Elsie at Home

t them sweeping across the desolate-looking fields and gardens, and over the wet road where a hack was lumbering along, drawn by

"are we ever going t

t's been a dreadful tedious ride for you, but a trifle worse for m

an and you a big, strong man, used to exertion and exposure." The sentence

her, "but just hold on a bit longer and we'll be there. We're e'n a'mo

ed, bridling, "and it will be strange indeed if she is no

the house. We'll be there i

ed eagerly in the

One can't see much out of this little pan

t mind ownin' such a place myself. It's grand in the summer time, and not

tle better than a hovel I'd be glad to reach it and get ou

d as the hack turned in at the avenue gates took up

her listening intently and with great interest to a story she was telling them, while a sweet-faced young girl, sitting near with a bit of tatting

y exclaimed the eldest boy, glancing out of the window near where he stood. "Yes, it has come to a stan

s passenger to alight, while Evelyn laid down her work and hastened into the hall to greet and welcome the guest, whoev

door and now another stepped forward

stily crossed the veranda and held out a welcomi

in tones that trembled with emotion. "

you for so long, and have been feeling as if I should never see you again. And oh, how thin and weak you look! You are sick, mother!" she added in tones of grie

e to Fairview," was Mrs. Leland's gre

her hand in brotherly fashion. "And how weary and ill you are looking! Let me

th my journey and this troublesome cough," she said, struggling wit

he couch where his wife and her mother were arranging the p

g her hair with caressing hand, "it breaks my heart to see you looking so weary an

weather for your journey, Laura, so that it is not to be wondered at that you are exhausted. Y

ful cough," said Mrs. Travilla, presenting h

ndma Elsie, giving the cup to a servant to carry away, resumed her easy chair on the farther side of the room-near enough to be ready to render assistance should it be needed, yet not so near as to interfere with any private talk between the long se

asked of Evelyn in a tone s

e eldest of the little girls-she is in her fifth year-is Elsie Alicia, named for her two grandmothers; we ca

la lives here wi

often does since her daughter-in-law, Aunt Zoe, h

ed face reflected in a large mirror on the opposite side of the room. "But she has had an easy life, surrounded by kind, affectionate, sympathisin

with care and economy," entreated Evelyn in a voice half choked with sobs. "It will be jo

your love for your mother i

some strength to the invalid, and after taking it she was, by her own request, assisted to her room, an apartment opening into that of her daughter, with whose

"And now, if you like, I will unpack your trunks and arra

t that, and isn't that

de folks," said a neatly dressed, pleasant-faced, elderly coloured woman, who had entered the room just in time to h

eat something more, mother dear?" explained E

nd get your supper, Eva, child, but come back when you have finished; for we hav

ing down to bestow another ardent caress upon her newly restored par

dition were the principal topic

I hope he can cure mamma's cough. I wish the weather was such that we coul

ccount of her symptoms and ask his advice through the telephone. Then he will tell

tly carried out. The doctor would have come at once, in spite of the storm

morning," he concluded, after giving his advic

go at once to mamma and carry out his

ssist in any and every possible way," a

e; "and you must not hesitate to

but are not as vigorous as you were some years ago, and I cannot afford to let you run any risk of diminishing you

osing sleep," returned Grandma Elsie with a smile, "but may perh

ing needed rest or recreation," Mrs. Leland replied as she hastened away with Eva, with the

een long gone, but it seemed so to my impatience,

Evelyn said in moved tones, bending down to press a kiss on the wan cheek, "and I

you, Laura," added Mrs. Leland. "He has prescribed a sleeping potion for

ed the invalid in a tone of irritation; "my mo

a breath, the former adding, "His charges are not heavy and it wil

use when you have a tolerably rich, grown-up daughter, whose principal business and pleasure it will be to take care of and provide for her long-lost, but

," he said, coming to the bedside. "It is not bad to take, e

lly, eyeing the cup with evident dis

ake, racked with tha

ose would be better than that. And it was not so bad after all," sh

ing all the talk with Eva till to-morrow. Good-night to you both." And he left the room, followed presently

ed with contending emotions-love for this her only remaining parent, joy in their reunion, sorrow and care in view of her evident exhaustion and ill-health, an