol

l hours," he said, taking

d trembling with grief and excitement. "She was so much better last evening and at

and should not have been left a

come had I asked it. I did not ha

fy. In the meantime it would be better to remove the little girl to t

call at 'Friedenheim' and ask Mrs. Courtney to come. Mrs. Ashley a

enheim;' but it will be no trouble to drive back

da to the cot, then sat by the bedside o

tor to reach the lane gate that led t

, who informed him that Mrs. Courtney was suff

nutes reached home, where he sat down to breakfast, wea

. "Mrs. Ashley died during the night and Diana is there alone. I called at 'Friedenheim' to ask Mrs. Courtney

rved disposition prevented her making acquaintances. 'My Lady's Manor' was the only place she visited, and after

her greatly, and said she reminde

e what will be required. A burial robe will have t

do. Perhaps you can go down and advise her

kins to luncheon, and Jerusha Flint is coming this morning to cut and fit a dress for

dresses perhaps she wo

in every way, if she will go. And I will be

d went to his office, and at that moment a light, brisk step w

, as she arose to admit Jerusha. "I will t

ly fitting walking dress, stepped in, her eyes like black beads a

inger made the situation known. "There is no charge for making a

ng promised Diana. I suppose there is money in the h

, she left the house and walked with her usual dispatch down the road, l

of Hilda, who was taking her breakfast, an

an open book, "and Mrs. Lattinger took it upon herself to ask me to come, so I am that ac

at is why I wishe

hat you have nurs

relatives and friends to make arrangem

aside my hat and cape, seeing the lady of

" said Diana, reddenin

a vigorous snap, folded it and placed it on the pillow of

g her raven hair with the palms of her hands until it shon

twice, but has not answered either letter. They were opposed to her marrying Mr. Ashley; sh

neat but simply furnished room. "If she had possessed the common sense that

that Mrs. Warfield is on her way here," resumed Diana. "I do hop

sked Miss Flint, nodding toward

to take Hilda home with them, or ask one of them to come here for comp

ponded Jerusha sharply. "We will have two

" said Diana. "I will

with her, and Miss Flint was gratified to hear that the miller's family wo

hankful I would be!" sighed Diana as sh

that. What is to be do

anxiously. "Do you take the lead

ade here, or bought ready made in Bal

t decide. Which

ircumstances. What i

u mean

ial to make a burial dress of,"

lothing in two of the drawers; the third

is th

r drawer in

soon see

hile she is in there,"

til taken to the grave; you certainly are n

o go in and unlock her bureau w

Somebody must attend to this;

he bed. The drawer was unlocked and a white cashmere buria

ed Miss Flint. "She was exactly the woman to prepare for this in order to be indepen

ecame of "some use," as Miss Flint expressed it, and did

was neatly arrayed in the robe a

a lock of her hair; her sister may want it. B

er hair," said Diana nervously, as the sni

Flint as she held up a glossy t

inger said she was a lovely young creature when she came as a bride to Dorton, and has changed very little since. Now she looks li

oud as Lucifer. Pride and poverty killed th

gentle and polite to me,"

d as she was would marry a poor artist. Now you can fix her hair the way she wore it, and while

d Diana, dropping the comb. "Do you s

ever did see. You are not afraid of he

ept awake last night and known if she need

n astonishment. "I hope you don't me

asleep," said Diana humbly. "

ned nurse, calling yourself a watch

fully, "but I have the comfort of knowing that if she could speak she woul

ld be with all that pride;

etiring in disposition, and the neighbors m

ept Mrs. Farnsworth and Anna and Mrs. Courtney; and it is plain to be seen that their elegant homes we

replied Diana glancing about her, "

of ours. What we have to do is to bow these shutters and

e doorway between the rooms and took a look over the objects of beauty and

n; and trust Jerusha Flint to carry out any sch

igence that Perry had been sent over by Mrs. Merryman to offer his services, and had gone

u set for the fune

o-morrow afternoon that will be the time to appoint. I will go ove

t very soon? S

. "What would be the use of waiting for her sister who has not set a time for

he undertaker departed Miss Flint hurried to "Friedenheim," saw Rev. Courtney, who made it conv

to allow her to live there in Mrs. Ashley's place, the rent hav

parkling and her cheeks glowing with the brisk walk. "There is no on

r for a moment thought you would stay. I thought you had

t his house would be my home only while I could not have a better one. I have the chance now to have one more to my

that Mrs. Warfield would ever come,

Warfield's, I think you said

's; but Mrs. Warfield will surely take her when

as over the next afternoon, and Diana gone, she would go immediately about arranging the furniture to suit herself, and th

ver, a long train of neighbors following the bier to the Dorton churc

to leave as Jerusha was to have the house to herself, she was not slow in taki

ut of her way to call at the miller's t

he told me she was going to heaven and will

eyes filling with tears. "Miss Flint is so kind a

afely to the cottage gate, and bad

you?" exclaimed Miss Flint angrily, as

lda, cowering; "she said you wer

h! Now I will have to stay at h

arcely restrain herself from laying violent

I will give you something t

in heaven," s

ore than I do! You could

and looked with earn

at? Get a book or some

er the apple tree; plea

uickly with it, and, sitting in her little chair, exam

mile to her aid. "I am going out for a little while and you must not stir from that chair until I come back;

lled to see Mrs. Lattinger to say that she would come next

dark and she imagined that Miss Flint had left her to pass the night alone. She was a timid

retonne cover, the ruffle of which reached the floor. She saw this ruffle move, a

orth when she found her in

spiteful creature?" she cr

m under the lounge," gasp

e she raised the ruffle. "You see there is nothing under there!

da, stamping her foot in her excite

, derisively; "where are they now? The

I saw them come

Jerusha, grasping her; "

nced her and caused Hild

Perry, "and heard somebody crying

g scarlet, "and Hilda got frightened. She thought sh

won't see them now that Miss Jerusha is here. Good-night to you both,

exclaimed Miss Flint when Perry was out of hearing. "Yo

med Hilda, flushed with

s she grasped the child's arm, "if you say that again I will give you suc

er tormentor in spirit but not in strength; she w

n to come, or not, if that suited her better, and she accepted and took her usu

in order for the night, while Hilda returned to h

the command. "I must sit down to m

open; I am afraid in the

he two blac

uddering and tears

me to waste upon you. Can

t Janette got sick. I c

u," and, giving an angry jerk to a refractory hook, the dress was loosened and other garments re

rs?" she asked timidly as her c

id to go to sleep after telling such a wicked story," and,

but she was not happy. She at last had a home of her own, but cons

e was mistaken, as she saw with her sister-in-law's eyes that there would come rainy days when Hilda could not go; and if clear the

o rest upon the curtain of the lounge, she saw it move. Jerusha was not frightened, a

d out and was quickly withdrawn, and she recognize

" she said to herself. "If a trap can catch you this wi

as to her discovery and for many days the child