Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1880-09-18

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To save expenses Mrs. Wilson had
arranged to dismiss the servants, and
shut up the house, with the exception
of one room for her husband, WI
to take his meals at his eistsz
"of course, she won,t oll him
anything, SO thatswill Be- one item
saved remarked Mrs. Wilson, as she
regarded complacently the effect Of
Bellies new dress which her manage-
ment had secured.
"As though pa would board there
for nothing" was Josie's indignant
rejoinder, "when Uncle William has
such hard time to get along"
"Well, ii your pa chooses to pay
when he needn't, and it isn't expect
ed of him, it's his own loss. For my
part l don't see what's the good of
having relations il you ca't make
use of them"
Mrs. Wilson certainly believed in
making her relatives useful, carrying
out thai belief to it's fullest extent,
whenever it was practicable, as some
of them knew to their cost. Even
her love for her daughters rartook
of the selfish nature, her chief ankle
ty being 10 get them "cf her hands"
and in q manner that would be as adj
vantageous and reflect as much credit
on herself as possible.
But they were gone, at last, and
Josie was at liberty to make her own
simple preparations, which did not
take her long to complete.
Tho father and daughter had a
nice, quiet tea together. Josie was
going on the morrow, and as sitting
opposite him and pouring out his
tea, she saw the hard lines soften in
his careworn face, and how happy he
was in her society, her heart re-
preached her for leaving him.
81 have Lalf mind not to 60,
papa; it seems too bad to leave you
here all by yourself"
But Mr.. Wilson would not hear to
this.
81 insist upon your going; you
have been working hard, and you need
change. My life would be much
the same anyhow
"You can expect me in thr2e weeks,
papa" smiled Josie from the car win
dow, the next morning. "You will
want your little housekeerer by that
time, know"
And Mr.. Wilson went back to the
corroding anxietiea which had made
him an old man before his time,
ths nkel God for this bit of sunshine,
and which left its glow in the heart
long after it had vanished.
There was only few passengers
for Baybridge, a small town in the
interior of the Stale, though there
were the usual lcungers upon the
platform Of the station as josie step
Ped out. But they soon scattered,
leaving her to stare bankly around
for the carriage that she supposed
would be waiting for her.
She walked clear around the eta
tion, looking in every direction, but
not vehicle was in sight except @
rough box wagon, with board across
it, drawn by pair Of spirited black
horses, that stamped their feet and
tossed their heads as if impatient TO
lie off.
A man stood beside the restive
creature, wEo yet seemed to be under
perfect control.
"There, Jenny? Be easy, Kate !"
he said, patting the satin-smooth skin,
and speaking very much as a mother
would to a child,
The baggage-master was standing
near a pile Of trunks and parcels.
"Is this your trunk, Miss ?" he
said as josie approached him.
eyes, I was expecting friends to
meet Inc, but they ae not here.
There must be some mistake"
Il know most of the people around
here. What might their name be p
"Cro!ton."
"Why, bless me you've got off at
the wrong station. They live at
North B3bridge, five miles beyond"
/ "When doea the next train leave ?"
"To-morrow mor0ing."
Josie looked the dismay that she
certainly felt at this announcement.
"It's too bad, I declare" said the
good natursd officer, plying Josie s
evident distress.
Then, as his eye fell upon the own