The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1878-10-04
PAsCAGOULA JACKSON COUNTY, MISS, OCTOBER A. 1878
it, there is a cheese crust in the
cuDboard.n

CUPBOARD"
Abby looked up.
"Is that really all, Clifford ?"
"To the best OF my knowledge
yes" an uncomfortable limp rising
in my throat. 1t was hard that we
three girls should almost suffer
for bread, when our only living rel.
= atiye was an old bachelor uncle
3 worth a million. But uncle Man.
rice had cast off our family Just
because poor mamma had married
a poor man. | was nineteen and
the youngest of the three girls.
A dreary silence fell between us
after Abby's last question about
the empty state of the larder.
Juliet sat with her head on the ta-
bic, Abby gazed drearily out at the
window and II was getting des-
perate when | heard Clio coming
up stairs, Clio was Mrs. Jenkins,
our landlady's hired servant, and
you would always know when she
came up stairs by the clank, clank
of her big shoes.
She opened our garret door and
announced:
"a gentleman to you'ens," and
looking out | saw tall figure, and
a handsome, brown-bearded face
beyond her, and | was so astoniSh-
ed | forgot to get up off the stove,
until the gentleman came in and
announced himself " Hugh Cha
loner, attorney-at-law" Then |
remembered, but it was too late,
and though my cheeks burned with
shame | kept my seat.
Mr.. Chaloner sat down, gave the
miserable, little room and three
shabby figures comprehensive
glance, then said:
"You are Frank Royals daugh-
ters? :"
"Yes," said Abby.
"Then you are very fortunate.
Your uncle, Mr.. Jefterys has left
you his fortune"
Juliet turned white, but said
nothing, while low under her breath
| heard Abby whisper, " Thank
God" Now, | was disposed to
doubt the statement. Uncle Mau-
rice might be dead, but it seemed
impossible that he could have left
us his property. The man must be
mistaken, or only jesting.
" Are you sure you are telling us
the truth ?" asked, anXiouSly.
Mr.. Chaloner laughed.
eyes, | am quite sure, and to
convince you | will send Mr.. Gram
bling around with the will"
"Oh, no, it is not necessary" |
cried quickly, the fact dawning
upon my bewildered mind, that |
had been very rude. Mr.. Chaloner
rose to depart.
"Will you have a check made
out this morning, Miss Royal ?"
turning to Abby.
Yes, sir"
"FOr what amount?"
"Fifty thousand dollars" an,
swered my eldest sister, coolly.
The check was made ont, Mr..
Chaloner lett, and then we three
girls fell into each others arms and
wept for very JOY. For several
days | almost refused to believe in
our good fortune, thinking it must
be sottening of the brain. But |
was convinced when we moved into
an uptown palace and dressed in
silks and laces every day. Mrs.
Unison, a well-bred, aristOcratic
old lady, lived with us and was our
companion and grand
mother by adoption. Our friends
were as countless as the sands on
the seaShore and they cherished a
pure, disintereSted affection for us,
so they said. OF course, uncle
money had nothing to do
with it. The thought was too base
for such noble minds as theirs.
Abby and Juliet were both angels
minus the wings. But l was truly
Of the "earth earthly" While
they delightfully."- fell in love and
became engaged, tlirted and en-
Dyed my new life with zest that
was highly amusing to Hugh Chalo-
ler.
How splendidw / cried when |
tiewed the ease and comfort around
ne. "No more back garrets, old
lreSseS and scanty meals, and to
hink that this will last forever and
,ver," and | gave no thought to ,
leath, or old age, but filed my cup
,t pleasure to the brim.
Mr.. Chaloner was our lawyer and !
riend, and if my face ever flushed
II my heart-throbs grew quicker at
he sound of his voice or the touch
# his hand no one knew it. One
vening, nearly year after that
norning i'll the garret, Mr., Chalo-
Ter asked me to be his wife. | I
waved my fan with "A Grand
Duchess air and said /:
"No, Mr.. Chaloner, do not wish 7
o marry at present, and when | do, Z
is my duty Toto" S
"Make grand matchw
" Yes"
"a duke forinstance," suggested u
~ lover coldly. d
Yes, | think that would do"
Hugh didn't tear his hair or
hreaten to commit suicide because a
refused him. He even had the
to laugh, and looking