The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1881-01-05

| nephew the train you'll have to take won't
leave until six in the evening. You must
stay to tea want you to see what com
Portable little housekeeper l have. and make
| you acquainted with her. Polly !" he cried
out; opening the door into the hall.
| In prompt obedience to bis simmons, q
| rosy cheeked, bright-eyed girl tripped in.
The neat print dress had been exchanged for
pretty merino, but odf hero did not fail to
recognise her, and his face flushed painfully
as he did so.
Polly, this is your cousin Edward. He
leaves on the six o'clock train, ana I want
you to make his short stay with us as plea
SAINT as possible" said her father.
Turning TO his nephew, he added. "Polly
is my little housekeeper hire woman for
the rough work, and she does all the rest.
When she's eighteen she shall have all the
servants she wants but she must serve her
apprenticeship tirst. 1t may stand her in
good stead she may take it into her head to
marry some poor man, as her mother did be-
fore her. Eth, my girla"
Mary's only reply to this was smile aud a
blush. Our hero was considerably embarrass-
ed by the recollection OF the mistake he had
made, but the quietly cordial greeting of his
young hostess soon put him completely at his
ease.
| At her fathers request-who was very
proud of his daughters varied accomplish
ments-Mary sang and played for her cousin
and his visit ended in singular contrast to the
stormy way it commenced. Edward refused
the five. dollar note rendered to him by his
uncle at parting, for his travelling expenses.
| The old man smiled as he returned the note
| to his pocket book.
He's sensible young chap, after all. It's
in him, If it can only be brought out We
shall see, we shall see," he remarked to his
daughter, as the door closed after their guest.
"a good deal for father to say" was Mary Is
inward comment, who thought her cousin the
most agreeable young man she had ever met
l*
Three years later Mr.. Stone and his daugh.
ter paused in front of small but neat. looking
shop, on the plate. glass door of which were
these words:
EDWARD STONE,
STATIONERY AND BOOK STORE.
1t being too early in the day for customers
they found the proprietor alone, whose facs
flushed with pride and pleasure as he greeted
them.
II got your card, nephew" said the ole
man, with cordial grasp of the hand, :" ant
called around to see how you were getting on
l thought it was about time / gave you thu
little lift you asked me for three years ago
You don't look much as if you needed it,
though"
Not at present, thank you, uncle, twas
the cheerful response. "Curiousy enough
1t is the same business that l wanted to buy
then. The man who took it had to borrow
money to purchase 1t with, getting so much
involved that he had to sell at a sacrifice"
"Just what you wanted to do"
at isn't what I've done, though. I've
saved four dollars week from my salary for
the last three years and SO was not only abe
to pay the money down, but had fifty dollar5
besides"
bravo " cried the delighted old man,
| VIII auOthtt grasp VI tuC manu- thas thado Jul
hero vince. 81 am proud of you! You're
bound to succeed, see, and without any
body's help. told your cousin Polly that,
when she was eighteen, I'd buy her house
in tho city that she should furnish it to suit
herself, and have all the servants she wanted,
and I've kept my word. Come round and see
us whenever you can you'll always find the
latch-string out"
/ Edward did not fail to accept the invitation
SO frankly extended. 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 moving into larger store. His
uncle had given him several liberal orders, as
well as sent him number of customers, but
said nothing about assisting him in any other
way until Christmas eve. Entering the room
where Edward and his daughter were sitting,
he said
81 mustn't delay any longer the little lift
promised you, nephew, and which you have
we'll earned"
Edward glanced from the five thousand dol
lar check to the lovely face at his side, and
then to that of the speaker.
You are very kind, uncle--far kinder thar
/ deserve, but"
"But what, lad? Speak out Would yor
prefer it in some other form?"
Edwards fingers closed tenderly and strong
ly over the hand that he had taken in his.
" Yes, uncle--in this"
The old man looked keenly from one to the
other.
" You are asking good deal, nephew,
Polly, have you been encouraging this young
man In his presumption
"I'm afraid have father" was the smil-
ing response.
The fathers eyes moistened.
I" Then 60, my daughter. / give you to
worthy keeping, and If you make your hus-
bands heart as happy as your mother made
mine during the few short years that she
tarried by my side, he win be blessed inbred
"Whats wrong between You and Mr..
smythe that you didn't speak ?" "Haw
1