Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1882-11-09

suppose II true laS sptut ttit
US. IN their polite little nntes) that writers
seldom accomplish anything of real literary
merit till they are at eas, thirty. We don.
belong to the fortunate group Of phenome-
nal geniuses." and Flo twi,ched away her
finished brush from the wise. with a quick,
practiced movement. and began to spread
the table for their simple supper, IN the back
part of the store. In cold weather they
lived in this room as much as possible, TO
save fuel
Nettie toasted her feet luxuriously. and
looked rather admiringly at her pretty hands
LIVING idly in her lap. Her work at the fac
tory vas by no means detrimental to their
shapelIness.
III Mr. Stone had only been at home the
night father brought the money for him
from Ashfeld, It would have been all right.
Or if father hadn't had the stroke before
morning" Her lips quiyered and her ewes
filed at the memory.
"Netle." said Flo solemnly. as she cut
the rye loaf. we are sure that Mr.. Saokett
is an honest man. and he never would have
said ,ha, be sent the money BY father If i,
hadn't been true"
WHY do YOU emphasize Mr.. Sackett so
honest too ?"
Il don't know ANYTHING about it," said
Flo. People can, always help their sus-
picions. Perhaps he was at home tha,
night"
Nctiie laughed ineredulously.
Nonsense Don't you suppose people
would have found him out before this If he
vas rascal don't think myself he's
very amiable. Father very likely put the
money IN such safe place till morning.
that nobody will ever find 1t, unless the old
homestead should be pulled down or struck
by lightning. and then il will probably be
discovered IN some mysterious Granny Of the
foors or walls. Secrets come to light in
strange ways, sometimes.
Il Know one thing" said Flo rcsolutely,
"you and are gong to pay back that mon
ey. Nettie Tor the remainder. seeing that Mr..
Stone took the very house from over our
headsi. # We have to live on dry bread and
oaimesl for twenty YEAR"
tAh. hov easy i prospective heroism at
sixteen ,
We shall be almost old women at that
time. and cross aud ugly. as like as not.
said Nr,tle. taking a disconiented bite a,
her BUTTERFLIES bread. Despite her buoy an,
demeanor on the street. she more sub
jcc, To ups and down. than Flo.
I'VE needn't be cross and ugly, answered
Flo. carefully measuring out her share OF
milk from the Tiny pitcher. Il hope the
lamp ~on'l smoke again tonight. Hos nice
II would he to have a new burner"
4 short, hobbling figure. in al immense
rubber CLOAK. with an umbrella IN one hand,
and a yello~ quart bowl IN the other. press
ed beaniing face against the glass upper
half Of III, door.
Miss Melia,ine - said Flo joyfully, and
sprang up tu admit her
Their next door neishbor. Miss MARY La
Sina Murray tvho had given herself the
name Of 'Mrlia,ine" when a little child)
was hat Flo aud Nettle called "a walking
sunshine fartOry" MANY a time had her
klnLl, deeds help to tide them over threat
eRcd collapse in the eommissIonar, depart
mrnt. and heI gifts were a. d,iicaiely be
slowed a. they ~ere timely. A simple, un-
learned woman. with heart Of gold
You dear thing, hope you haven't fin-
isbed YOUR tea. for said To my self TINS boil
ed dinner Ia 80 very saNory this afternoon
tyou know NV habit of two meal, a day IN
winter. my desrsl those girls must have a
taste. Don't get ehair-l mustn't sit
down"
She did, however. and smiled on them
beneroiently. while pretending not To
see just how acceptable Vas her neighborly
offering.
"Oh. I'm used TO all sorts OF days, YOU
know. Miss MellsSine. That ) o'clock whis-
tie haunts me in my dreams. but hope
..
parsnips are perfectly lovely. Il believe
that IS the current phrase these day..l
And what have YOU done TO pass away the
time p
"Oh. odds and ends, my dear odd. and
ends. 4 liiile mending and my house work
a letter to ms sister Ce!inda's sou. because
lis his birthday, off among strangers, dear
boy, and bat OF flannel sewing for one oi
poor Bridget Maloney's little tribe. I'm 50
glad YOU like the things. Some folks amt
any hand for boiled dinners. hut | must say
! like them. You get so much IN q small
compass You may cut off two yards Of that
IL cent ruching, Flo my dear. Nov | really
must 20. Never mind about the bowl this
timr.l Caleb Stone is very sick again-taken
worse suddenly. they say, and Mlrandy
wants me TO come over Tonight. Hes dread
ful fdgety and wants TO see me about some
thing particular, she says. Mirandy is no
hand to do for sick folks, YOU know, though
she's not to blame. never having been
brought TO it," and the short auburn curls
slightly shivered on each side Of the round
smiling face, nodded good will' and good
night as she disappeared in the caSernou'
depths of the rubber cloak and stepped out
into the rain.
Caleb Stone very sick, If he should die
We NAV have to hurry up the payments
to the lawyers or somebody" said Flo, rath-
er apprehensiyely, getting her dish pan
ready.
II shan't worry over that" answered Net
| tie, blithely, as she tied on large apron
preparatory TO dish wiping. She had re-
covered her elasticity since the advent ot
the parsnlps, etc.
.'If there's an out -and-out angel on the
| face Of this selfish earth it's Miss Mellavine
| What difference good meal makes in
ones moral barometer. was cross before
supper, Flo, dear" said she penitently Civ
ing her sister quick dab of kiss on the
left ear, 'if any one has right to be cross
it's you, shut up here all day-with no sx-
| erclse except TO do errands. in the evenings
when I'm at home. You're twice as good
and patient as your unsatisied sister Net
| tie"
Enough of Miss Mellavine's benefaction
remained to give favor to the breakfast
and Nettie went to her work with light
heart In the dark of the .wintry morning
Her duty in the factory was packing and la.
belling stockings. About the middle of the
afternoon her quick eye detected something
wrong in pile of stockings that had just
been brought to her for boxing.
"How's this, Richard ?" said she to the
messenger, "there must be a mistake. Mr.
Barker has given you the wrong kind.
These stockings are part cotton, and my la
bells say "superfne WOOL
The boy gave knowing wink. 81 guess
it's all right Barker knowed what he was
about. NUNS the word, Miss Nettie, if you
and want to keep our places"
With sparkling eyes and scarlet cheeks
Nettie carried the box of stockings into an
inner room where sat Mr.. Barker, the over
seer Of her department, . heavy, habby man.
with pale eyes, pale hair. and hanging un-
der lip, and with him one or two clerks.
"These are not the right stockings for my
labels, Mr.. Barker. They are half cotton =
Mr. Barker fumbled the stockings with
his thick fingers, looked at the labels and
then at her with beery smile.
.Av dear vonnO lady Won suYprise me