The Benton weekly record. [volume] (Benton, Mont.) 1880-1885, 1881-08-25
ETHEL E ERROR.

4
was stirring mp starch, rinaing out fir
i clothes, and otherwise assisting the Uasl
el-Woman, in the kitchen below.
! Somebody must help Bridget, it stood /
reason, for the wash was large. aud til
family incomesmall: but Miss Ethel neve
thought Of prodering her services Of
! Monday.
She had been sent to a hoaftiiag sclioo
taught French and embroidery, and i'm
bued with atttste for Jean IngeloN 5 poet
ry--all of which accomplishments ar
hardly useful in large family.
..But Ethel Is Eretty," Mrs. Elkingto
remarked, with q sigh. Il dare say ?sh
will marry we'll, one Of tho these days.
should like her TO be brought up like
lady. | was terribly mortified when sistt;
ketnrah put her daughter to the niIline17
trade. Patty was a pretty girl too, al
though her style is quite different from
EtheI's; it is a shame to shut her off be
linda counter.
80 MRS. E.tkllgt0n went OH tOlllng. econ
omizing, denying herself almost the neces
saries Of life, In order that Ethel might til,
more conplet]F resemble q human butter
fly.
Miss Ethel calmly accepted the sacrifice
as If it were a matter Of course. After thi:
manner is sclfshness fosterca in families
as If it were a virtue instead OF a vice.
Ethel Ellington was in the midst of {
musical skirmish Of flats and sharps, when
there came a knock at the door, and tall.
hroWn-faced man stood there, with 8 Ieatll.
CT valisc in one hand and an eccentric
looking stick in the other.
.toocs Mrs. Eliab ELLINGTON live here p:
said he.
''That is ma" said the fair musician,
giving the tortured piano an instant of re-
prieve. "But she is particularly engaged, -
with q suspicious glance at the valise, ssan(l
we do not want any new publications, nor
patent soaps.
Neither do IL said the stranger.
brasquely. u have called on especial
business"
Mamma can not see YOU said Miss
Ellington, still doubtfully. "Will mot do
as Well?''
s'You remember your cousin, Robin
Haldy?" said the tall stranger, after a mo-
nent's pause.
"Hardy--Hardy-Robin Hartly:' re-
peated Ethel. ooh, yes! u little slub-
nosed, mischieyous fellow that was always
drawing charcoal pictures onthe inside Of
The bartldoor, and filing the chieken-honse
with pulleys and leather bands, and all
sorts OF nonsense. He ran away, one day,
efter he had blown the corn-crib all to
pieces BY some chemical explosion or other
md we have not heard OF him sil1ce.''
Exactly y said the tall man. II do not
'ecall the precise circumstance, but it
sounds very like Hardy. You know he
Sent to Idaho Ierritory?'
mol" said Ethel, in4patiently. sDid /
lot tell you We have never heard of him
;iuct? ~
He has been very sick, and
"Oh, l see, interrupted Ethel, She is
lead; aud YOU are tryingto break It to me
Is gently as. possible, but you need not
axe the trouble, sir, as none of us care a
traw whether Robin Hardy lived Or died.
lie was always q od-for-notI1ing, shift
ess fellow; and you want to get the money
or the funeral expenses of us: pl is a law
-er, and he will contest it to the very last
ncl.
Excuse me, : said the stranger. eourte-
'nsly, bat had no intention Of that sort.
merely intended TO mention that he had
atterly made great deal OF money ont of
ome successful speculation in Idaho, and
hat [ presumed his relatives would like to
'enefit by his change Of circumstances. y
At this, Miss Ellington became al in
tinct Witllanimation and interest.
. Certainly, " said SHE, 'tof course. That
would only be right=and proper. The only
leirs arc our family, and aunt keturah,s.
own the road. Pa will be at home next
week, if you wish 10 see him about It. He
) ia Philadelphia nov on court business =
Thanks !" said the stranger. II will
all again. In the meantime would YOU
e so very good as to give ms. II glass of
FaterS''
tI.pS1