The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-04-14

and portly, motherly Mrs. Orr was darn
ing appalling holes in stout gray socks,
from deep basket by her side. A COM
Portable cat slept on rug pearer the fire;
pitcher of cider, plate of rosy apples,
tin basin of cracked walnuts and hick-
DRY nuts were on small shelf in the
chimney corner; and Ellie King, the
pretty little school teacher, who boarded
at the Orr farm house, was leaning back
in a little, low, rush oottomed chair,
shielding her face from the heat, with
letter just received from home.
Outside the wind was blowing great
guns, and the night was raw and cold,
a wild bitter night for man or beast to
be abroad, Ellie was thinking, just as a
rapid hurry of footsteps on the ground
outside, and knock at the kitchen door,
disturbed the serene coziness of the
farmhouse kitchen.
"Bless my heart" Mr.. Orr said, cheer
lily, as he opened the door, eff faint
Mr.. Chamney back again! Come right
along in! It's stormy night, and no
mistake"
Its 1, sure enough, and glad to be
under roof once more. Mrs. Orr, how
do you do? Mr.. Orr, I'm glad to shake
hands with you again"
He stamped the snow off his thick
boots before he came into the room to
shake hands with host and hostess; and,
as he came into the full light of the fire
and bright lamplight, Ellie King looked
up and saw him of whom, in her month
of residence at the Orr Farm she had
heard not little, and decided with
light sparkle of admiration in her eyes,
It.. a III 60
ney's appearance was concerned.
'"This is Mr.. Chamney, Ellie" Mr..
Orr said, with certain little pride in his
dice. "That is Miss King, our school
teacher She boards here, and we're
proper glad to have her here, too"
Sydney bowed, and laughed at the I'M
conventional introduction, and Ellie
smiled and flushed little-only Mr..
Chamney did not notice either particu-
larly.
"A country school-teacher, he was
saying to himself, sarcastically. "Heaven
preserve me. 1 know EN- all alike.
Well, I'm only going to stay week,
anyhow"
But, in just exactly an hour, Mr.. Sgd
ney Chamney had changed his mind,
having discovered that Miss Ellie King
was pretty, and lady-like, and intelli-
gent; altogether as different from the
species as a humming- bird from vul-
ture.
"A little beauty-a little diamondr'
he decided, enthusiastically, which was
something very rare for him to do.
"What possible fate has placed her here,
in this out of the way corner Of crea-
ton"
We'll, the week came to an end with
wonderful rapidity, and it seemed that
Ellie and Sydney had been acquainted
lifetime, instead of only seven days of
escorling her to the school house, and
seeing her safely home in the little red
sleigh; of going on one or two skating
trips, and some brisk, delightful walks
to the village Post Office, and seven
evenings Of pleasant conversation; intri
cate games of chess, or old-fashioned ap-
pie roasting frolics, or molasses- candy
making.
Il don't want to 60 away, at all, he
said, one bright, sharp morning, as he
drove her to school,
but of course you must" she an
swered, gravely.
"It seems that woman don't; at all
events. you don't" he said, lightly.
"Isn't it terrible bore to travel along in
the same rut, day after day, week after
week, as you do, Miss Ellie p
A wicked little sparkle was in her
eyes.
"Not half as great nuisance as to do
nothing, as you do"
'But was brought up not to have
anything much to do, you see. 1t makes
o difference"
She fixed her pretty, thoughtful eyes
on his handsome face.
''Oh, you are q rich man, then. I
thought, somehow, you were not"
He laughed-just the merest bit vexed
at her sincere frankness.
"Rich? No, am not, unless you
call six hundred a year a fortune"
II don't earn half that, yet I call my
self rich." Ellie said, quietly. "But
perhaps you expect to inherit fortune,
Mr.. Chamney?"
"You saucy little catechist! No, I can't
say that I do
Then, Mr.. Chamney, you mean to
say that you shall be content to go. on,
so long as you live, idling away your
time in whatever amusement plesses you
for the moment. and having no good OBJ
ject to accomplish, no healthy discipline
of daily employment, just because you
happen to possess enough to feed and
clothe your