Rensselaer Union, Volume 11, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 August 1879 — A LUCKY SOVEREIGN. [ARTICLE]

A LUCKY SOVEREIGN.

They made a strikingly contrasting picture standing in tne warm June twilight, and the fragrant odor of the roses and the budding grape vines lingered around them as if the tender scents were fitting tributes to them. Two fair young girls, the same age to an hour, and unlike as sisters could be, and each a perfect type of her own style of loveliness—both of them peeresses in their royal dower of beauty. Rose stood leaning against the railing of the veranda, her haughty eyes, that could molt from the cool, brilliant fray they now looked into such liquid arkness when occasions requiredsplendid, calm, cool eyes—were gleaming away out into the gathering dust that was falling in a purple-gray veil of tissue over wood and lawn. She turned her face toward her companion. Her eyes suddenly called in their waudering, listless glances, and showing a half-vexed, half-amused expression. “ Bell, how much longer are we going to stay here ?---at least, how much longer do you want to stop? Tam sure I shall die of ennui if I have much more of it.”

“Oh, don’t think of going back to town yet, Rose. I wish we might ne#ftr have to go.” “ Never go back ? Wtiy7 Bell, i 3 ft possible you are so infatuated with the country as to actually wish that? Child, for three months it is all very well to bury one’s self as we are buried, and I’ve no doubt mamma will feel much better and stronger for it; but to stay longer in a hired cottage, with only ono half-grown girl to assist in the work, and no amusements of any sort, and our joint stock of earnings exhausting itself daily—l tell you, Bell, I prefer our own suite of rooms at home, and my music scholars, and your bookkeeping, with a chance of occasional enjoyments.” “I dare say you are.right, dear. But I do love the country.” “ So would I if, for instance, I lived in the mansion over yonder—Fernley Court, you know —where the stately housekeeper showed us through and descanted on the many qualities and vast wealth of its owner. I forgot to tell you, Bell, that there will be a grand reception given a week after he gets back, and he is expected hourly.” Bell lifted her eyes in a graceful little gesture of surprise. “ A reception? Oh, Rose! and of course there’ll be a dance. Oh, dear, how I’d like to go!” “Of course you’d like to go. But do you think for a moment that the aristocratic families around here would condescend to associate with usP” Bell’s face grew stern. “ Why not? We are ladies born and bred, if we do work for a living.” “ You foolish child. I can tell you our faces and our handsome drosses—if we had them—would take us where our family name would not. Aud.T can tell you something else. Bell ” The littlo gate at the roadside opened at that instant, and the sound of lagging footsteps coming toward the house interrupted Rose’s remark, and then a dusty, travel-stained man paused at the foot of the steps, and touched his dingy hat-rim to the girls. He was evidently one of the many respectable, discouraged, disheartened men one so often sees tramping through the country in search of work. Rose drew herself up. “Go away. We have nothing for you. We don’t encourage tramps here.” He touched his hat—the rim was decidedly battered and dusty: “I beg your pardon, ladies; but if you will give me a ” Rose swept across the floor angrily. “ Will you march ofi’, or will 1 have the dog set on you? 8011, go tell Jane to unfasten Rover.” tlf The man turned away slowly, as if to move was an effort, and Bell sprung up in an impulse of remonstrativo protest.

“ Rose, how can you be so heartless? He is as pale as death, and only see how he drags himself along! You might have let him ait down a minute, and at least have given him a kind word and a piece Of bread and butter.” A contemptuous laugh pealed from dose’s red lips. “Tired and ill! Drunk and a thief, you’d betior say! A piece of bread and butter! 4i ,surt l» Bell!” Bell raised her finger warningly. “Ok, Rose, don’t; he’ll hear you.” Rose raised her voice 1 a key higher. “Let him hear, then! Perhaps you had better sit and watch that he does not faint and fall.” She swept haughtily into the lioufee,* leavihg Bell with her cheeks Hushing, and a compassion born of the sweet womanly sympathy glowing in her deep blue eyes as she watched the man walk slowly, painfully along, and finally halt at the gate, as if in utter discouragement at the long stretch of road between him and the next house, where he might find what Rose had rudely denied—the magnificent country seat of Lionel Granville, from whose doors no beggar was ever turned away kunk Bell saw him, and her quick instincts toldherWhfttsheimagißed&ismariner meant. .Quick as a bird, she dashed up-stairs to her room and snatched her purtempn-

nale from the bureau drawer, and was down again with a sovereign in her hand, as she ran swiftly after nim, still leaning against the gate-post, and still looking with that same strange expression on his pale face at tho towers of Fernley Court. “Here, please. It isn’t much, but it’s all I have to spare. Take it, please.” Ho looked snrprisedly at her, and then at the money. “ You are very kind, but you aremistaken. I only want a ’’ Bell thrust theffaoney in his hand. “Never mintltjJiease. I think I can see you aro proud; but please take it. There!” He seemed amdffed at her eagerness; but made no more ado about accepting the gift and pocketing it, as be stood and watched her slim figure flitting away like a spirit in the dust. The next day Rose came into Bell’s room, radiant as she only permitted herself to be under rare circumstances, her gray eyes flashing, and her red lips parted in a smile of triumphant delight. “Bell, see this! Now what do you say?” She laid a square monogrammSd chvolope in tho girl’s lap, addressed to the Misses Melton, and bearing inside invitations to the reception at Fernley ’CoufETOTatortnightfromthatnigiit. Rose watched the sweet girl’s face flovr under the surprise, then saw, to er amazement, the flush of delight fade. “ Well, Bell, of course we’ll go. I’ll take some ihoney 1 can spare and get some suisso, and wear natural flowers with it; and I know you have a sovereign laid away for an emergency. You can get a good many things with it—gloves and sashes, you know —and who knows but what Lionel Granville may be captivated?” Bell laid the ehvelope softly down. “I can’t go, dear, unless I wear my old white muslin, which will look wretched beside your new suisse. I’ve spent my money.” Rose frowned- “ Spent your money? Why, 1 saw it yesterday morning in your drawer I noticed that the edge of the sovereign was a Mttle chipped, and remember wondering if it wa3 good or not. Spent your money! Bell, wlmt do you mean ?’’

Bell met the vexed eyes as calmly as she could. She was just a little in awe of this magnificent sister of hers. “ I gave it to that poor man last night, Rose. I was so sorry. lam sure he wasn’t the sort of man to talk as you did. I know he deserved the money.” Rose sat down and folded her hands in ley wrath. “Give a sovereign to a tramp—a beggitr! Well, if it doesn’t pass my comprehension!” Rose swept out of the room—she was like a duchess in her movements—and poor Bell went on with her sewing, wondering if her old white muslin wouldn’t, took pretty well if it was nicely got up, thinking that there was a sea-green silk sash somewhere she had never worn; and a pair of white kids at home that Rose could go for when she went to buy her suisse. So, while her busy, deft fingers sewed through the summer days on Rose’s airy dress, little Bell decided she would go, after all, and wear her fresh white dress, and tea-roses in her f olden tresses, and the sea-green sash notted on her skirt—a simple, exquisite toilet, that made a very Undine of her, that made people turn' their heads for more than a second or third look when she and Rose enteyeu the magnificent ball-room. It was perfectly delightful every way. Mr. Grahdyille possessed none but high-bred, intelligent friends, and the Misses Alelton were treated accordingly. , The music was heavenly, and from her seat where she sat like a queen in state, Rose watched tho handsome host, who had bowed low over her nand when he was introduced—watched him as, in his quiet, selfpossessed manner, he went among his guests. Her heart was beating; would .he, ob! would he ask her tor the first dance, or would he go among the groups of stylish ladies from the city, any of whom would be so honored by his attention? And then Rose saw Air. Granville go straight across the room, right by her, and bow slowly to Bell as be said a few wox-ds and offered his arm.

Bell! Bell to lead the grand quadrille! Bell on Lionel Granville’s arm, the observed of* all observers—as fair as a sea nymph, and so graceful, so sweetly unconscious of her radiant beauty! ■ Rose sat gloomily through the first quadrille, aud watched Lionel’s pale, handsome face as he bent it over Bell’S golden curls, his ardent, admiring eyes, looking so eagerly into the sweet, girlish face, that others beside Rose noted his attention. Then, fcbo° dance over, Lionel gave Bell his arm. “ That has been a delightful quadrille, JMiss the way, did you know 1 haveTßnetKing that belongs to you?” ' - They had reached Rose’s chair by this time, aud Bell turned laughingly to him. “ Something of miftc? -I do not see how that can be, Mr. TGranville. Do you, Rose?” •> Rose favored him with her most fascinating smile w “ Indeed, 1 do ttot, seeing that this is the first time wo ever saw Mr. Granville.” He smiled in Bell’s eyes. “ I’ll leave you to fathom the mystery. Don’t forget the first waltz tor me’, Miss Bell.’* He went away, so handsome, so courtly, and Bell’s foolish little heart was throbbing with new, vague delight, while Rose was almost suffocating with envy at the signal triumph of her sister. Mr. Granville came promptly for his waltz. He drew her hand througfr his almost authoritatively. “ Miss Bell, it seems I have always known you, yet you say you never saw me before. Suppose we take a walk through the conservatory instead of having this'waltz?” Into the fragrant semi-dusk they went, where fountains tinkled, and rare flowers bloomed,, and the came in veiled sweetness and richness. “ I you to bo sure I am rlgWi, Miss BeK, when I say I have something of yours. Look at me closely. Have you never eeen me before?” He befit his face near hers. It was gravely smiling, aqd so tender and good, and 'Bell looked timidly at the smiling yet stern eyes. “ 1 am sure I never saw you before, Mr. Granville.” He drew from his vest pocket a sovereign—the very one.wTtTra'tlKybit' chipped off it, that Bell had given the tramp _

| “ Don’t you understand, dear ohildP I had taken a freak into my head that I would walk from tovtfh here, and it was a grand walk, although it took three days, and my clothes. 1 stopped at your little cottage to beg a glass of water. You know the rest.” Boll’s face was a marvel at that moment. “In your kindness and goodness tou gave it to me, Miss Bell, and the little act gave me an insight into your heart that a year of ordinary intercourse would never do. I shall keep it until you buy it back. I have set a price on it, and if ever you ore ready to give it you oan have it.” He put the money reverently, away in his breastpocket, and took her out among the crowd again, a. strangely happy girl. And before the summer roses had faded, Bell paid the price for the chipped sovereign—her own heart—that Lionel Granville had pleaded for so eagerly. She is, the mistress of their grand house now, and Rose visits her once a year, not oftener, because Belt’s husband doesn’t care much for her, But the invalid mother has a life-long home amid the luxuries of Fernley Court, and Bell is happier than the birds that siDg in the trees of the big old park;. ■