The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1876-03-09
Paul Lacy's Help.

u
clared that she could not and would
not stay in such 3 howiing wilder
ness any longer If her brother Paul
wanted to, be could, but she was not
going to. Such a great castle of q
house and not a neighbor within three
miIes-it was intOlerable The lady
was as good as her word. One fine
spring morning she departed the
Sedges, and went East to her fathers
1 house, leaving brother Paul aud the
little maid, Ellie Cary, its sole in
/ mates.
aBut Esmeralda, If you go away on
such short notice, how am going to
/ live ?' he asked.
"Ellie can cook" was the answer.
Ellie Cary was but fifteen years
old, IIssome, blue-eyed, smiling lit
tie girI-a born housewife. 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 TAX
en- thither by Miss Esmeralda 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 mused in
rather q dOwncast mood. In coming
West, clearing land, and making for
himself home, he had had many
drawbacks. He had never accepted a
log cabin life. His first work was TO
build q substantial and beautiful
house at the riverside. Drawing
room, library and conservatory were
all elaborateIy completed, but for tue
first two years the library was to
serve as q family sitting room, the
furnishing of the greater part of the
house being postponed until its master
could give the subject full attention
could expend and embellish as he
wished.
He had in his employ three men
who lived in log hut half a mile
away, and whose labors he employed
at improving the estate. Clumps of
willows grew along the river, stately
oaks crowned the knobs, the prairie
| land rose and fell in beautiful undula-
tions. Garden, orchard, vineyard
and farm demanded Paul's constant
attention and exertlons. He NEEDED
THE comforts of a home. 1t was
rather hard of his sister to leave him,
he thought. Ellie was mere child (;
be might as well be left alone. All
his past troublesome experience
crowded over him, and an oppressive
WEAKNESS and discouragement fell
upon him, All hopefulness quite de-
serted him. The great mestiff, Sui
tan, got up from the hearth.rug and
laid his muzzle on his 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 30th birth
day. He had been in the West three
years. Though highly educated and
/ bred in luxury, he had developed a
power to fight the world with marked
success. He was called an able fei-
low, yet no bankrupt could have felt
more generally defeated than Paul
Lacy felt that night. Quite upset by
q woman's whin, and all discouraged
for want of o woman's help.
"Eilie," said he, the next morning,
"you must get along as best you can
to-day. I am glad now that have
no dairy to be attended to. Tonight
1 will ride to Monroe ana try to get a
housekeeper."
Ellie nodded silently and watched
him ride away from the door on his
black ilIy, Bird. Her white forehead
knit itself, and little flush 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 aw6y to the kitchen.
When Paul Lacy came home al
b. l IL L, II IL Il fs
own hands in the vineyard, he found
an exquisitely neat and comfortable
dinner prepared, and Ellie, pretty as
q pink, in Der gingham dress, ready
to wait up on him.
"You have done nicely, child" ae
said.
Ellie turned sway her head and
pouted.
"Child ~
She did not like that. She would bt
sixteen the next day.
"How stupid he is !n she exclaimed
going out into the kitchen, aud stamp
ing her little foot. "I MONT work fol
a housekeeper !"
That night Paul harnessed the bay
to the spring wagon, went off tc Mon
roe. And when he had gone, Ellie
sat down in the library and cried
But at 10 O'Clock Paul came home
alone.
"No success, Ellie I'iI 60 to River
vile tomorrow night and see whai
can be done there"
The next night he was unusually
tired, Ellie had laid out his dressing
gown and slippers and his easy chair
and the newspapers, still in tbei
mail wrappers, looked unusually
tempting but he resisted these silen
allurements and started FOR River
vile, distance of five miles.
In about half an hour be returned
He had not had time to get 10 River
/ vile, but there was n wOman's flgur
in the wagon large, tall woman
Ellie watched her getting out of tn
wagon.
The newcomer had on q brown
merino dress and plaid shawl. Sh
had a cotton handage tied about he
face. Her hands were covered wit
cotton gloves, and she carried q car
pet bag. Paul Lacy brought her int
the library.
"I have found some help, Billie
This woman was coming on foot +
{ offer her services when 1 met her
4 What did you say your name was !?
to the stranger.
''Eilen DnrOa,n answered. she in
Z coarse voice.
Poor Ellie instantly conceived th
utmost repugnance to her.
Z stake her to her room, Ellie" sal
Paul, 'sshe will not be needed &c
night, and she says she is suferin
from tOothache. Give her glass {
! cordial it will help her teeth an
make her rest well, /" he sdded in tn
kind tone which had long ago We
Ellie Cary's heart.
With heavy heart, Ellie showe
the woman to her bedroom. Th
latter sat down in q chair, bat showel
; no disposition to remove auy OF he
3 clothing before Ellie retired. She di
d not even drink the cordial, but said
I "1f you'll set 1t on the table, L
Y take it in q minute"
! Ellie came away, thinking thel
I. was something strange in the tai
q shaWIed. hooded figure sitting In RI