Middletown transcript., 1868-05-30

rent is due, and my little sister is i'll.
20, don't trouble yourself to proceed, -
said Annette, coarsely, "Iknow the whole.
There is always sick mother or sister. I
can't pay you to-day-It's eight dollars,
believe-and have only twenty by me,
and that want to use tomorrow. Call
around next week, and I will pay you"
Indeed, Miss Wayne" said the girl,
in choked voice, ~ am suffering for it
or would not ask you"
&C Don't trouble me, my good girl have
headache to-day, and need rest and quiet
| will pay you next week. John show her
out.
A bright scarlet rose to Miss Ainslee's
cheeks as she followed the tall footman to
the door, and John was sure he saw tears
in the brown eyes. She hurried down the
icy street, but before she had gone dozen
rods, Mrs. Wayne's footman had overta-
ken her.
"Here is something for you, Miss" he
said hastily, and thrust q ten-dollar note
into her hand.
go, Miss Wayne sent it, did she ?" she
exclaimed joyfully. "I am so glad. And
you were so good to bring it"
"Thank you, men," said John, blush
ing and not knowing what to say. but
feeling some way strangely well pleased
with himself
{" Dear little thing said he to himself.
"I wish | had given her fifty instead of
ten, but then she would have suspected it
did not come from Miss Wayne. How
pretty she is. I rather think I'd like to
be her footman. I'll make her acquain-
tance some way. It's fortunate for me
that she dropped her card in the hall as
she went out; let me see," and he drew
out bit of paste board and studied the
delicate chirography by the light of the
street lamp Miss Mariette Ainslee, No.
8 B street. She must be dreadfully poor,
for B street is wretched place. But I'll
make an errand there"
The next day John knocked at the door
of No. 8 B street. Miss Ainslee ans
wered the summons, and invited him to
enter.
1t was a meagre little room into which
she ushered him but for all that it was
neat and cheerful. A geranium was bloom
ing on the sill, and on table by the side
of bed, there was red rose bush COW
cred with blossoms. On the bed lay
golden haired child of five or six years,
her face wasted by disease, and one trans
parent little hand resting on the quiet head
of little white kitten. ...,... .
Poor John was terribly embarrassed,
but Miss Ainslee kindly helped him to an
explanation of his errand. s'ls
" You come from Miss Wayne, I sup
pose 2"
"Yes, men," said John, "that is to
say no mem! ] come for myself" and he
came to dead stop.
Mary was looking at him curiously, so
he plunged into the matter at random.
" You see thought, that is I decided,
should like an opera cape myself like
Miss Wayne's you know"
The girl laughed, but checked herself
at the sight of her visitors distressed face.
g For friend suppose p
John caught eager ly at the suggestion.
" Yes, yes, for friend. Yes, you are
correct. Can you do it for me ?'
What color would you perfer ~
80 any color" said John; " it don't
matter-that is, it, is immaterial. How
would green one look ?"
:" I should hardly fancy that COLOR" re-
piled Mary.
"Well, well, leave it all to your good
taste. 1t is for an elderly lady, and there
is money to purchase the material, and
you need not hurry about the work. Any
time will do.
Miss Ainslee picked up the hundred
dollar note laid down, and regarded him
in silent surprise.
. l am not insane," he said laughingly,
80 only a little eccentric"
" But here is much more than enough
go, never mind about that we will
settle that when the work is done. And
shall want to call now and then to see
now you get along with it."
And John bowed himself out
The next day he gave Mrs. Wayne no.
ice that he must leave her; the work
lidn't agree with his digestion, was the
'eason he gave.
He was satisfied as regarded Annette, |
md Mrs. Lyle was forced to give up her |
ong cherished plan of seeing her son the
of the gay and beautiful belle.
Seymour Lyle was in his office every day
Until six o'clock, and after that hour no one
Inew anything of his whereabouts. But,
John, Mrs. Wayne's quondam footman,
vas at No. s b street almost every evening.
He was so interested in the progress of
hat cape that he could not let day pass
Without giving its inspection his personal
ttention and he contrived to make himself
o agreeable to Miss Ainslee that she look
ID for the coming of the shabby blue coat
md the red hair under that seedy hat as
ne looks for ray of sunshine in a cloudy
lay.
Little Nellie, the sick child, was never
o free from pain, as she was when
ohn's strong arms held her, and she lis
ened to the stories he told her, and the
ongs he sung her, as she listened to moth
ng else on earth.