Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1882-03-15
Ella Bowen's Luck.

III never ldJbc DNb ~ PNS'
Ella Bowen quoted the well-worn
saving IN a very rainy weather sort OF
voice and handed letter to her hus-
band. He had just come in from his
davis business, and his face had
shadow on II, too, although be spoke
cheerily:
Don't look so doleful, Nell. We
are not any worse than we were
month ago j
q know that. But Oh! if we only
had five hundred dollars!
sBut we have not. The next best
thing is to be contented without It,
Who Is your correspondent
Aunt Margaret Hooper, she is my
mothers aunt, but she has always been
very fond Of me. This letter is mol
directly from her, but from her servant
Anne Smith, who has lived with her ior
wears. Aunt Margaret is very sick and
wants to see me''
But it is dated Magnolia"
Yes. 1t will cost me considerable 10
90. and yet Annie seems 10 think she
is very i'll. She is ninety-two years
old.'
Rich?
sOb. no indeed! She has nothing oil
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
dies
sThen you must 90! If she were
wealthy there would be plenty Of Others
TO comfort her death bed; but as ii is il
she wants you, you had better get ready
10 start
But you?'
oh, III get along. Jane will give
me my meals until you come back
Il do think, Harry Bowen, you are
the best husband that ever woman
was blessed WITH said Nell, putting
her arms around his neck.
Thank you, dear. For wife OF live
years. experience that is charming
speechv
Five years!' Nell thought, as she
busted herself about the tea table, so
it is! and Harry is lover yet. Perhaps
If we had children we would not be so
fond of each other, but he is all have
and excepting his sister Jane, he has no
one but me. If only had FIVE hundred
dollars pow, to give him.
By which wish, many times made
during the month just passing away 1t
will be understood that the Bowens
had not a large bank account. Harry
was manager aud head clerk in hard
ware store, the only one in Creyton'
the little town where he lived. Ella
had been the district school teacher un-
ill her pretty face had won Harry's love-
They had married on ua rrow income
but by economy had saved enough TO
buy the small house they called home'
and furnished it very prettily. But 1t
had taken all !hsy could sa We in those
five years.
lust one month te'ore this story
onens one of the partners i'll the hrm
where Harry was employed, had died.
and his widow had moved away from
Creyton, taking out the money that had
been her husbands share OF the Dusl-
ness. It was very desirable orpor-
tunity. as the business was settled and
prosperous, but Hairy was not willing
to sell or mortgage his hard earned
home. and the money was not within
his reach IN any other way. so 1t come
to be the refrain in ali Elias musing,
and often spoken aloud, III we only had
| five hundred dollars!
It seemed to work itself into the jog
of the train. the puff OF the locomotive,
the lar of the steamboat machinery, as
she sped over road and river to Magno"
lila.
1t was ten years since Ella had made
lber last visit there with her mother
Her life until then had been carefully
cherished one, although she had never
lbad possesslon of money. Her mother
Ibad taught music in large city, spend
ling her summer vacations in Magnolia
and her income had been sufficient 10
Give Ella every advantage Of education
end to make her childhood and girlhooa
very happy.
She was eighteen when her motner'
seath-a very sudden one-Ihrew ner
Iupon her own resources for her daiiy
bread. and after teaching music lor
Time, taking her mothers pupils sn'
accepted the district school at Creytoi
for the sake OF country air, loving. tne
life in the country better than III tn'
city. =.
Always busy, she had not been TO
Magnolia since her mother died. al
though frequent letters were exchanged
with Aunt Margaret. 1t was plsasan
to recognize all the landmarks iamilla'
Ito her childish memories, when tn