Hester's Counterpart

elf, was not "slack." To this her friends added another

at least one year at the best boarding-school. Four years had passed, during whi

f environment. Miss Richards's advice was again sought. But that old friend no longer held the full power in her hands. Debby had grown aliv

f her life. Each thought and word would leave its marks upon her. Debby, who believed firmly that tendencies are inherited, had always with her the fear that Hester would sh

self responsible for the death of Hester's mother. Duty had compelled her to take c

she had done and would do; she would keep the child far removed from any influence which would tend

talogues. At length, she decided upon Dickinson Seminary as the

sible gratitude. Hester realized how much Debby had done and was doing for her. But it was not the dainty dresses and good home that touched her most. Debby Alden had given the waif her mother'

me even from the first, or she would have never given me her own name. She's so proud of being an Alden. Their nam

ich Hester showed, pleased her. To Debby came the thought that only those who had such birthrights could comprehend and appreciate the honor of possessing them. For a moment, she believed that she might have been mistaken in regard

bby, to give me your name, and I'

to do before you are ready to go to Dickinson, and we must not spend our t

egardless of consequences, she raised her tea-towel in one hand like a banner,

pitched high with nervousness. "I'll tell you

en could not have been more surprised. Hester,

me. I am the one to decide what is best for you to do or

ess lest her great love for the girl should make her weak in discipline. She expected that Hester, having once made so

that you feel bad about leaving home. Everyone does that. I really should not feel pleased if you did not feel bad. You can not give up

inking of you. Do you think that I can ever enjoy bein

o being alone

Every time you leave the house you'll be alone and you'll come into a lonely house whe

express herself to her elder, and that elder as a mother to her. Debby Alden would n

hing. After a few moments, she felt that she could control herself, and turning to Hester, said, "Now, Hester Alden, we'll have done with this nonsense right here. I'v

-and you're never going to get old." Hester turned and brought her foot down with some

ne says you're beautiful

in all her forty years, no one had ever used that word in speaking of Debby. Although she felt that even now love, and not facts

girl threw her arms about Debby Alden's neck and sobbed, and De

"We're both very silly, very silly. You

o and leave you here alone. I

ense, Hester. Debby Alden in a seminar

es in a little flat. She's a widow and keeps her girls in sch

hat I ever stood talking and let my dish-water get cold. It isn't a good way of doing. Mother never allowed us to be slack

heart grew light. She understood Aunt Debby well and she knew that the talk about letting the

reached. Debby, however, conceded enough to say that she would think

Debby never forgot a promise. Hester knew also that Miss Ri

finished and the dinner dishes put away, Debby

s home. "I'll be back shortly, Hester. Yo

the main street of t

k at the retreating figure. She could not restrain a smile. "It's ce

ibe Aunt Debby. There was something infinitely gr

res and carriage. But this new Debby Alden was wholly different. Hester had brought love and interest with her. Debby Alden was alive to the world about her, and her active interests had give

then the body is but the reflection of life itself. Debby had been so true and faithful and s

. To-day was one day when all things were

e or to be far from her friends. She was dainty, gracious, and

to Debby Al

e and not improve her time. With Hester gone, there will be nothing to keep you

ibilities? Keeping two or three room

e plentiful. You could read and study and you might practise

I am almost fo

who expects a hundred-mark must be learning and moving onward all the time. I am more than t

re alive, Debby. The interests you have outside yourself will add to your own happiness. If you wish to find perfect happiness, fill your life with vital

h for so many years that it is a story oft told. Do you think that you and I could be ha

far as hearth-ties and love were concerned. It was not with thoughts of her own enjoyment that Debby's heart bounded

e'll go to town this very week, attend to selecting Hester's room and we'll look

r minds are made up, there's no use in being slack. We'll go Thursday. Hester may stay with Jane Orr. Mrs. Orr will be glad to have her. And now, I must go and tell Hester. I don't understand how that child came

w fearfully blind you are about yourself and your girl! How could Hester ever think other than she does when every bit of happiness

r did Miss Richards; for Debby kept her own secret in regard to Hester's