The Two Elsies

by Martha Finley

  CHAPTER X.

  "Who knows the joys of friendship--Thetrust, security, and mutual tenderness,The double joys, where each is glad for both?"

  ROWE.

  Max Raymond was racing about Miss Stanhope's grounds with the dog thathad given his sister Lulu so great a fright the first night of their stayin Lansdale. Up one walk and down another they went, the boy whistling,laughing, capering about, the dog bounding after, catching up with hisplayfellow and leaping upon him, now on this side and now on that; thenpresently finding himself shaken off and distanced in the race; but onlyfor a moment; the next he was at the boy's side again or close at hisheels.

  "Max! Max!" called an eager child's voice, and Lulu came running down thepath leading directly from the house.

  "Well, what is it, Lu?" asked the lad, standing still to look and listen."Down, Nero, down! be quiet, sir!"

  "Oh, I have something to tell you," replied Lulu, half breathlessly, asshe hurried toward him. "That letter you brought Grandma Elsie from thepost-office this morning was from Aunt Elsie; and they are at home bythis time--she wrote just as they were ready to start--and Evelyn Lelandis with them; she's to make her home at Fairview."

  "Well, and what of it? what do _I_ care about it? or you either?"

  "Dear me, Max, you might care! I hope she may prove a nice friend for me;not a bit like Rosie, who has always despised and disliked me."

  "I don't think Rosie does anything of the kind, Lulu," said Max, pattingNero's head; "she may not be very fond of you, and certainly does notadmire your behavior at times, but I don't believe it amounts todislike."

  "I do, then," returned Lulu, a touch of anger in her tones. "Anyhow, I'ddearly love to have a real friend near my own age; and Aunt Elsie saysEvelyn is only a little older than I am."

  "Well, I hope you won't be disappointed. If she was a boy I'd be as gladof her coming, or his coming, as you are."

  "Oh, Maxie, I wish, for your sake, she was a boy!" cried Lulu in herimpulsive way, stepping closer and putting her arm about his neck. "Howselfish in me to forget that you have no companion at all at Ion!"

  "I have," returned Max; "I have you, you know, and you're right goodcompany when you are in a good humor."

  "And I'm not often in any other with you, Maxie; now am I?" she saidcoaxingly.

  "No, sis, that's true enough, and I do believe I couldn't getalong half so well without you. I'm glad for your sake thatthis--what's-her-name?--is coming."

  "Her name is Evelyn. Oh, Max, I feel so sorry for her!"

  "Why?"

  "Because her father's dead, and they were so very, very fond of eachother; so Aunt Elsie wrote."

  "Rosie's father's dead too; and she and all of them were very fond ofhim."

  "Yes; but it's a good while now since he died, and she's had time to getover it so far that she seems hardly ever to think of him; while it isonly a few weeks since Evelyn lost hers; and Rosie has her nice, kindmother with her, while Evelyn's is away in Europe, and like enough isn'thalf so nice as Grandma Elsie anyhow. Oh, Max, I feel most heart-brokenevery time papa goes away, even though I expect to see him back againsome day; and think how dreadful to have your father gone never to comeback!"

  "Yes, it would be awful!" said Max. "I'd rather lose ten years off my ownlife. But, Lu, if you really love papa so dearly, how can you behavetoward him as you do sometimes--causing him so much distress of mind?I've seen such a grieved, troubled look on his face, when he thoughtnobody was watching him, and you were in one of your naughty moods."

  "Oh, Max, don't!" Lulu said in a choking voice, as she turned and walkedaway, hot tears in her eyes.

  Max ran after her. "Come, Lu, don't take it so hard; I didn't mean to becruel."

  "But you were! Go away! you've got me into one of my moods, as you callit, and I'd better be let alone," she returned almost fiercely, jerkingherself loose--for he had caught a fold of her dress in his hand--andrushing away to the farther end of the grounds, where she threw herselfon a rustic seat panting with excitement and the rapidity of her flight.

  But the gust of passion died down almost as speedily as it had arisen;she could never be angry very long with Max, her dear, only brother; andnow her thoughts turned remorsefully upon the conduct he had condemned.It was no news to her that she had more than once caused her father muchanxiety and grief of heart, nor was it a new thing for her to berepentant and remorseful on account of her unfilial behavior.

  "Oh, why can't I be as good as Max and Gracie?" she said to herself,covering her face with her hands and sighing heavily. "I wish papa washere so I could tell him again how sorry I am, and how dearly I do lovehim though I am so often naughty. I am glad I did tell him, and that heforgave me and told me he loved me just as well as any other of hischildren. How good in him to say that! I wonder if Evelyn Leland everbehaved badly to her father. If she ever was naughty to him, how sorryshe must feel about it now!"

  During the remainder of the short visit at Lansdale, and all through thehomeward journey, Lulu's thoughts often turned upon Evelyn, and she hadscarcely alighted from the carriage on their arrival at Ion before shesent a sweeping glance around the welcoming group on the veranda, ineager search of the young stranger.

  Yes, there she was, a little slender girl in deep mourning, standingslightly apart from the embracing, rejoicing relatives. She was notdecidedly pretty, but graceful and refined in appearance, with anearnest, intelligent countenance and very fine eyes. She seemed quitefree from self-consciousness and wholly taken up with the interest of thescenes being enacted before her.

  "How many of them there are! and how they love one another! how nice itis!" she was thinking within herself, when the two Elsies, releasing eachother from a long, tender embrace, turned toward her, the older onesaying, half inquiringly, "And this is Evelyn?"

  "Yes, mamma. Eva, this is my dear mother," said Mrs. Leland.

  Mrs. Travilla took the little girl in her arms, kissed heraffectionately, and bade her welcome to Ion, adding, "And if you like youmay call me Grandma Elsie, as the others do."

  "Thank you, ma'am," Evelyn answered, coloring with pleasure; "but itseems hardly appropriate, for you look not very much older than AuntElsie; and she is young to be my aunt."

  "That's right, Eva," Mrs. Leland said, with a pleased laugh; "I for onehave never approved of mamma being called so by any one older than mybaby-boy."

  Mrs. Travilla's attention was claimed by some one else at that moment,and Lester, taking Evelyn by the hand, led her up to Mr. and Mrs.Dinsmore. She was introduced to the others in turn, every one greetingher with the utmost kindness. Rosie gave her a hasty kiss, but Luluembraced her with warmth, saying, "I am sure I shall love you, and I hopeyou will love me a little in return."

  "I'll try; it wouldn't be fair to let it be all on one side," Evelynanswered with a shy, sweet smile, as she returned the hug and kiss asheartily as they were given.

  Lulu was delighted.

  After supper, while the older people were chatting busily amongthemselves, she drew Evelyn into a distant corner and told her how gladshe was of her coming, because she wanted a girl-friend near her own ageand found Rosie uncongenial and indifferent toward her.

  "She will probably be the same to me," said Evelyn; "she has so many ofher very own dear ones about her, you know, that it cannot be expectedthat she will feel much interest in strangers like you and me. But,"frankly, "I think I should love you best anyhow."

  "How nice in you!" said Lulu, her eyes sparkling; "but I'm afraid youwon't when you know me better, for I'm not a bit good; I get intoterrible passions when anybody imposes on me or my brother or sister; andI sometimes disobey and break rules."

  "You are very honest, at all events," remarked Evelyn pleasantly; "andperhaps I shall not like you any the less for having some faults. Yousee, if you were perfect, the contrast between you and myself would bemost unpleasant to me."

  "How correctly and like a grown-up person you speak!" said Lulu,regarding her new friend with affectionate adm
iration.

  Evelyn's eyes filled. "It is because papa made me his constant companionand took the greatest pains with me," she said, in tones tremulous withemotion. "We were almost always alone together, for I never had a brotheror sister to share the love he lavished upon me."

  "I'm so, so sorry for you!" said Lulu, slipping an arm round Evelyn'swaist. "I think I know a little how you feel, for my papa is with us onlyonce in a while for a few days or weeks, and when he goes away again itnearly breaks my heart."

  "But you can hope he may come back again."

  "Yes; and I have Max and Gracie; so I am much better off than you."

  "And such a sweet, pretty mamma," supplemented Evelyn, sending anadmiring glance across the room to where Violet sat chatting with hersister Elsie.

  "But you have your own mother, and that's a great deal better," returnedLulu. "Mamma Vi is very beautiful and sweet, and very kind to Max andGracie and me, but a step-mother can't be like your own."

  "I suppose not quite," Evelyn said with a sigh; "but I have no idea whenI shall see mine again."

  "We are situated a good deal alike," remarked Lulu, reflectively. "Myfather and your mother are far away in this world, and your father and mymother are gone to heaven."

  "Yes. Oh, don't you sometimes want to go to them there?"

  "I'm not good enough--not fit in any way; and I believe I'd rather stayhere--at least while papa does," Lulu said, with some hesitation.

  "I hope he may be spared to you for many, many years," said Evelyn,gently; "at least till you are quite grown up, and perhaps have a familyof children of your own."

  "Were you ever so naughty that your father told you you gave him a greatdeal of trouble and heartache?" asked Lulu in a tremulous voice and withstarting tears.

  "Oh no; no, indeed!" exclaimed Eva, in surprise. "How could I, or anyone, with such a father as mine?"

  "No father could be better or kinder than mine," said Lulu, twinklingaway a tear; "and yet I have been so passionate and disobedient that hehas told me that several times."

  "Oh, don't ever be so again; for if you do your poor heart will ache soterribly over it when he is taken away from you," Evelyn said withemotion, and pressing Lulu's hand affectionately in hers. "Oh, I cannever be thankful enough," she went on, "that the day my dear father wascalled home he said to me, 'My darling, you have been nothing but ablessing and comfort to me since the day you were born.'"

  "My father can never say that to me; I have already put it out of hispower," thought Lulu to herself, with a great pain at her heart; and assoon as she found herself alone in her own room that night she wrote alittle penitent note to him all blistered with tears.

  Shortly after breakfast the next morning she went to "Grandma Elsie" witha request for permission to walk over to Fairview and spend an hour withEvelyn.

  "You may, my dear, if you can get Max or some older person to walk withyou," was Elsie's kind reply; "otherwise I will send you in the carriage,because it is not safe for you to walk that distance alone. I think youand Evelyn are going to be friends, and I am very glad of it," she addedwith a pleasant smile. "If she will come, you may bring her back with youto spend the day at Ion."

  "Oh, thank you, Grandma Elsie; that will be so nice!" cried Lulu,joyously; then bounded away in search of her brother.

  Max, having nothing else to do just then, readily consented to be herescort, and they set out at once.

  "A brother is of some use sometimes, isn't he?" queried Max,complacently, as they walked briskly down the avenue together.

  "Yes; and isn't a sister, too?" asked Lulu.

  "Yes, indeed," he said; "you are almost always ready to do me a goodturn, Lu. But, in fact, I'm taking this walk quite as much to pleasemyself as you. It's a very pleasant one on a morning like this, and UncleLester and Aunt Elsie are pleasant folks to visit."

  "I think they are," returned Lulu; "but I am going more to see Evelynthan anybody else. Oh, Max, I do hope, I do believe, it's going to be asI told you I wished."

  "What?"

  "That we'll be intimate friends and very fond of each other. Weren't youpleased with her, Max? I was."

  "She's nice-looking," he replied; "but that's all I can say till we'vehad time to get acquainted."

  "I feel quite well acquainted with her now; we had such a nice long talktogether last night," said Lulu.

  Evelyn was strolling about the grounds at Fairview, and came to the gateto meet them. She shook hands with Max, kissed Lulu affectionately, andinvited them into the house.

  They settled themselves in the veranda, where Mrs. Leland presentlyjoined them. Then Lulu gave "Grandma Elsie's" invitation.

  "May I go, Aunt Elsie?" asked Evelyn.

  "Certainly, dear, if you wish to," Mrs. Leland answered kindly. "Youruncle and I will drive over early in the evening and bring you home."

  "By moonlight!" Evelyn said; "that will be very nice. Auntie, you anduncle are very good to me."

  "Indeed, child," returned Elsie, smiling, "you may well believe it is nohardship for us to go to Ion on any errand; or with none save the desireto see mamma and the rest."

  Evelyn and Lulu passed the greater part of the day alone together, everyone else seemingly lacking either leisure or inclination to join them,and the friendship grew rapidly, as is usually the case when two littlegirls are thus thrown together.

  Each gave a detailed history of her past life and found the other deeplyinterested in it. Then they talked of the present and of the near future.

  "Are you to go to school?" asked Lulu.

  "No," Evelyn said with a contented smile, "I am to study at home and comehere to recite with you."

  "Oh, how nice!" cried Lulu, her eyes sparkling with pleasure.

  "Yes, I think it very kind in Aunt Elsie's mother and grandfather tooffer to let me do so," said Evelyn. "I shall try very hard to bestudious and well-behaved and give them no trouble."

  Lulu's cheek flushed at that remark, and for a moment she sat silent andwith downcast eyes; then she burst out in her impetuous way, "I wish Iwere like you, Eva--so good and grateful. I'm afraid you wouldn't carefor me at all if you knew what a bad, ungrateful thing I am. I've givenever so much trouble to Grandpa Dinsmore and Grandma Elsie, though theyhave done more for me--for Max and Gracie too--than they are going to dofor you."

  "I don't believe you're half so bad as you make yourself out to be,"returned Eva, in a surprised tone. "And I'm sure you are sorry and willbe ever so good and grateful in the future."

  "I want to, but--there does seem to be no use in my trying to besweet-tempered and all that," said Lulu, dejectedly; "I've got such adreadful temper."

  "Papa used to tell me God, our heavenly Father, would help me to conquermy faults, if I asked Him with all my heart," said Evelyn, softly; "that,in His great love and condescension, He noticed even a little child andits efforts to please Him and do His will."

  "Yes, I know; my papa has told me the same thing ever so often; but mostalways the temptation comes so suddenly I don't seem to have time to askfor help, and"--hesitatingly--"sometimes I don't want it."