, 1882-01-13
ELLA BOMEN'S LUCK.

"Dou't look 50 doleful, Nell. We are
not any worse Oft than we We're month
'9sVSii know that! But, on, if we only
had five hundred dollars !"
n',, "Rnt we have not! The next best thing
:, 70 he contented without it, Who is
your correspondent!
"Anut Margaret Hooper; she is my
r,other's aunt, but she has al ways been
NV fond of me. The letter is not di-
nociIv from her, but from her servant,
Anne smith, who has lived with her for
Years. Aunt Margaret is very sick and
wants to see me-"
"But it is dated Magnolia"
"Yes. 1t will cost me considerable to
90, and yet Anne seems to think she Is
Serv i'll. She is ninety-two years old"
Rich"
ooh, no, indeed. She has nothing of
her own, unless it may be some clothing
and furniture. She lives upon an in
come from her sons property that goes
back to his family when Aunt Margaret
lies"
"Ihen you must go! II she were
wealthy there would be plenty OF others
10 comfort her death bed, but as it is, if
she wants you, you had better get ready
TO start.
But you?'
.Oh, III get along. Jane will give
me my meals until you come back
"I do think Harry Bowen, that you
are the best husband that ever woman
was best with, said Nell, putting her
arms around his neck.
"Thank you, dear. For wife of five
y wears experience that is a charming
A speech"
"Fiye wears" Nell thought, as she
v busiel herself about the tea table, $50 it
is And Harry is lover yet. Perhaps
five had children we would not be SO
fond of each other, but he is all 1 have
and excepting his sister, Jane, he has no
one but me. If only had five hundred
dollars, now, to give to him."
By which wish, many times made dur.
ing the month just passing away, it will
be understood that the Rowens had not
large bank account. Harry was manage.
and head clerk in u hardware store, tho
only one in Creyton, the little town
where he lived. Ella had been the dis
trict school teacher until her pretty face
had won Harry's love.
They had married on a narrow income,
but by economy had saved enough to
buy the small house they called home,
and furnish it very prettily. But it had
taken all they could save in those five
years.
Just one month before this story opens
one OF the partners in the firm where
Harry was employed had died, and his
,v;1nu, hal p,Nual fpnp, Irayfnn
taking out the money that had been her
husbands share of the business, 1t was
avery desirable opportunity, as the bust
ness was settled and prosperous; but
Harry was not willing to sell or mort.
gage his hardly earned home and the
money was not within his reach in any
other way. So it came to be the refrain
in all Elias musings, and often spoken
aloud, IF we only had five hundred
dollars"
1t seemed to work itself into the Jog
OF the train, the puff of the locomotive,
the jar of the steamboat machinery, as
she sped over the road and river to Mag
nolia.
1t was ten years since Ella had made
her last visit there with her mother Her
lie until then had been carefully cher
lsned one, although she had never had
possession OF money. Her mother had
taught music in u large city, spending
ler summer vacations in Magnolia, and
ner income had been sufficient to give
Ella every advantage of education, and
n TO make her childhood and girlhood very
\ happy.
IA one was eighteen when her mothers
,F ueath-a very sudden one-threw her
upon her own resources for daily bread,
ana after teaching music for time, tax
ing her mothers pupils she had accepted
'Ie district school at Creyton for the sake
VI country air, loving the life in the
country better than in the city.
Always busy she had not been to Mag
soila since her mother died, although
nequent letters were exchanged with
aunt Margaret 1t was pleasant to
TNognlze all the landmarks familiar in
childish memories, when the yearly visit
Of her life.
a. put when Anne opened the door of
"e tittle cottage home, saying softly:
oh, Miss Ella, dear, I'm glad you've
wme. Iour aunt's fretted sore to see
iOu' everything else was forgotten in
~g duty before her.
ro1 the dear old aunt, who had always
"yed her bright, pretty niece, was i'll
unto death, with a painful illness that
~duired incessant care. Anne was nearly
AMI uU5n r', ont by months Of faithful nursing,
'H1 %rs Ella wrote to Harry:
NAL you can spare me, dear, i am sorely
a,o .eued Il here. Aunt Margaret's children
mo- n0nd al dead, and her grandchildren are
Gne OF them here. L have written to
cbi,rd bGisrd Cooper, the eldest of her son 5
fITaiIufen,to ~ whom her income will return
viii 1He dies, but even if he comes on she
IN still need me-
br. b' wa was hard nursing and incessan. care,
inv.I;lI,a inv Ella felt more than repaid by the