The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1875-11-18
PAUL LAOY'S HELP.

The Sedges was to become bachelors
hall. Miss Esmeralda Lacy declared
that she could not and would not stay in
such bowling wilderness any longer
if her brother Paul wanted to, he could,
but she was not going to. Such a gre at
castle of house, and not a neighbor
within three miles-it was intolerable
The lady was as good as her word. One
fine spring morning she deserted the
Sedges, and went East to her fathers
house, leaving brother Paul and the
little maid, Ellie Cary, its sole inmates.
s.But, Esmeralda, if you go away on
such short notice, how am I going to
live ?" he had asked.
"Eilie can cook, was the answer.
Ellie Cary was but fifteen years old,
blithesome, bllle-eyed, smiling little girl
"a born house wife. At ten years old she
had been bound to an aunt of Paul Lacy,
but the aunt, dying, and Paul having
already gone West and built house,
Ellie was taken thither by Miss Esmer-
aida to help keep it. The lady stayed
just six months. She was lonely, she
was homesick, she wanted to be away,
and away she went.
That evening Paul Lacy unused in
rather a downcast mood. In coming
West, clearing land, and making for
himself a home, he had had many draw
backs. He had never accepted a log
cabin life. His first work was to build
a substantial and beautiful house at the
riverside. Drawing-room, library and
conservatory were all elaborately COM
pleted, but for the first two years the
library was to serve as family sitting
room, the furnishing of the greater part
of the house being postponed until its
master could give the subject full atten-
tion-could expend and embellish as he
wished
He had in his employ three men who
lived in a log hut but half a mile away,
and who's labors he employed constantly
at improving the estate. Clumps of
willows grew along the river, stately oaks
crowned the knolls, the prarie land rose
and fell in beautiful undulations. Gar
den, orchard, vineyard and farm de-
manded Paul's constant attention and
exertions. He needed the comforts of
a home It was rather hard of his sister
to leave him, he thought. Ellie was
mere child; he might as well be left
alone, he said. All his past troublesome
experiences crowded over him, and an
oppressive weariness and discourage
ment fell upon him. All hopefulness
quite deserted him. The great mastiff,
Sultan. got up from the hearth-rug and
laid his muzzle on bis masters knee.
"Old fellow, you are faithful" said
Paul.
He stroked the great brute's clumsy
head, and fell again into reverie.
1t was the evening of his thirtieth
birthday. He had been in the West
three years. Though highly educated
and bred in luxury, he had developed
power to fight the world with marked
success. He was called an able fellow,
yet no bankrupt could have felt more
generally defeated than Paul Lacy felt
that night. Quite upset by a woman's
whim, and all discouraged for want of a
woman's help.
"Eilie," said he, the next morning,
"you must get along as pest you can
to-day. I am glad now that have no
dairy to be attended to- Tonight 1 will
ride to Munroe and try to get house
keeper.
Ellie nodded silently and watched him
ride away from the door ON his black
filly, Bird. Her white forehead knit
inself, and little flash came into her
blue eyes. But Ellie didn't waste any
time thinking of her troubles. She had
ironing and baking to do /; she flew away
to the kitchen.
When Paul Lacy came home at noon,
wearied with hard labor by his own hands
IN the vineyard, he found an exquisitely
neat and comfortable dinner prepared,
and Ellie, pretty as pink, in her ging
ham dress, ready to wait upon him.
'.You have done nicely, child, he said.
Ellie turned away her head and pout-
ed.
"Child 20
She did not like that. She would be
sixteen the next day.