The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1881-06-23

choose in a combat with rats and Croton
bugs. Aunt Maria seemed more to TIL
purpose. She gathered up her skirts from
the first, and seemed prepared either TO
battle or flight, and was the last one Il
t mount the lower stair. MIR. Chandler pro
; tected me all the way to Aunt Maria's door
and bade me ood-night, with the hop
, that all was arranged satisfactorily.
you've as good as feathered your mes
already" said Ann Maria. I'm glad 70,
wore your black Dress"
II had no other fit to put on" replied
Its just as well, she continued, "for
told him you were a widow-there's no use
enterin' into partic lars about Charley
Its nobody's business about Charley" ~
THAT'S what thought; so I said you
were a widow, and only mentioned the
twins. didn't speak of the boys, for you
don't look old enough anyway-no body
dream they belonged to you, and Mr..
Chambers materially Of timid turn, and it
might Spite everything at the start. They
never need come where he is. They'll eat
at the second table, and play out in the
street, and in the boardin' house there's
lots of things that only CROWN boys can
eat, so they won't count. It's all fixed.
| You're to come tomorrow after the funeral,
and take hold at onst. Bring the twins
right up to my room-theyre nice gentle
little girls-and I'll fix 'em up with pink
and blue ribbons. As for the boys, let
them play around till night-fall. and then
slip in the basement way"
1t was all Aunt Msria's fault-every bit
of it. Twas too dazed and bewildered at
first to offer any objection, and so many
things happened in that dreadful three
months that I never had chance to make
full confession of my domestic affairs to
Mr.. Chandler.
Once when he said something about it's
help the widow and the fatherless, felt as
if must tell him about Charley and the
boys; but the adverse circumstances under
which I 1abored restrained me. I had
! been compelled to ask him for an advance;
there was great deal of expense at first.
and was such novice at everything. I
felt compelled to avail myself of ali the
sympathy possible; but was confident
that after the first three months we're over
l could get along without Mr.. Chambers
help, and then no matter what Aunt Maria
said, determined to tell him everything
He was entitled to my confidence, and /
only awaited favorable opportunity to
give existence to Charley and the three boys
Everything went along like clock work for
while, IF had only put my whole mind
to it, I might have mastered everything
before the cold weather set in.
| And wouldn't have fallen behind so
lamentably in my accounts if 1 had been
very careful, and severely watched the
scraps and crumbs that fell from the board
ing house table. I was perhaps too good
to the tramps and beggars, and fed too
many of the wanderers that came to the
basement door,
In vain Aunt Maria scolded, and vowed
she never came down to press her crimps
but she stumbled over a tramp. In vain
Mr.. Chandler mildly reconstructed upon
the loss of two overcoats and set of razors.
They knew nothing of the way felt, or
how my heart beat sometimes when at twi-
light saw big, broad-shouldered, sandy
haired fellow standing there, qc;th broken
boots. It took me good while to grow
calm and collected, and in the meanwhile
he had eaten good many slices Of bread
and meat, and perhaps stolen something
from the hat rack in the lower hail.
In truth, it was impossible to persuade
me that Charley was dead. I felt that
some time he would come back to me.
ssFor love will dream and faith will trust
Since he who knows our need is JUST
That somehow, somewhere, meet we must"
And it was most natural thing in the
world to look FOR him as tramp. That
last sad morning was photographed on my
memory when he stood before me so pain
fully shabby, and with such broken boots
I couldn't give him up; wouldn't. I
got so tired of MIR. Chandler, with his bland
responsibility, his funeral broadcloth, and
his high hat. his ever-ready money, and
his never ending remonstrance and advice
I did SO long for dear old impecunious
Charley, and
after long grief and pain,
10 feel the arms OF my true love
Round me once again."
What wonder, with mind so unsettled
and a heart SO open to vagabonds, that
was cheated and robbed and driven to the
wall, and the second month came 40 appal-
lingly soon that hal to get another ad-
vance from Mr.. Chandler.
1t was the most astonishing thing in the
world that, although never had an easy
moment in that dreadful house, never did
time fly so quickly. The third month was
upon ME before could realize it, and il
was matter of glad surprise to me that
had not before me the awful necessity OF
another advance from MIR. Chandler. | was
not, perhaps, any better off, so far as actu.
al money was concerned, but was Longer
established, and able to get credit outside
, L always endeavored to treat the trades
people with every possible consideration
and they were very kind to me-very
Everybody knows what an awful winter
it was. l had never had any experience
with water pipes. On the first of the month
a cold wave started direct from the nortl
pole, and came with incredible velocity. a:
the bird flies, straight to that doomed
boarding house. It froze the water pipe
all over the house, soddened the bread
petri6ed the clothes on the line, paralyzet
the potatoes, also apples, turnips, cabbages
and everything else that had put in b,
the quantity for economy's sake.
, The sun went down on that days wrath
Three days after, it rose on another and i
the end of the world had come with it,
should have been only too glad. Gabriel
t trumpet would have been a welcomer SCUM.
t to me than the step of Mr.. Chandler that
heard approaching the door. knew he hat
been hunting all over the house for me
, and had fed from room to room, iron
l stair to stair, till at last I had taken refug
/ in the garnet floor, which the children, tn
, servants, and I shared together.
The awful fact was that the mans hous
! was ruined. The weather was dreadful,
against ME. Even the oldest inhabitant O
, the boarding. house declared that he ha.
never known such sudden and remarkable
changes. Without word of warning, lik'
: thief IN the night, the calamity came
The pipes threw off their letters, and burst
: The deluge was nothing to it.
Before anything could be done seven diff
t ferent ceilings were frescoed and tattooe,
l in most unhappy manner, seven ditferen
l carpets were drenched, and the occupant
. of seven different rooms were hunting m
l to bay. sent for the calclminers, tn
: plumbers, and the carpet men, and f.,un'
! out how much it would cost to put MI
t Chambers house in order again. Then
fled to my room.