The Old Stone House

ter the picnic, "have you completed

my going was a matter

l sl

several weeks ago," said Aunt Faith, thinking of t

er a pause. "Everything is ready but

, my dear," said Aunt Faith, taki

prove of my

l. No one can aid you in such a questi

silence; then she ro

Mr. Leslie wished to see her; she went down, somewhat surprised at so e

r conversation about her yesterday? Calling in to tell her of it this morning, I found two of the children stricken d

shall be glad to do anything I can. Sha

r may be dangerous, and yet Margaret needs sympathy as much as money. Perhaps if they could all be moved into a

ck children bea

re growing worse every hour, it must be done at once if done at all. D

ayment, however. Mr. Leslie, I am sorry I cannot give you carte blanche; but ow

heldon. I have something laid by, and p

r uses for her

e worthy than th

"Mr. Leslie," she said emphaticall

racter, and I think she will help Margaret

walk was heard, and Sibyl herself cr

wn town, Sibyl?"

ibyl, coloring slightl

's gre

ntinued Aunt Faith, glancing at a

ook off the wrapping-paper and opened the case. "I have bought m

, and looking from them to Sibyl's blonde beauty, one

e in his hand, said, "I came here this morning to ask your assistance in a case of distress, Miss Warrington. Margaret Brown is in need of instant a

d in a low voice, "I am sorry, Mr. Leslie; but I ha

l arrange it for you, if you wish," said

th saw the struggle, and came to her niece's assistance with her usual kindliness. "You must not expect young lad

of giving. Only last evening we had a very serious conversation on that and kindred subjects. Mrs. Sheldon has said that I do not understand her niece. B

it be that her worldliness was conquered after all? "Sibyl," she said,

stice in asking me to give them up. I shall keep them, and as I have to write to Mrs. Leighton that I will

ng the pearls with her,

ion to her. He turned t

sed the various arrang

ountry, and then

l, after he had gone, standing at the sitting-room window

f all, my dear," r

e get the m

lthough she has never attended the chapel-service

o be generous when one is rich," said Sib

. Chase is rich, but she has very m

make such a demand of me,"

u had given him the ri

t F

hastily. "I presume he thinks I am a selfish, ha

He believes, or has believed, firmly in the purity of your religious faith and fi

said Sibyl; "he is

ken all his little savings for Margaret Brown, and I presume

by the same test he uses for

his mistake, my dear.

thusiast," she said; "he expects people to

; at the foot of

eve people can be happy in such

e is happy

am alluding to married people, burde

n why they should seek help from Him who said 'come unto

e there are so many p

he less annoying wi

nnoying if people ar

ppy women I have ever

by

hose, aunt. I would be rich

t its own troubles; sometimes in the shape of th

not be loved for himself as well as a poor man. It does not follow th

d yourself thoroughly. Take no rash steps, and remember that wealth is as nothing compared to a true heart, and that t

horses," he said, as Aunt Faith entered the parlor; I have secured a large carriage that will take all the family, and now,

slie. Is there not

you. I shall go out

e the c

t I have large fai

us to know how th

t come back with the carriage," said

d Hugh, coming in from the dini

Faith; "he came to

sk for Sibyl

, as Sibyl came in. But Hugh was not to be warned. "Sibyl,"

ister coldly; she had regained all her c

f coming here to see you for months, and, let me tell you, Sibyl, he is one

othing to the

ot good at splitting hairs, but there is no more comparison between Mr. Le

nding on a mountain-peak, in the icy air of unknown heights, and gazing at the sun all day as an eagle does," said Sibyl, as she crossed the hall into the parlor.

een them either right

"Sibyl is not sui

that John Leslie is deeply interested in her, and I should be proud and

is such a sincere,

in his work. He really thinks there is nothing in the city s

there should be nothing so

it with his eyes. But it is rare to see practi

rare indeed; but he

feel Sibyl's manner. Can it be possibl

ugh. Graham will

nt. Who would have thought S

ys been true,-at least so far," said Aunt Faith gently. Then, after a pause, she continued in a lower

a clergyman,

plied Aunt Faith reverently; "but why do you delay to come forward and make

am not good enough!

oy, I never see you come and go, without an aching desire to have you enrolled under His banner, to have you

; but I have such a hi

o me that such an one

all his might for the

here are many other spheres of action, and many qualifications, varied according to our var

troubled, neither let it be afraid.' And 'I will not leave you comfortless, I will come unto you.' And, 'woman, behold thy son; behold thy mother;' to me one of the most touching incidents in the Gospel. Then there is the

ir own loneliness, their crushed hopes, and perhaps their remorse that in

ar ones, Aunt Faith,"

ts, and among my intimate

en think of

es; but gradually I tried to break up the habit, and now I only think of their heavenly birthdays,-the days when they left the earth,-and even these have come to be pleasant. I have always been fond of autumn. There is something tha

bounds of Aunt Faith's silence. In her own room hung the portrait of her husband, Lester Sheldon, a young man's face, with blue eyes, and thick golden hair, tossed carelessly back from the white forehead, while below, the firm mouth to

was a young man

aven, I'm afraid," continued the child,

unt Faith, taking a box from her drawer, and drawing out a miniature. It was one of those lov

of the picture, and, as Aunt Faith looked through her desk to find the paper, something in her face recalled it to his mind, and there came across him, like a revelation, a vision of what she was at eighteen. Fait

hin the cycle

f centuri

cloudy border

y for al

eems, a thous

weary, if w

are but as yest

gh

past like one brie

gh

nown, those men o

rant, hal

of the souls

within

oly calm, her

and with lovin

d woods, the empt

soft

e, her garners fu

pr

ills the cons

ring winds

llow leaves in

y hands

corners, while

nts over the

ery and heavenly

sk

et out the atmosp

ls! Their me

in Spring's

onely sadness

ing summer

air in winter:

drifted snow, a

the stones an

nts

he sculptured nam

e

lden dream-tim

er murmu

el the presen

dowy touc

ee their fac

rth into the

tant chorus of t

st

ll-known accents

the

' Day, No

without any apparent effort. He did not obtrude the alphabet unpleasantly upon his hearers; he was not so anxious to show his correct pronunciation of "Been" as to force it to rhyme with "Seen;" he was not so much concerned with "Institute," as to te-u-ute the last syllable in

in the farm-house, Mrs. Sheldon," he said, taking a seat on the piazza. "Po

ren bear the ride?

ve them, and lessen the fever. They even walked about the garden when we arrived there, and began

th; the light from the hall-lamp shone on the you

back in his chair and sat talking pleasantly with Bessie and Aunt Faith. "Thi

had them enclosed. You may have noticed that the west side has only two windows, and that those are singularly placed. It is amusing to think that so implicit was grandfather's belief in the growth of Westerton, then hardly more than a pioneer village, that he built up that side wi

ie. "One old man was so impressed by the growth of the town, that meeting my father he shook him

nk that some of the children would occupy this old house after I am gone. B

Bessie warmly. "I love every stone in the old

, Miss Darrell?" said

uttons, lady-slippers, tiger-lilies, flower-de-luce, hollyhocks, and pinks, besides bushes of lilac and matrimony; then we have old cedars clipped into shape, and ever so many little paths and garden-beds edged with box. Oh, we

as this, but resembling it in general arrangement. I remember we had a little patch of trailing arbutus; i

" replied Aunt Faith; "our

e of the lake country and that of New England,"

tle Kay and the Robber Maiden. Once at Featherton Hall the eastern girls were talking about sleigh-riding, and I told them that snow was so scarce in Westerton that when a few snow-flakes actually fell, they were immediately fenced in and

unt Faith, laughing, "how can

m the sitting-room; "if she had charge of even the Patent-O

g, Graham Marr came

eldon!" he said; "is M

rlor," said Aunt Faith

rr

r," replied Graham, taking off his straw hat

I believe. I did not observe you in the darkness. I hope yo

l, Mr. Marr

, my head has given me no severe pain,"

o pain in his head?" i

disap

d by intense study and seething, poetical t

red, so I will say good-night," he said. "I will let you know t

convenient I shall be glad

e and Hugh had gone upstairs when he took leave, and Sib

y dear," said the

me. He had something to tell me. His uncle

made no other comment, but w

Sibyl slowly. "He thinks of removing to New York

Faith again; but

front-door; then, as she carelessly turned the leaves of a book

ret Brown and the children were saf

aid Sibyl, as she exti

Faith, and Sibyl went to he

went, and Mr. Lesl

at tea-time. "Did you know that Mr. Leslie was sick? Danger

ith with unusual sever

the t

mother say it was a dangerous fever. Hallo,

rrupted Bessie, with a quick glance at S

the best man in the wor

e him immediately,

Brown children have!" said Aunt Faith anxious

although he is loved by his congregation, dread of the fever will keep most of them away; besides, t

od be with you," said Aunt F

ook refuge in the back garden with the three dogs to bear them company

so anxious. The report has passed through

is face looked strangely worn and pallid as he sat there that last evening, and when fever attacks a ma

sounded up the walk in the dusky twilight, but it was not hi

th an inward sigh. Then, as Bessie went into the house, sh

n the doorway carelessly twirling h

d only a rumor. Hugh has gone

raham. "I have often wondered how he could endure the life he leads, but I suppose he is not fastidious. Hi

," replied Aunt Faith, with a s

strength," said Graham loftily. Then, after a pause

at your uncle wa

andfather's singular will has now been fulfilled, and the estate, which has rolled up to

ulate you,

; I have long endeavored to cultivate the tastes whi

"Sibyl is in the parlor, Mr. Mar

ham, bowing gracefully as he passe

es like him, but I cannot make her out. When I went to her room she was as pale as a ghost, but while she was smoothing her hair,

many good traits," said Aunt Faith with a sigh. "She has so much energy! She only needs to have the rig

is Graham Marr to give it?" asked Bes

. But Sibyl has a tr

made of charity, aunt.

y, instead of Faith alo

son by the experience o

ling; "the less

ssie. "We must have tried your patience severely, Aunt Faith. But we do love you dearly, every

ey heard the sound of t

p on the g

said Bessie, befo

. "The doctors are perplexed, for the case is not like ordinary fever.

not mean that he

estion, I believe. As I said before, he will probably be out of danger before m

now,-directly," said a stran

xclaimed A

the same muffled voice. "I heard what Hugh said, and I w

saw something terrible in the distance. Behind her was Graham Marr looking perplexed and angry; he did not know what to do or say

is sick, is he? I must really send a nurse to take ca

said Sibyl, in the sam

course you would not expose yoursel

go to-night," repeated Sibyl,

appearance of amusement, he smiled and turned to Aunt Faith. "There is no use in combating a young lady, I suppose, Mrs. Sheldon. Really,-I had no idea it was so late. I must go. I will bid you g

ar-off look in her eyes. "Aunt Fa

that it is difficult to follow you. But it is your privilege, I know

said Sibyl, hardly n

peared, Aunt Faith spo

ly wish to visit M

must go, Aunt Faith. D

y be danger f

k?" cried Sibyl passionately. "I must go! I

er arms around her niece with motherly affection. "If you wish to see Mr. L

cidedly. "Sibyl, yo

athing heavily; two physicians were in at

whispered Sibyl, clingi

opened his eyes and l

lf much moved at the sight of one whom she had so lately

ir patient closely; they expe

quietly taking off her hat a

no more, but sitting down by her niece, took her cold hand and held it in both her own. She had felt s

interest. The night seemed endless; only those who have watched by a sick bed can know how minutes can lengthen themselves! As the gray twilight of dawn came into the room the sick man

owed her head in silent prayer. Sibyl knelt beside her, and, after a moment, Hug

ver know,-and I-" here her voice was broken by stifled sobs and low

her as one would soothe a child. From that h

he doctors bent over him, and it seemed to Aunt Faith as if she could hear al

stepping back and shaking hands with Aunt Fai

rd the doctor's words, but a sudden timidity had come over

been watching

and leading his sister forward, he left her at t

faint voice, "is it you? Have

ith tears in her eyes. "I have brought myse

ale face; "as if there was any doubt-" but here the docto