The Van Buren press., 1873-03-11

look Ike white Sutln, cEeu kuiDiTlhs
Bridge, and it's Yourself would max,
q decent living entirely as a laundress,s
you would. Only it makes my hear
ache to see the little white bands of yours
all blistered and burned with the iron.
and parboied with soap suds "
My hands = said Minnie contemptu
ously A little gIycerine and week
Of kid glowing, and they'll be all righ
sgain. "
Married !" said Eugene Russell, med
itatlvely. And why shouldn't gs
married, Helena2 Is not man all thu
happier for uniting his fortune with som,
congenial soul Z"
Young ladies' now rs are all 81
trashy and trivial. " ssidcIr. Russell
mature, strong minded sister, sewing dii
igently away on red flannel shirts for th
poor.
Most Young ladies' ! grant you,
observed Eugene. Bat not all, Hele
ma
And you are the very one 10 be i'm
posed upon and blinded, said Helen;
Russell who had never yet left Oft re
garding her younger brother as a very
small boy, who required admonition ant
looking after in every respect.
Now, you are judging unfairly. Hell
ons You never have seen Minnie AK
| erly.
I've heard Of her, though, saic
Helena Russell. dIyly. "She sings anc
waItzes and plays croquet "
lis any one Of the three capita
crime, Helena laushnsy demanded
Eugene.
Nonsense-you know that isn't wha
l mean. But it would be great dea
more to the point if she could sew OF
buttons and iron shirts.
Perhaps she can,' suggested Mr.
Russell
"Is it likelyi' eontemptuously re-
torted Miss Helena.
Suppose we declare truce on the sub
ject, said her brother "lt is quite
plain that we never shall agree on it, ano
in the meantime, what do you say to 60
ing around with me to see Mrs. Nalo
ney ?"
Mrs Maloney1 Oh, the laundress.
"Yes, | suppose we ought to see hel
about tue summers washing But is II
necessary for me TO 60 myself!'
"It would be better, suppose.
And rather srudsingly Miss Russell
went to put On her walking habiiimsnts
"A sad, disagreeabls part Of the CITY
to come to, " she said, els,alins at the
same time her SKIRTS and her patrlc,an
nose, rs they wound their way to the re
aion Of tenement houses, groceries and
small thread aud needl stores tha
stretched rr,t.ari. uut Tar from the pa
lat.l mansion Of Fifth Aveau, itself.
Yet people live here, Helena. y
"Y.s; and | suppose tney like it
Why don't they all 90 West: Id sen,
them there If | was government, whether
the, would or not
Then it is fortunate that you are moi
government, dryly observed Mr. Rls
sell. This is the number. | believe
Hulloo IN, little man to II dirty'fac
ed u.chin, padding in the galter-"does
Mrs Bridget Maloney live here p
Master Maloney prIcked up his ears
1T. 1. my mother, he said, land it il
in the basement you will find her -
And with twist Of his bristly head il
the direction indicated, he divod once
more into the gutter.
Mr.. Russell, with Miss Helena stand
ing austerely 10y, tapped once at the door
twice, three times, before Mrs Maloney's
fue contralto voice shouted out:
"Comc in, whoever you be. AND don
stand there knocking the door down
Och, and beg your pardon. l didn'I
know it was the quality
Bu, Eugene Russell stood still in thu
doorway, his eyes glued to the scene
that met their gaze-Minnic Akerley, ii
a buff calico dress and white apron. iron
ing diligently away, with pila OF snowy
shirts on her left hand. and basket o
spinkled linen on her right. And Min
ME herself colorcd like the red, reC
rose, for minute.
"Why am | ashamsd?' she resolutel,
asked herself Am | doing anythin.
wrong? | won't be such fool
Aud with this doughty resolution il
her mind, she glanced calmly up. th,
pink shadows still glowing on her cheek
Good afternoon, Mr. Russell, sh
said calmly
And Eugene stamneringlv introduce
her to his sister, who had stood judicial
" eyerg the whole scene.
"lts the gintleman wanting his shirts
and sure they're not done yet. crie'
blundering Bridget.
But they will be 5000, said Minnie
quietly am on the last one now
Mr.. Russell will cit down and wait fey
minutes.
"Yor, Miss Ak riley, ironing m,
shirts :"
Even SO, answered Minnie. 9Th
truth is, MIR Russell, we srs poor; AM
although ironing shirts is not as genlss
an occupation as giving mnsic lessons o
making wax flowers, | am glad to earn
little money in any way. ] believe thos
shirts will give satisfaction, AMI sh
smilnely glanced at the completed pile
Miss Helena came forward with he
gray eyes fairly luminous with sat.stac
! lion
MY dear, she said. 81 uldn't hav
done them better my self, and that's say
ing a obd deal -,
And she nodded, in AN approving way
at her broth,r
| NJ nnie Akrrl'v w,n home with a dol
lar and half in her pocket, the most ri
| l,,tl I'll la