The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1879-10-16

wasn't any other for her; and OF course
l helped her to the best cuts-what else
could YOU do with an elderly stranger
at tablet and of course we were on our
best behavior, and took care as to what
we said in her presence. She was a
dyspeptic, and had to have little messes
made for her; and she did get up before
dawn, and look very thankful if any,
body else crept out of bed couple Of
hours afterward, and seem to be a re-
proach to lazy young people; and she
did look over the tops of her glasses at
Ariiold's goings and comings in such a
way that it was quite plain that if she
said nothing, yet, like the silent parrot,
she kept up a great thinking. But
then, as said to Sarah once, she paid
for it all; as yet we hardly felt any adj
ditiOnal expense; and if things went on
comfortably, we could really think of
buying the new carpet that we had de-
SPARED of, and SO rid, ourselves of the
disgusting task of covering up holes
and darns by means of artistically-ar-
ranged shadows of chairs and tables;
and the next thing would be the new
dress for mamma-she hadn't had q
fresh black silk since papa's death, and
now silks were so cheap.
Il don't care if she does" said
Sarah. Money can't pay for'every-
thing; money won't pay for your
health. And here you are making your
self sick waiting on her by inches; and
if you don't, of course l must. And
then 1 shall never be able to have an
hour for myself for Arnold She
stopped, for she hadn't meant to say
that. There! 1 don't care if 1t does
burn my face and CRIME my hands,"
she cried; II can't have you doing all
the nursing. There'1l be nothing left
of you in a year, with carrying up trays
for breakfast, and making beef tea, and
whipping up eggs for refreshers, and
stirring custard now and a panada
then, and filling hOt-water bottles, and
shaking up cushions, and running up
and down stairs, and being perfect
drudge in general"
"Nonsenser' said /, when 1 could
break in. !" You know l like to do it.
1t is always pleasant to me to-
Then if it's so pleasant said
Sarah, I'm have some of the pleasure.
If the little creatures going to stay
and suppose she isl shall take care
of her for the future. I'm sure you've
enough to do in waiting on mamma
and seeing to the housekeeping.
Mammals enough to set one by the
head"
Mamma wasn't our own mother, BY
the-way; she was papa's great mistake.
But then we all got along nicely to-
gether, and were, on the whole, very
| .,f oil Co ~
mark; but you know the best of friends
are sometimes exasperating. As
mamma came of an old and stately but
impecunious family, she held herself of
a little more worth than we were-we
who had sprung from the soil. soto
speak; and, to tell the truth. we did
have to wait upon her-how we did
have to wait upon her! But somehow
we always liked it, till Miss Dehone
came; and then, / suppose, having the
two of them made it too much of a
good thing. And l must say was
surprised to see Sarah taking the mat
ter up SO, and it did put me in mind of
the Queen of Sheba waiting on the
Witch of Endor, say-Sarah was so
splendid and superb, and then she
usually did look like an Eastern Prin-
cess in disguise, whether she was hold
inc toasting-fork over the blaze, or
snuffing Miss Dehone's wax candle for
her; and Miss Dehone always would
have, wax candle. As for En- and
Kate, they kept school, and were the
chief of our support, and could not, of
course, do anything else.
Well, at the end of the second month
| L 70, hn1n
seeing what there would be left over
for the carpet and mammals silk; and,
if you'll believe it, adding in all the
board money, our accounts only came
out just even. All the little messings
had counted up, and, instead of our
boarder's being a profit, that little item
in our housekeeping was all the other
way. "Well," said /, "what shall we
we do? Let her find another home?
It's pity-and she so well established"
at would be shame," said Sarah,
hesitatingly. "a shame. No, 1
couldn' t-could you?-turn her OUT
"No profit, and no pleasure, and a
world of trouble" said 1.
Il don't know" said Sarah. You
can't help growing fond of the little
thing, although she does ask such ques-
tions.''
Questions! should think so. Who
was that? And what did he come for?
What was his business? Was he Sarah s
lover, or Ems? She didn't think much
of his taste if he were Ems. Was he
a good match? Why hadn't we looked
out for him, then? Why were none of
us engaged? Did we mean to die old
maids like her? Did we think that so
cheerful prospect, with nobody to care
a farthing? Who was the Dr. Parnell
that came round here so much? Was
he after Sarah? Handsome is that
handsome does, and Sarah wasn't to be
had for the asking, she would have him
to know.
"Does Sarah like him, do you know?''
she asked me one day.
''Indeed, Miss Dehone, how can T
say?''
"You can say very well if you will. -
"But-''
81 don't want to hear anything about
but You think I'm a chattering
old woman, and so you won't speak.
Very well; can find out usually all
want to in one way or another, and no
thanks to anybody. I'll ask him.
Ask him! "For goodness sake,
Miss Dehone-'' began.
"Then there is something in itr' she
said, triumphantly. 81 thought so.
He's in love with Sarah, and she's in
love with him. Why aren't they en-
gagged? Why don't they marryP Good
gracious! it wasn't SO when was young.
Love has turned his bow into a money
bag. Well, hasn't he a profession?"
"Oh yes, you know he's a physician.
But he practices in country village
ten miles from here, and drives over to
see us. And, dear me, it's the health
est villager'
$50 l suppose. Why doesn't he
settle here?''
because there's no opening. The
towns full of doctors now"
"And there's no hope of anything
better-let me see, I ought to say worse
! in the village?'