Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1880-02-28

"Pallyp contsnued her father, +" this
IS yous cousin, Edward. He leaves on
the s.s o'clock train, and want his
short stay with y as pleasant as posi-.
ble."
:" Polly is my little housekeeper," he
added, turning to his nephew: ~ hire
woman for the work, and she does all
the rest When she's eighteen she shall
have oil the servants she wants, but she
must serve her apprenticeship first. 1t
may stand her in good stead; she may
take it into her head to marry q poor
man, As her mother did before her. En-
my girl?"
Mary's only reply to this was a smile
and blush. Our hero was considerably
embarrassed by the recollection of the
mistake he had made. but the quietly
cordial greeting of his young hostess soon
nut him conapera.ivelv at rest.
At her fathers req quesI-~lG '':s !ss y
proud of his daughters varied accom-
plishments-Mary sang and played for
her cousin: and his visit ended in singu.
lar contrast to the stormy way 1t COM
meDced. Edward refused the five-dol.
lar note rendered to him at parting for
his traveiing'expenses.
The old man smiled - he returned
the note to his pocketbook.
Hes a sensible young chap, after
ALL" he remarked to his daughter, a.
The door closed after his guest. "It's
in him, if it only can be brought out
We shall see, we shall see."
I" A good deal for father to say" was
Mary's inward comment, who thought
her cousin the most agreeable young
man she had ever met.
Three years later MIR. Stone and his
daughter paused in front of q small
but neat pleasant looking shop, on the
plate glass door of which we're the
words: Edward Stone, Stationary and
Bookstore"
was the cheerful response. "Curiously
enough it is the same business that l
wanted to buy then. The man who
took it had to borrow money to pur-
chase it with, getting so much involved
that he had to sell at sacrifice
Just what you wanted to do.''
Edward smiled at the point made by
his uncle.
"Is isn't what I've done though. I've
saved four dollars a week from my sal.
ary for the last three years; and 30 was
not only able to pay the money down
but had fifty dollars besides"
=" Bravo! my boy" cried the delighted
old man, with another grasp OF the
hand that made our hero vince. "I'm
proud of you'll You're bound to succeed.
/ see, and without anybody's help. l
tod your cousin Polly that when she was
eighteen I'd buy her . house in the city;
that she should furnish it to suit her.
self. and have all the servants she want.
they fOund the proprietor
alone, whose face flushed with pride and
pleasure a. he greeted them.
81 got your card nephew" said the
old man, with q cordial grasp of tho
hand, "and called around to see how
you were getting on. though it was
about time / gave you that little lift
you asked of me three years ago. You
don't look much a. if you needed it
though"
"Not at present. thank you uncle"
ed, and I've kept my word. Come
around and see us whenever you can.
You'll always find the latch string out"
Edward did not fail to accept the in.
vitation 20 frankly extended-a very
pleasant intimacy growing up between
the three during the twelve months that
followed. Our hero's business grew and
prospered until he began to think of re-
moving to q larger place. His uncle
had given him several liberal orders, -
we'll as sent him q number of customers,
but said nothing more about assisting
him in any other way until Christmas
eve. Entering the room where Edward
and his daughter were sitting, he said:
u mustn't delay any longer the little
lit promised you, nephew, and which
you have we'll earned
Edward glanced from the five thous.
and dollar check to the lovely face at
80 side and then to that of the sneaker
lou are very KIND, uncle-far klndef
than I deserve-but-"
But what, lad? Speak outl would
you prefer it in some other form!"
Edwards fingers closed tenderly and
strongly over the hand he had taken in
bis.
"Yes, uncle-in this"
The old man looked keenly from one
10 the other.
" You are asking good deal, nephew.
foily, nave you been encouraging this
young man in his presumption?"
"Pm afraid / have, father" was the
smiing response.
"Then 60, my daughter. I give you
into worthy keeping; and if you make
your husbands heart as happy as your
mother did mine during the few short
years that she tarried BY my side, he
-,ll he hta.V :-I..l,