The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1880-08-05
" Face the Music"

I'm gone away, sick, dead, anything you
please !"
Little Louise Griffin looked round in
horror as these words fell upon her ears,
as well as she might for there sat her
Aunt Clara, her feet resting upon a has
sock, basket of stockings fresh from
the ironing table by her side, and a ter
rible frown upon her usually placid fea-
lures.
Aunt Clara was o young widow of
thirty, and since her husbands death
had supported herself and two young
children by that most forlorn and pre-
carious Of all occupations, keeping board
ers. OF course she had been untortun-
ate One hoardcr after another had
stolen away without settling his bill, and
the consequence was temporary elnhar-
rassment and almost despair on the part
Of the little hostess
Who was it, Kate p inquired Aunt
Clara, as the servant returned.
1.-The paper man, mum; says he'll
call again on Saturday"
"You could have told him that he
could have spared himself the trouble,
for it's not likely that | shall have any
more money then than now. | must so
away from here or go crazy I" And
poor Aunt Clara burst into a flood of
tears, which seemed little service i'll
the comforting line, for they brought no
relief whatever.
"What in the world is the matter,
auntie. dear p said her niece, drawing
near and trying to soothe her.
Matter | owe the butcher for
months meat, the grocer for two months
groceries, the gas man, the paper man,
and my house rent has been due over a
week"
"But why don't you sec these people,
and tell them how ycu are situated,
instead Of sending Kate to tell false
hoods =
"Louise Griffin, You don't know what
Won are talking about. You don't know
what it is to be alone in the world, stiug
Cling for subsistence you don't know
what it is 10 be cheated out OF your
hard-won earnings. | never thought |
should come to this. L
"Tng-a ling a-hngl" went the door
bell again.
Are YOU in now, Mrs. Beresford 2
inquired the kind hearted servant girl,
poking her head in at the door, as this
fresh appeal was heard
"Inl No. For mcrcy's sake hide
me somewhere | have a great mind
to crawl under the bed just to get out
of sight Dear, dear. What shall do
now =
Louise said no more, but turned away
and nervously tapped on the window
pane, wondering il her good-natured,
even-tempered Aunt Clara had taken
leave of her senses.
Come away from the window Lou-sel
Are you crazy to stand there knocking
in that style ~ exclaimed the poor, tired
woman. frantically.
81 don't owe anybody, auntie,' re
piled Louise.
But they may think it is |. | don't
want them to know that there's a soul
at home. o dtar-O dear This load
is greater than | can bear =
at was Mr.. Barlow, ma'am says
he'll call again this evening, and"
"Why didn't you tell him that !
shouldn't be home, or that | was sick in
bed, or something, to--to have kept
him out of sight until ! should get
things in order 2
"He asked, ma'am, if you we've quite
well. and how Nell and Josey were he
said he would come in few minutes if
the children were at home be appeared
kinder sorrowful like when he went
away, ma'am.'
"No doubt of it, replied Mrs. Beres-
ford Folks are apt to be sorrowful
when they can't collect the money due
them. He'll look kind OF angry by
night-mark my words -
Again the bell resounded through the
house
ais this kind of thing to be kept up
all dayl Are we to have nothing else
from morning till night = exclaimed the
thoroughly exasperated woman.
This time Kate didn't ask what mes
sage she should convey, but returned
with this intelligence
"The gas man. told him you was
out and he said please to tell you that
he hated to leave such q message, but it
is the company's orders that if you don't
send up the amount Of your bill to-mor-