The Old Stone House

went down the stairs, "do not waste so much ti

he half-closed door of their respective rooms during the morning toilet, and

icket, like a sensible dog!"

ed him at the polls.

ned Gem, at the

d a rat-ification meeting last night in the cellar, an

Latin, I give up," said Gem, "

d her Bible and read a chapter from the New Testament. Then they all met in prayer, and the mother-aunt's heart went up in earnest petition for help during the day, and

ers on the table showed their varied occupations. Aunt Faith believed that music was a safeguard against danger. The love of harmony kept young people together around a piano, and filled their evenings with enjoyment; it was always a resource, and opened a field of interest and employment which increased the store of life's innocent pleasures. In addition to this negative virtue, A

in the mood, with a wonderful expression in his rich baritone; and Bessie, although negligent in practis

find the tune. His favorite air was "Nelly Bly." On this he would progress satisfactorily until he came to "Hi," when he was sure to waver. "Hi," E flat; "Hi," E natur

another half hour of pleasant loitering. This morning Sibyl had her usual heap,-letters from various schoolmates, and one from Mrs. Leighton, her relative in Washington, which seemed to be full of int

hat a mass of writing, Sibyl," he began, stretching out his hand; "I'll help you to read it. That rose-colored sheet will do; the one crossed over four times." But Sibyl quietly secured her correspondence, and went on with her reading. "Does she tell you what she wore at

, ruffles and all, give me the neares

ittle criss-

how fond

my breakfas

the coffe

, in a melo-

the table, "Mrs. Leighton has invited me to g

always lucky, Sibyl. But why don't you do som

have me do?" sai

ah,-anything to give ve

ted, Bessie," answ

d if the house was on fire," sai

uld be of more use in such an emergency than all the rest of you pu

bout the fift

?" continued Aunt Fai

" exclaimed Bessie. "

k of

said Hugh. "Four week

d!" said Gem. "Four

ld!" said Tom. "Ic

oom, Aunt Faith's eyes followed her with a perplexed expression, but recalling her thoughts, she rang the bell, and then set about he

mpletion,-fragments of landscape, and portraits of all the members of the family circle, more or less caricatured according to Bessie's mood when she executed them. A strong patent-lock secured the door of this treasure-house, and seldom was any one admitted save Hugh.

turn, and from th

s burn when Bessie

ae!" This legend was accompanied by a chalk pictur

great importance in the garden. Seated near one of the windows was Bessie, her eyes full of tears, and her fa

"What is the matter, Bessie?" he said kindly. "I saw at brea

swered, after a pause; "I always tell you everything Hugh, and I want your advi

he letter was as follows; "Miss B. Daril: I don't want to trouble you, but I must have that money. Bills is coming in every day. It belongs to me, as you know yourself,

, Bessie?" asked Hu

d for a small bribe. The bill was allowed to run on in my name, for, although it was understood that all the dormitory girls should share in the expense, it was more convenient to order in one name. Then the end of the term came, and there was so much confusion and hurry, tha

ld Aunt Faith, t

y it herself, and I don't want her to do that, for she has already taken ever so much of he

owe this man?"

fty dollars," said

up such a bill in one winter?"

ways had plum-cake, eclairs, and French candy; and then I have no doub

ur name selecte

nless because I

ader?" sugg

murmured Bessie,

man's bill?" said H

sent it to

have it,

are you going

t, of

! How c

id, what do you care

d I shall not give it to

uite rich. I shouldn't wonder if there were five hundred dollars in all. Quite a fortune, you see! And I shall take mine to

said Bessie, with the tears still shining i

ssie; you would d

h; but I hate to ta

e the bill, and say no more about it, or we shall quarrel." So it was sett

tave. But Aunt Faith detected a want of expression in this studied mechanism; it seemed to her that Sibyl did not, in her heart, feel the spirit of the music which her fingers played. Coming in from the kitchen, this morning, after setting in motion the household wheels for the day, she again noticed this automatic execution in the strains of Mendelssohn's "Spring-Song," and it grated on her ear as she tended the hanging baskets on the piazza. Continuing her round from her plants to her birds and gold-fish, Aunt Faith kept listening to the monotonous sound of the piano. "I wonder if Sibyl has a heart?" she thought; "sometimes I am tempted to think she has none. How can she practise so steadily when

furnished as regards cost, for there was no superb set of furniture, no tall mirror, no velvet carpet or lace curtains. Easy-chairs of various patterns were numerous, the carpet was small figured, in neutral tints, and the plain, gray walls brought out the beauties of the two fine pictures which lighted up the whole room with their vivid idealism; the piano was a perfect instrument, filling a corner of

paused in her practising; "shall we t

ractising another time," said Sibyl, careful

invite you, Sibyl; such a summe

knows that the addition of a young lady

lly wish to

ject in all lights, and I have almost decided to go; there is nothing to keep me here

t way,

not rich, as you know, Aunt Faith, and I do not wish to be a burden upon Hugh. I consider it prudent to

r a moment. Then she said, "There is nothing s

u do not think I have been re

but are you sure there is nothing in Westerton that in

or in her oval cheek deepen; Aunt Faith, who was watching her closely, said no more on that subject, but turned the di

r the purpose. I do not care for many dresses, but they must be perfect of the

re very cos

th the pearls, would be just my style," said Sibyl in a musing voice, as though she saw herself so arrayed. As she spoke, a vision rose before Aunt Faith's eyes: Sibyl at Saratoga, her classical h

s of the various toilets, a committee of way

resses; and those are to be so simple, a week will be time enough to devote to them. You can have a ful

ell finish my practising;" and for the next hour the Spr

nterest. Turk, always thoughtful of his own comfort, had stretched himself out near by under the shadow of the bushes, and Pete Trone, in the excess of his zeal, had burrowed so far into the hill that nothing was to be seen but his tail and hind legs; Grip, however, persisted in tearing around the garden in wild circles, barking furiously every time he passed his master as if to encourage him in his labors. "This wil

s at every fresh shovel-full of earth. The sun shone out warmly, and the laborers felt the perspiration on their heate

But Gem didn't know, and betook herself to the shade of the bushes for a rest. "Th

shanty that will beat the town. I'll get

the left, returning in about fifteen minutes with the "Band of Brothers," as they called themselves, a number o

, as they approached; "now you'll see a shanty fit for a king

r rooms, stored away there for the summer. Collecting a number, she started to return, but, loaded as she was, this was no easy matter. F

, and she had persuaded Hugh to give her a sitting in order that she might satisfy a long-cherished

talwart; lithe and long. Now sit still, Hugh, and I will do my best. If you had black eyes

kes you, Q

aid I should not have a chance. As for jelly, he fairly gloats over it. Do you know, H

he is perfect, and cook for him all her life wit

blessing," said Bessie. At this point a singular noise wa

Hugh, opening the door; "

ke any noise," said

u with your shovels. What are you do

underground shanty, and they sent me for all the shovels, and I go

th it, and who are the B. B.'s?" asked Hugh, relieving his littl

Crusoe, you know, and roa

ather hot, wo

nd candles, and things to eat; and then the dogs can stay there too. Grip has never had a regular house, you know, and Tom say

red the shovels at the foot of the st

see you, please, Hugh, for I promised not to tell, and I'm

is it,

evenge," said Gem

said Hugh laughing; "t

ls and run, little one

lated the adventure to Bessie with a hearty laugh. "Do you know a

now that high board fence below here? Well! one evening the B. B.'s happened to find out that they were over at Mrs. Reed's, so they waited until the ladies came along, and then they laid themselves down on the ground close behind the f

hat did they do

hem out of her garden, one day, when t

y were undermining her terrace, she

th likes boys, and she never

y the kindest aunt a graceless ne

nd I do mean to try not to vex her

rseback-ridi

orseback-ri

other a moment in silence, and th

" said Bessie; "

d be very much shocked if we

fall from a horse, you know. Still, she might not forbid my going, provided I would ride quietly on a c

be better not to tell he

e and Hugh somewhat dusty after their morning in the studio. Tom and Gem came in with flushed faces;-the

g-room, "would you like to go with me to see Margaret Brown,

h, I have neve

Mr. Lesli

Sibyl calmly. "I will go with you, howe

you seemed to be interested in Mr. Leslie's descrip

uch interested, aunt," she said quickly, "and I sh

, where the old-fashioned furniture, high bedstead, spindle-legged chairs, and antique toilet-table, had remained unchan

? Is it wrong to like elegance and refinement, the society of cultivated people, and the charming surroundings which only money can bring? I have an innate horror of misery,-an inability to endure the want of all that is beautiful in life. I think I could be a very good woman in an elegant city home, with all my little wishes gratified, and nothing to offend my taste. But I fear, yes, I know, I should be a miserable, if not a wicked woman, in a poor home, with nothing but rasping, wearing poverty, day after day. Why, the very smell and steam of the wet fl

and more careless, more and more haggard, day after day; I should see myself growing old, ugly, ill-tempered, and sick, hour after hour. I have not the moral force of mind, or the physical force of body, to make a cold, half-furnished house seem a haven of rest, a piece of corned-beef and potatoes continued indefinitely through the week seem a delicious repast, or an old-fashioned cloak and dowdy bonnet seem like my present pretty fresh at

and give it to her. She will understand me better, then; and, if I request it, she will never allude to the paper in words. Yes, I think I will do it." So Sibyl took a sheet of paper from the drawer, and, in her clear handwriting, wrote out her thoughts of the afternoon, adding a request that the subject might not be brought into discussion, and also, that the paper should be destroyed. "I will not take any false steps," she thought; "I will be true to my determination, and therefore I will not go t

ent alone to see Margaret Brown, leaving an order for some work, and inviting the children to come and play in the large garden at the old stone house. Her voice was gentle, her words cordial, and Margaret felt cheered by the visit; but the visitor's heart was sad, and when, on her way home, she met Mr. Leslie, she merely bowed, without stopping as usual to exchange a p

ied Aunt Faith; "Sibyl

not care to accompan

oung clergyman's face,

society of the busy city," pursued Aunt Faith, determined at any cos

ng clergyman gravely; "if you please, Mrs. Sheldon, I wil

the old stone house and Sibyl greeted them with a bright smile, poor Aunt F

andsome old face could make it,-faces handsome with vivacity and good nature as well as artistic beaut

wish we dared to show him the shanty. He'd like it ever so much; I've

ike our keeping it

suppose, then, we'd be

sh I could stay up wit

could not be a boy, Gem. But it can't be helped now. Remember, if I fling a s

low it," she thought; "there is no doubt in my mind as to John Leslie's liking for Sibyl, and the child is so worldly! Still, what can I do? The way in which he put aside my little endeavors this afternoon and walked boldly into the very danger! It certainly looks as though he wa

ame in and slipped into the s

aith, stroking the young girl's ch

ie with downcast eyes; "the

rough the pasture, murmured some inarticulate reply and crossed the hall into the parlor. "Let us have some music, Bessie," he called out as h

ot going to tell, a

nd Eve with her

antly. "Don't spoil my fun, now, Hugh. The summer will soon

r a chance to be naught

blinds awoke Gem; at first she was startled, but instantly remembering the night-watch in the underground shanty, she stole to the window and pee

dare to do it!" sa

own, or I'll tell, the B. B.'

the bolt, regaining her room with the speed of a little pussy cat. She heard nothing

Tom; "I can't find 'em. Of course

I come down aga

you must!

ning respect for the delights of the underground shanty. In a

wful sleepy, and they say they'll al

omebody wil

e down and get the fiddle; I can't go

asleep, with a vague intention of being a good girl, a

ell known "Hi," E flat; "Hi," E natural; "Hi," F natural, and at the same time saw a light proceeding mysteriously from the ground. Hastily dressing hers

nt Faith?" said

sic somewhere, and the strangest light co

augh, as he threw on his clothes. "Don't be frig

ured Aunt Faith

y opened it, and discovered a little den in the earth containing one chair, a table, the three dogs, and Tom; a candle stuck in a bottle gave light to the scene, and the table was cov

this mean?" said

climbed out of the back window and came down. But first they wanted things to eat, and I had to get 'em; and then, when they'd eaten up everything, they said if I didn't play they'd go home, so I had to get my fiddle. And I only knew

Aunt Faith; "what time

out four or f

gh laughing. "Come in and g

open door to depart, the candle burned dimly, and the air was damp. H