, 1881-12-09
HER INHERITANCE


mastering, uncomfortable day in
l., Npvemhrr, with Il bleak promise Of
ca e., IN the air. and a sky that was cloud
s,,,yer. The bare branches of the trees
tH7,ved and writhed Sayagely; occasion
Ty: little showers of dry, dead leaves,
o.. were not soidcn and decayed, Hurried
t- and down; and the roar OF the fire III
u. chimney completed the outside PIE
.-,-e of . dull afternoon.
In Miss Miners sitting however,
,-ervth,ng was as coy AID delightful as
,,nId he desired, with their heavy cords
III tassals. and the carpet to match IN
s;rt and the furniture OF light gray da-
- unified with crimson, and the gray
anJ cold wall paper, and the pretty
I-Ti,..kpacks here and there that finished
81 r,om in such admirable taste. And
Niss Hettie Miner. sitting before the
1I,.n ,rrate-stove fire, her black SILK skirt
tnrned carefully back over her lap, ana
bar substantially made pebbIe-Soat Doots
resting comfortably on the lender.
An elderly woman-forty odd-with a
sl,arD shraNl face and bright little eyes,
and a resolute look around her mouth. \
IomeIy outspOken woman, who was
nroud 20 say she never had been IN love,
iybo lived in luxury, although on small
scale and who had 200 IN govern
ment bonds to leave to her rela aslohs
when she died; and in all the world she
had but two relatives, Mrs. Calrstord
Carl her married sister, and Mr.. Parker
DnIlinpby. her half brother, who, be-
sides being inordinately Jealous that Old
Simon Carmen had left Hetty his Tor
tune. lust because she had happened 10
befriend him in his poor antl-mlnihS
davs. were very much given to toadylng
her and writing atfectiOnate letters to
her, and loading her with presents, ana
forcing invitations on her; all OF winch
Miss Miner accepted in Il matter-of-fact
way. and in turn did exactly as she
pleased.
This especial afternoon, as she satmed-
itatiyely before the fire, she suddenly
broke the stiffness, with an energy OF
speech that made the young girl, reading
in the bav-window, nearly concealed by
the curtains, look startingly mp from
her book.
"Ellice, you're fool!'
Evidently Ellice Dunning had not lived
five years as companion and personal at
tendant to Miss Miner i'll vain, for she
manifested no surprise at the rough
speech, beyond the swift, brief little
startled look III her soft wlney-brown
eyes.
She closed her book and came out into
the room, little flush on her face.
"Do you think so, Miss Miner
"Most certainly l think so, or l should
not have said so. You are fool, Ellice
Dunning, and | hate to see you throw
Yourself away so fOolishly. Do show
your common sense, if you have got any,
and let that young jaekanapes of adoctor
go. You're better OFF without him. I'll
give you new seal skin sacque this win
ter if you'll give him up"
II couldn't give him up, Miss Miner;
love him too we'll
Miss Miner looked sarcastically at Ell
Ices sweet, flushed face, and gave little
sniff of contempt.
What nonsense! You love him too
well. Love indeedi It's all absurdity.
never was in love in my life"
"I-can't help that, Miss Miner. l love
Frank and he loves me. We'd be per-
fectly miserable if we were parted
Please don't tell me must give him up:
Indeed it is impossible. We are engaged
TO be married Just as soon as he comes
back from his visit home"
Miss Miner dropped her feet from the
with a resonant bang as she jumped up,
Indignantly. ....s
Engaged to be married TO DR.. Ole
vinl Did L everl Well, Ellice Dunning-
very well! You may pack my hand valise
at once. l am going to New York on u
visit by the 6:3O train, and I'll be home
on Thursday. When come back, don't
let me- find you here, yOn ungrateful lit
tie Wretch-yOuI"
Ellice's lips quivered, and her eyes
filed with diamond bright tears.
Miss Miner! You don't mean-to-
turn me away?"
That's Just what I mean! have told
You time and again, didn't approve of
men beauX and love making, and / won't
have it where l ami You can take your
ehoice-me or DR.. Olevin. I'll give you
Just five minutes"
4 little red flush crept to the girls
cheek.
II dOn'twant five minutes for choice,
Miss Miner!" she said proudly. "You
have been very good to me, and think
have done my duty by you. But moth
lng-no one-could come between me
and DIR. Olevin."
All right, then. Don't let me see
all" '- .
And then Ellice went up to Miss
Miners room and packed the red Rms
slan satchel, dropped a few tears as she
folded the garments Miss Miner would
require.
IN go to Mrs. Carisford Carl Miss
Miner 1neI1aI oh -