Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1873-03-15

uuo''SlN, llICle glycerlne and week
of kid glowing, and they'll be all right
again"
" Married ?" said Eugene Russell
meditatiyely. "And why shouldn't I
get married, Helena? Is not a man all
the happier for uniting his fortune with
some truly congenial soul p
young ladies nowadays are all 60
trashy and trivial, said Mr.. Russell's
mature, btrong-minded sister, sewing
diligently away on red flannel shirts for
the poor.
MOST young ladies, 1 grant you,
observed Eugene, "but not all, Hele-
ma.
And you are the very one to be i'm
posed upon and blinded" said Miss
Helena Russell, who had never vet left
off regarding her brother as n very
small boy, who required admonishing
and looking after in every respect.
Now you are judging unfairly. Hell
ena You never have seen Minnie
Akerly.
Il have heard Of her though, " said
Helena Russell, dryly, "She waltzes
and sing, and plays croquet. -
" Is any of the three a capital crime,
Helena?' laughingly demanded Eu-
gene.
Nonsense--you know that isn't what
mean. But it would be Il great deal
more the point if she could sew on but
tons and iron shirts"
Perhaps she can," suggested Mr..
Russell.
"Is it likely ?" contemrtlously re-
torted Miss Helena.
Suppose we declare a truce upon
the subject, " said her brother. 1T is
quite plain we never shall agree on it /;
and in the meantime, what do You say
to going around with me to sae Mrs.
Maloney?"
4" Mrs. Maloney Oh the laundress.
Yes, suppose We ought to see her
about the summers washing. But is it
necessary for me to go MYSELF"
"It would be better, suppose"
And rather grudgingly Miss Russell
went to put on her walking habiliments.
"a sad, disagreeable part of the city
to come to-, she said, elevating at the
same time her skirts and patrician nose,
as they wended their way to the region
Of tenement houses, groceries and small
thread and needle stores that stretched
westward, not far from the palatial
mansions of Fifth Avenue itself.
&" Yet people live here Helena
eyes, and / suppose they like it.
Why don't they go West? I'd send
them there if I was government, wheth-
er they would or not.
"Then tbs fortunate that you are not
government" dryly observed Mr.. Rus
sell.
This is the.number, l believe. Hal
loo my little man" to a dirty-faced
urchin padding in the gutter, " does
Mrs. Bridget Maloney live here?"
Master Maloncy picked up his ears.
ITS my mother" he said, "an' its
in the basement you'll find her"
And with twist of his bristly head
in the direction INDICATED, he diyed once
more into the gutter
Mr.. Russell, with Miss Helena aus
terely by, tapped once at the door,
twice, three times, before Mrs. Malo-
ney's tine contralto voice shouted ont
Come in, whoever you be, and don't
stand there knockin' the door down
Och, an l beg your pardon. / didn't
know that it was the quality
But Eugene Russell stood still in the
door, his eyes glued to the scene that
met his gaze-Minnie Akerly, i'll buff
calico dress and white apron ironing
diligently away, with pile of snowy
shirts on her left hand, and basket of
sprinkled linen on her right. And Min
ME herself, colored like "red rose"
for q minute.
Why am l ashamed ?" she resolutely
asked elself. "Am l doing some
thing wrong? l won't be such fool /"
So with this doughty resolution in
her mind, she glanced calmly up, the
pink shadows still glowing on her
cheeks.
"Good afternoon, Mr.. Russell, she
said calmly.
And Eugene stammeringly introduced
her to his sister, who had stood judi
ciously cycling the whole scene.
/" It's the gentleman wantin' of his
shirts, an sure they're not done yet,
cried laundering Bridget.
"But they will be soon, said Min
nic Tn on the last one now--if Mr..
Russell will sit down and wait few
minutes"
"You Miss Akerly, ironing my
shirts ?"
Even So" Minnie answered. "The
truth is, Mr.. Russell, we are poor; and
although ironing shirts is not so genteel
an occupation as giving music lesson or
making wax flowers, am glad to earn
a little money in any way. I Ibelieve
those shirts will give satisfaction, and
she smilingly glanced on the completed
pile.
Miss Helena came forward with her
gray eyes fairly luminous with satisfac-
ton.
"My dear" said she, "I couldn't
have done them better myself, and
that's saying a good deal"