The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-12-15

| ucT SlStcT, duO Sout WOIO tuhC u
friend wished to see her, while she seated
herself in the parlor, where a little girl
sat curled up in a cushioned chair, read
ing.
"You want to see my mamma, I sup
pose?"
eyes," said Miss Miner, with an affa-
BILE smile. "You are Hetty I sup
pose?"
The child gave heavy sigh.
yes, I'm Hetty. Oh. don't 1 hate
that name!"
"Why, I think it's frst-rate name
You are a namesake of somebody,
guess? ?"
eyes, I am. Old Hetty Miner, my
aunt, who lives out in the country. 1
have never seen her, and 1 don't want to
either, cause mamma SAYS she's the
meanest old thing in all creation-a reg
ular old Miss Nancy, papa says"
Miss Miner smiled-a little queerly.
"Oh, that's what they say, is it? Well,
Hetty, am your Aunt Miner"
The child opened her eyes wider.
"Are you? Then, won't mamma be
mad We expect company, after awhile,
and mamma won't want you at all. We'd
be dreadfully ashamed of you before the
Algredon's. You're going to leave us
your money, amt you? Papa and mamma
said they were most tired of waiting
you had as many lives as cat. We are
going 20 Europe when you die!"
care your said Miss Miner, with an
insane desire to shake the pert, self-pos-
sessed, venomous youngster. swell,
wouldn't depend upon it if 1 we're your
And before Mrs. Carl came down stairs
Miss Miner was out on the street, on her
way to her half-brother's house.
"a pretty nest of vipers those Carls
are. Thank heaven, I've found them out
in time! Going to Europe on my money!
Why, ungrateful as that spunkey little
Ellice is, she isn't as treacherous as my
own flesh and blood. Humph!'
And her complacency was not yet re-
stored when she left the street car on the
nearest corner to Mr.. Parker Dollingby's
bachelor quarters that were alight in
perfect blaze of bright cheer.
1T looks like party" she thought.
But all the same she did not hesitate to
go up the imposing stone steps and ring
| the bell, to which no response coming,
she tried the door mob, and admitted her.
self into large, brilliantly lighted hall,
at the end of which came the sounds of
revelry and Notification that had pre-
vented her ring being heard.
Miss Miner went into the first door
that stood ajar; and through another
partly closed door she saw the gay bach
elor party-some ten or ffteen-merry
over their wine.
$50 that's the way Parker Dollingby
does, is it?" she asked herself grimly,
| Just as, the same instant, that gentle
| mans voice, distant, boisterous, rose
high. and for q second silenced all the
others.
'Here's to the health of my most re-
spected mariner-ess, veritable old maid
all forlorn, whose legacy is long time
coming, but sure to get here sometime.
A cool $50, 900 or so. boys; when the ven
cradle Mehitable kicks the bucket. Drink
to her, fellowsr
Somehow Miss Miner took herself
silently out of the place. She was silent
all the way to the hotel and then, once
in the room, locked the door, and sat
down and cried-actually cried and then
went to bed, wondering if it we're ever
granted to mortals to come nearer being
made fool of than she had been; and at
two o'clock in the morning to awaken
with strange, sick feeling that was aw-
full to endure liz that big, lonely hotel,
where she didn't know living soul.
But she rang for assistance, and the
servant brought her physician, who
happened to be staying over night, and
Miss Miners life was saved from the
terrible attack of gastralgia by DR.. Frank
Olevin.
'I'll pay yon when l get home" she
said, tersely. You can go with me, if you
don't mind my green veil and bag"
And so, after reaching home, where
Ellice Dunning, in readiness to leave by
train an hour later, opened the door in
answer to an imperious summons, Miss
Miner stalked in, followed by DR.. OLE
win.
"You needn't be frightened, Ellice,"
che said in wonderful soft tone OF
voice. I have changed my mind. I'm
the fool, not you. Here's your beau;
you can have him and welcome. When
you're married, I'm going to settle my
fortune on you and let you live here. ii
you'll give me q room somewhere. I've
changed my mind, tell you, Ellice
Dunning Take off your things and go
and get cup of coffee for u.s."
And that was the way little brown
eyed Ellice came into her double inheri-
lance of love and fortune.