The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-05-19

10 The pretty head. 1--WE whole cozen PLAIN
shirts to make"
Kate looked distas,etully down upon the
bundle OF plain work" which her sister toss
ed gleeiully into her lap
"Shirs" she sighed. "Oh, Emily, VINO
would ever have thought we should come 70
this:'
"Shirts aren't disagreeabe to make" said
Emily, cheerfully. "All we have to do is to
fancy them embroidery or crochet work"
"My Imagination Is not so powerful as ali
that!"
"Cultivae it then, dear" said the young
sister with laugh. These must be nnlshed
by Saturday noon"
by Saturday noon" cried Kate fretiully.
ut is not possible
"Oh, yes, it is Come, dear, get your
thimble."
Kate Ellerslie burst into tears, and threw
the unoifendlng shirts disdainfully from her
"You never had any aristocra'ic prlde,
Emily You would be willing to slave your
self to death for five shillngs'
Five shillings is very handy sum now,
Kate said Emily, as she went patiently
down on her knees to pick up the scattered
rolls Of work.
"But it is shame" went on Kate, flushed
and indignant, that |, who was born to bet
ter things
She paused with the hot current OF words
vet on her tongue, IS a knock came |" the
door
"Its only Mr.. Harley, in the next room"
said Emily, as she rose to her feet, II Hno"
his knock"
Mr.. Harley was a tall, fresh looking young
man, with bright hazel eyes and smooth,
broad forehead, who had recently engaged
the one vacant apartment In the fourth story
of the house in Bland street "a literary gen
ueman,' Mrs, Farley had called him; while
Mr. John asserted, with less elegance, that he
was "owleditor of one Of them papers that
never tells the truth"
Poor people assimilate more readily than
those,who surround themselves with the bar
rlers Of FORM and ceremony; and, in one
week oi :; cir neighborly proximity, Mr. Har-
lev and the Mss Ellerslies had become the
best of Friends
"The loop has come off my ncckte again"
Mr. Harley began, apologe,icaly. "Dare
venture to ask you to sew 1t on second time,
Miss Emlly?'
Emily smiled and nodded as she threaded
her needle with black silk, and put on thrift
Unlocking thimble.
as anything the matter, Miss Kate" asked
Harley as he observed the elder sisters flush
ed cheeks and dlscomftted mood
Nothing" she answered petulently, "but
the old story-poverty and humiliation. on,
[ wish | were dead or, better STILL" she
went on, with increasing energy, ~ wish the
villain who cheats US out OF all our money
we're dead!'
Mr.. Harley WINGED little, and no wonder,
Emily thought; her sister had spoken with
unrcstrained vehemence.
kate, Kate" she said softly, you don't
consider. He Is not to blame because the law
has given him what was rightiuily his own"
ale is, say" burst out Kate, but then she
depressed herself. Give me the shirts Emf
w." she said, resgnedly. ave can't starve.
Now the footstool and the work basket. And
Just draw that curtain; the sun is shining in
enough to dazzle forty pairs OF eyes"
Patiently Emily trudged hither and thither
for her sister, only too glad that the storm OF
Rates temper was temporarily averted by
Mr.. Harley's presence. The young man. qul.
city observant of all that transpired around
him, began to think that, after all, Kate was
not so beautiful rs he had ut first supposed.
Emily had the sweeter more Madonna-llke
face Then she was SO gentle, so quietly re-
signed,
emily always was drudge" said Kate
Ellerselie, contemptuously. "She never had
any more spirit than canary bird"
| So Emily did the work of the contracted
little room, washed and lrorfed Rates laccs,
arranged her sisters luxuriant dark hair, sat
up at night TO finish the sewing which Kate
had thrown aside because 1t made her ner
vousn hours before, and was sunny and hap
by through 1t all, while Kate sighed over her
| fate, and persuaded herself that she was the
mos, wrechcd of created beings
And one day Mr. Harley astonished her out
Of her equanmity by proposing to marry her
Upon-my-wOrd.' calculated she; 1.-THE
young man must have a very good opinion OF
| himself! OF course YOU said Nor
Emily hung her head until she looked like
swcetpea vine that had been exposed to the
July sunshine.
Tim afraid said yes" she laltered
"What on earth could have induced you to
accept hlm?" demanded Kate with both
hands implorlngly uplihed.
because love him." said Emily, pluck
ing up courage.
The selfishness Of some pcOplew sobbsd
I Kate, burving her tace IN her handkerchief.
81 suppose YOU never once thought what was
to become of me-"
Innocent Emily felt that she had indeed
been a monster of ingratltude and egohsm.
ave must provide for our sister Kate, in
some way or other, sail Mr.. Harley, when
Emily tlmdly confessed her tribula,ion to
him.
await and see, little girl"
Kate Ellerslie gave her brotherin-law elect
! rather cool greeting that evening when he
dropped in, as usual about clock.
81 hope you congratulate usr" nc asked,
cheerily.
"Of course YOU have my best Wishes she
answered with some little acerbity
at will be your turA next Kate"
She tossed her head haughtily.
4 II am in no particular hurry"
/, "Wouldn't it be nice chapter of romance
in real life" he added, smiling, "if Murray
Lennox, TO whom the law has awarded prop
. erty that was once yours, should come and
, marry you:"
"Nobscnsew SAID Kate, sharply "Sucl
things don't happen in real life"
"Do they not But just let me suppose i
I only for once. What would you say"
3 mo, of course
{ "And you, Emily"
Z MY heart is already given away" she an