The Russellville Democrat., 1880-07-08
RUssEIvIE POPE COUNTY ARKANSAS THURSDAY JULY

take charge of my house." he finished ] .wont you accept the situation?" Why do you suspect I am neat and capable?" she asked, good deal surprised at the, to her, premature ], proposal.
 , q don't know, only that I have been watching your movements for weeks, he told her, "and 1 believe you would be the right one m the right place, il , you would only accept the situation , You can have girl, and unlimited con. trol over the house. You can ascertain my standing by inquiry at the firm oI Bent & Knight. Will you come?" Don't you want'a recommendation" she asked with smile.
 "4lo your face and manner are recom- mendation enough"
 q have no one to consult but myself l will comen
 "How soon? he asked, while his face frightened up with smile of relief.
 Inlet me see-this is Thursday. l will csme on Monday"
 "Very well. We will try to exist until then. l feel sure you will make a change in the house." He had seen her order, the filtered carpet, the table | everything Just then poor, neglected little Mabel pushed open the door, sing ing a little song she had heard in her childish fashion. Slte was sunny-tem- pered little creature. The lady glanced at her quickly. ..sss.-..
 "'rhis is your little girl you spoke of, she said. "Come here and let me see you"
 The child stepped to her timidly.
 "She is suffering for care." he said, thankful, however, that he had given orders to have her face washed. "Does she look altogether hopeless?"
 "Not all, the lady returned, in her practical, pleasant way, as she patted the curly head. q think she is nice little girl"
 By what name shall call you?" he asked, as she rose to go.
 Mrs. Iddings. And yours is Addi- son." she said. T got my information from the doorplate," she added.
 Mrs. Iddings," he unused, when she had left; widow, suppose, but with that face, not designing one"
 The next week the reign of Mrs. Id dings as housekeeper commenced. The slipshod girl was dismissed, and from some quarter unknown to MT. Addison, neat, active girl was procured. Then the whole house underwent thoroug h renovation. Such cleaning of paint, and sweeping, and dusting, and polishing. Mrs. Iddings took the lead; she was not afraid of work evidently. and her help seconded ably. Mabel was taken in hand, and came out prim, under the hands of Mrs. Iddings, pretty, cleanly child, as sweet in face and tastful in dress as she was in temper, and whom her father delighted to kiss and fondle, And then the cooking. Surely never had he eaten such appetizing dishes as his new housekeeper set before him. He convalesced rapidly, and in short time he was able to be down town once more. "She's jewel of woman," he told his friends, with extreme satisfac- tion, always relating the circumstance that sent her there. That was a blessed wind that waited that bit of lace to me-"
 You'll be falling in love with her." suggested Frank Peabody, a bachelor of forty Not at all. Nothing sentimental about her; at least nothing 1 can dis cover, but fine, sensible, practical woman."
 And when she had got the domestic | uidclliiicIy iuliiiiiS siuootillyy MIS. Iddings sat down and wrote this note:
 "DEAR MARIoN-Come and see me at No 63-- street. Come prepared to stay week. Surprised at my changef We'll, come, and we will talk it over I am housekeeper for widower, and it came abont Tn the funniest way. I can't write you about it, but come as soon as you can." .
 And the next evening, few minutes after his return from his business, Mir Addison, passing through the hall, an. swered the door-bell, which rang just then. A lady stood there when he opened the door, and she asked for Mrs Iddings. The sound of the voice struck some answering chord in his heart, but the lady wore vail and it was growing dusk, so that he could not distinguish her features.
 Please step in here and I will call her." he said, opening the door of the parlor. She walked in. He stopped to light the gas. As 1t flashed out brightly the two look into each others faces. "Marionl" "Burke l did not know was coming to your house." she faltered She looked graver than of old, but to his eyes she was still the same sweet ] Marion. sys And l did not know you were within thousand miles of me-" he exclaimed; "but l ment to search foi you soon."
 The two were forgetting the existance of Mrs. Iddings, but she, passing through the hall, heard her friends voice, and was much surprised to find that Mir Addison and her were old acqua mt. ances. She and Marion had been friends for year, but the latter had never let her into the sad secret of heI life. She had remained unmarried all these years, and had drifted to the city where he was, but had not known of his whereabouts or of his wlfe's death Mrs. Iddings was duly acquainted with her story, and was much pleased that she had been the means of ri nging to- gether the long separated overs. Oi course, in due time they married And : Burke was seized with a desire foI match-making, and introduced Frank Peabody to Mrs. Iddings, bringing him home to her one evening before she left And the upshot was that she agreed tc become his housekeeper for fife. Anc Burke is happy now, and thinks tha the breeze that blew the bit of lace tc him must have come straight from tho gate of heaven.
 TRAIN agents on the Chicago anC , Northwestern Railroad are required by anew set of regulations to keep clean act decently, talk in low tone, no