Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1875-12-22

noon wearied with hard labor b,
his own hands in the vineyard, ht
found an exquisitely neat and com.
Portable dinner prepared, and Ellie
pretty as a pink, in her gingham
dress, ready to wait upon him.
"You have done nicely, child
he said.
Ellie turned away her head and
pouted.
"Child y
She did not like that. She would
be sixteen the next day.
"How stupid heis !" she exclaim-
ed, going out into the kitchen, and
stamping her little foot. II won't
work for n housekeeper!'
That night Paul harnessed the
bays to the spring wagon, and
went off to Munroe. And when
he had gone, Ellie sat down in the
library and cried. But at ten
o'clock Paul came home alone.
"No success, Ellie I'll 60 to
Riverville tomorrow night and see
what can be done there"
The next day he was very tired.
Ellie had laid out his dressing
gown and slippers and his easy
chair, and the newspapers, still in
their mail wrappers, looked un-
usually tempting; but he resisted
these silent allurements and started
for Riverville, a distance Of five
miles. ''.-- '.' .H'.".
In about half an hour he return
ed. He had not time to go to
Riverville, hut there wns a woman's
figure in the wagon q large, tall
woman. Ellie watched her get
ting out of the wagon. a.
The new conner had on a brown
merino dress and a plaid shawl.
She had a cotton bandage tied
about her face. Her hands were
covered with cotton gloves, and
she carried carpet-bag. Paul
Lacy brought her into the library.
81 have found some hep, Ellie.
This woman was coming on foot to
offer her services when I met her.
What did you say your name was ?"
to the stranger.
ELLEN Duroc," answered she, in
a coarse voice.
Poor Ellie instantly conceived
the utmost repugnance to her.
"Toke her 70 her room, Ellie"
se.d Paul. "She will not be need
ed to night, and she says she is
suffering from tooth-ache. Give
her a glass of cordial it will help
her teeth and make her rest WE'LL"
he added, in the kind tone which
had long ago won Elfie's heart.
With heavy heart Ellie show
ed the woman to her bedroom. The
latter sat down in chair, but
showed no disposition to remove
any of her clothing before Ellie re-
tired. She did not even drink the
hnt said:
"If you'll set it on the table, I'll
take it in a minute"
Ellie came away, thinking there
was something strange in the tall.
shawled, hooded figure sitting in
The rocking chair. The woman's
eyes looked disagreeahly black aud
sharp above the white bandage.
81 wonld work myself to death
rather than have her here" sail
Ellie, going about the house, fast
ening doors and windows, after
learning that Paul had retired.
When she went to her chamber
she found The mastiff Sultan on
the rug besile her bed. The dog
was fond of her, but never had
come to her room before. Being
tired she made no attempt to send
him out, but let him he there. And
after q while, finding that she could
not sleep, she was rather glad to
have him there.
In spite Of all efforts she could
not sleep. More than she at first
knew, the appearance of the
stranger had excited her. She
could not cease to think of her. In
he darkness she saw those fierce
black eyes, and bandaged face, that
mysteriously enveloped figure
Why had Paul Lacy detected moth
ing unusuall The appearance Of
his woman seemed to be most re-
pugnant and suspicious.