Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1874-09-19

MIS-. OlaW udu COIlS 10 anu WIS
quite well again.
"It's Heavens own mercy you were
there, sir" the woman said, growing
pale as she looked down the long
stretch of stairway, and then laughing,
added. "and you may be thankful it
was that slip of girl coming down,
and not me. If I'd stumbled on you,
there'd have been pair of us for the
coroner"
"TlI go down, as I have the hammer
and nails, and try the other stairs, ="
Frank said.
It's obliged to you we'd all be for
the same," was the reply.
The next morning, when Frank step
ped from his room, he was not sur
prised to see Anna waiting for him.
"I could not wait till evening to
thank you," she said "bu5 for you, !"
and she shivered and turned very
white, 81 should be lying dead TO-
day."
81 am very, very thankful was near
you," he replied, taking the little hand
she held out to him. ''It was Of Gods
own mercy I was there. You owe me
no thanks but I, too, am grateful that
1 was able to save you"
After that they could not be strap-
gers. They went down stairs together,
Frank going little ahead to be quite
sure all was safe, and they parted at
the door with q hand. clasp. Every
morning after there was greeting, and
in tho evening they would linger in the
spaceway for a few words. It was
early spring weather, and if they met
at the door they sometimes walked a
few blocks together, talking earnestly,
and happy in being near each other,
not yet realizing why these moments
were the sweetest in the long, toilsome
days. As their friendship grew nearer,
Frank would sometimes spare little
from his scanty means to bring Anna a
few flowers, magazine, or package
of bon-bons, and she shyly accepted
the gifts, and cherished them fondly in
her little room, thinking tenderly of
the giver.
But as summer came on, hot and dry,
poverty pressed very heavily upon both
the young people.
Editors were out of town, were
crowded already with manuscript !;
publishers were away for a few
weeks of leisure, and Frank found
the pile Of manuscript growing larger
as he piled tbs rejected stories and
poems thereon, while his purse grew
more slender in proportion. He tried
one meal day for change, and the
flowers and sweetmeats became unat-
tsinable luxuries.
And Annals customers went to noun
tains or seaside with trunks we'll stock
ed by her dainty needlework, so she,
too, had more leisure than money. But
having been q prudent manager, she
had put aside q little sum for summer
expenses, knowing she must buy her
own food, now that she went out no
more sewing by the day. Still there
were no dollars to waste.
Hot everywhere, but nowhere more
sitting than In the narrow street where
the tall tenement houses frowned across
the pavaments at each other, and where
the tiny windows gave only tantalizing
snatches of air to the crowded rooms.
How Anna longed for the country
in those days, thinking Of the drives
she had taken with her father only one
short year before. She grew pale and
languid, stitching upon poorly-paid
store-work in the long July days, and
only going out to get food to keep life
in her.
And Frank, upon the other side of
the stairway, copied law papers, when
he could get them, wrote q glowing
serial story, in the hope of editors COM
ing back amiable from their summer
trips, and wondered savagely il he was
not an idiot to pay so dearly for free
dom and independence.
For this was his story: When his
father had died, leaving him lad of
ten years, without one dollar in the
world, his uncle and godfather, whose
namesake he was, had taken him to hia
home. He was an eccentric old bache.
lor, and divided his affections pretty
equally between Frank and niece, also
orphaned-a sisters child, by name,
Harriet Foster. Together these cousins
had grown to maturity il a home oi
luxury, generously supplied with every
indulgence, literally educated, but
taught absolutely nothing by which tc
earn living. Their uncle ever epoke
of them as joint heirs to his large
wealth, and they thought OF this in.
heritance as a certainty upon some far
away day, when the old man they botl
dearly loved should be taken away from.
them.
Frank was twenty-five and Hattie
twenty, when one day, peremptorily
without word of warning. Mr.. Good
rich told them they were to marry eact
other within six months.
Two dismayed faces startled him tc
anger.
"You may talk it over between you,
he said "but remember, the one thai
refuses leaves this house forever, and i:
disinherited from that moment. Not ,
word |"
He went off, slamming the door, ant
leaving the cousins looking at eacI
other. "After ALL" Frank thought
LOOKING at the downcast face of hi
pretty cousin, g" it is only the sudden
ness of the order that makes the pros
pect appalling: A man might easil,
do worse than accept my uncle's offer
Hattie is as pretty as flower, ladylike
accomplished, and knows all my ways.
Hattie" he said, 81 suppose
must propose in the regular way ?"
"How dare you laugh at me ?" sh
flashed out Indignantly. "I did no
think you would insult me-" she sal,
dolefully, a moment later, bursting int
tears.
"Upon my word, I had no idea O
insulting you," said Frank, earnestly
"I would not hurt your feelings for tn
world. Don't cry, Hattie, Tn not sue
q bad fellow, and I'll bo as kind to 20
as 7 know how"