The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-06-19
OUR STORY TELLER
THE SICK ARTIST.

we kept boardiDg-house, NIFTY and
/. To be sure, people eaid 1t was
shame that Mr.. 'Fontaine's daughters
should stoop so low in life ssto deal
out their hospitality for money But.
NIFTY said-and Nifty has a
great deal of common sense
that we must live, and a1lthe genteel
company that came TO visit rs wouldn't
put so much asa benny in our pockets
towards cosland taxes.
Mrs. Hal, who lived next door to us,
said she knew we would make it paw.
No one but an experienced housekeeper
could make II pay. Miss Cynthia Cald-
well thought that it would have been
much nicer and more select to do fine
sewing, or get place as governess, or
something of that sort, which wouldn't
have been 10 public.
Old Fearnleaf said bis daughters
shouldn't visit us, and DIR. Millet looked
the other way when he brought his
fashionable new bride 70 town and met
NIFTY face 10 face i'm the street.
Dear me-" said NIFTY. laughing,
"what queer world this isr'
But wrs angry enough to cry.
No.matter, Nifty" said 1; we'll
teach, them that we can be quite inde-
pendent without them"
Well, as time went on, we had several
boarders. Old Mr.. Pettigrew and his
niece Clarissa, who gave lessons in wax
flowers and water-coIor paintings. Our
rooms we're full, all except the little
one over the wing.
" Kate" said NIFTY, triumphantly,
we are making money. / put eleven
pounds in the savings bank to-day, over
and above all expenses for the past
month"
"I dare say Mr.. Hall saves more
than that" said /.
think very likely" said NIFTY.
"Only, you see, Mrs. Hall does eyery.
thing on a grander scale than we can
pretend To keep up WITH"
We do our own marketing, wash
and iron our own table linen, and sift
the ashes on the sly, while Miss Henrietta
Hall ispracticing The Maiden's Prayer
on the piano"
But then" observed I, 1--WE are not
such fine ladies as Mrs. Hall and Miss
henrietta. We are only two poor little
old maids, who are obliged to earn our
own living"
Kate, you are not an old maid"
Indignantly cried out NIFTY.
And you are as fresh as a rosebud
beside Henrietta Hail." said l, patting
her cheek. DO you know, dear, I
think hard work agrees with both
of u.s."
So things went on, until one summer
evening we were out on our steps, when
there was quite commotion in the
earpeted hall Of our neighbor, Mr.. Hall.
or course he must co." Mrs. Halls
voice shrilly announced. 1t was a
great imposition on me that he should
ever come here ] supposed he was all
a1thor or lawyer, or some genteel oc-
cupation, and now you see he is noth-
ing but a painter. A common painter. -
An artist, ma'am," suggested Mr..
Birdseye. III 70
" And where's the difference, I should
like to know" sputtered Mrs. Hall.
Except that one has at least daily
wages to depend upon and the other
hasn't. And now here he il down with
scarlet fever or smallpox, or some such
hideous ailment, and"
Only malignant form of intermit.
tent fever, ma'am," again meekly put in
Mr.. Birdseye.
No matter what name they call il
by" said the lady, waxing hotter aud
hotter ip the ardor of discussion. al
don't keep a hospital here, and il
aid, | wouldn't harbor any such low
trash. So the sooner he packs of, the
better shall be pleased
But where is he to go?" asked
young Diederman. "He has no friendl
that anybody knows of, and"
All the more reason I should gel
him of my hands as quickly as possible. >
said Mrs. Hall. " The idea Of nv be
coming responsible for his funeral ex
penses, or"
Hush, Waller will hear you," inter
rupted Mr.. Birdseye. His window /
OPEN"
don't care il he does hear me-
snapped Mrs. Hall. He ought I,
have been ashamed of himself, comin
here under such circumstances as these
But he goes, sick or well, before sunse
this very night. There are public hos
pitfalls enough, suppose"
Plenty of 'em," said Mr.. Birdseye
dryly, and while he is waiting for al
the forms to be gone through with, &
order to gain admission, he will mos
likely die in the street" ~
Well, let him die," said Mrs. Hal
That's no business of mine that I kno,
Of" TL--1 = 80
NIFTY looked at me. | looked a
NIFTY. Our eyes both sparkled NUT
telegraphic messages To each other
and spoke out Of the choking indis
nant fullness of my heart.
Mrs. Hail." cried ], Mr.. Walle
may come here, whoever he is. A sic
man, friendless and alone, should b
able 10 claim brotherhood with all th
world. NIFTY and I will take care {
him until he is able TO take care of hin
self"
Mrs. Hall took us at our word wit
extreme promptitude, and before nigh
fall poor Bernard Waller was snugl
Installed in the little vacant room ov,
the wing-a pale, ghostly-looking crea
IRE, babbling idly Of people and plac,
on the continent that we never heard o
DIR. Millet shook his head vel
gravely, He is q very sick man." WI
bis verdict. Z A III l'tlA T ~ f
Kate" whispered NIFTY, when Il
doctor was gone, and the sick man vi
all still and settled for the night, "su
pose-suppose he should dieI"
In that case, NIFTY, don't think '
snVuiu rePeh' 'nne VIC hAo uohe OF
duty"
"I am sure we should not" sa
NIFTY, softly. H
But Bernard Waller did not die.
got well-and, of course, according
all the rules Of true love, he lost l
heart to Mitty's blue eyes and pret
face.
You'll never allow your sister
-~tl A. -.
fully.