Arizona weekly enterprise., 1882-12-09

 trim her grey felt hat, for Lizzy and Fanny's fall hats had cost so much that Lucy decided that new cherry ribbon was all she could afford for herself; and it was nearly eleven when soft tap, tap, tap, was heard at the door.
 She opened it in some surprise, and there stood old Miss Peck, drenched with rain and trembling with cold, her basket pressed close to her side, and her battered umbrella weeping turbid tears on the door-stone.
 Couldn't you take me in, my deary, just for this one night?" said the old woman, "because I've nowhere to stay, and the storm is terrible. 1 meant to go on to Deacon Daley s-his sister Charity is very good friend of mine but it is too far, and my own bones are all racked with rheumatiz! Couldn't you take me in? I'd sleep on the rug before the kitchen fire, just for the sake of shelter over my headr'
 Lucy hesitated a second. If Fanny or Lizzy knew that she had harbored such guest, Miss Peck's chances would be very slight indeed. But then she was so wet-so chilled-so miser- able.
 ''Come in,' said Lucy kindly. "Set your basketon the floor. You shall sleep with me, Miss Peck"
 And so she shared her own little bed with Miss Peck, that tempestuous No- vember night, and when the stormy sun- rise broke she rose early, made a little breakfast for the poor old soul, and sent her kindly on her way.
 At parting, Miss Peck pnt little red box into her hand.
 'Life-pills, my dear," said she, in mysterious whisper. ''For youn'
 "But can't afford to buy them, Miss Peck" said Lucy little embar- rassed.
 ''I don't mean that, deary," said Miss Peck. "As present.! For nobody has been so good to me, week in and week out, summer and winter, as you have. Keep the life-pills, my dear. Take one q week, and you'll never grow old or sad.''
 So oMiss Peck trudged on, and at Squire Wemple's she stopped.
 Squire" she said 10 that genial, jov- ial gentleman, who had just entered his office, and was warming his hands at the newly kindled fire. Il want a job of law done. And Fl pay you in suspend. CTS and shoe-strings, your pick and choice out of my basketr'
 ''Ahr' said the squire good-naturedly. ,"And what is it that you want done, Miss Peck?''
 Il want to make my will, said the old woman. II want to leave all have to Lucy Meade"
 shell be a great hesSess," said the squire, chuckling.
 "Yes," assented Miss Peck with great gravity. ''But she has sense and judg- ment, and will know what to do with it allr'
 So the squire, secretly enjoying the joke, made out the legal document, and saw it duly signed, witnessed, and at- tested.
 Perhaps you'd better keep it in your fire-proof safe, squire" said Miss Peck, sitting there like a withered elderly doll.
 s'Perhaps I had," said the squire.
 ''For fear of accident, you know"
 "Exactly-for fear of accident" said Squire Wemple. And after Miss Peck was gone, he and the clerk and the of fice-boy laughed until they were black in the face.
 ''Such a ioker' said they.
 But at the Meade homestead little Lucy held her tongue as she poured out the matutinal coffee. For her life she would not have dared to confess that old Miss Peck had slept in the house all night. For the topic of contagious dis eases was broached at the table, and Mir Meade spoke of smallpox having brok- en out at some tenement house, not fal away.
 Lizzie turned responsibility to her cid 1 CT sister.
 ''There, Lucy" she said, Il hope tha will be lesson to you. For all yor know, old Miss Peck may have come from that very house, yesterday, witt her stay-laces and buttons and thingsr
 And Lucy colored crimson, but dit not reply. It was true, she told herself that she had run q terrible risk. Blu then. who could turn the poor old crea ture from the door on such a night?- And, tossed by conflicting emotions Lucy crept into the bedroom, and kneel ing down, said her prayers, and left al the rest to Heaven.
 Scarcely week had elapsed whel one of the neighbors came in.
 "Old Miss Peck is dead" said she.
 Not of-small-pox?" gasped Lizzy involuntarily recoiling.
 ''Bless your heart, mo-" said Mrs Macraw. ''Found sittin' by the side c the road, quite dead, with her basket c buttons and pins beside her."
 And than oor,o ont tho. StO1s1- nf th will which had been so recently execut ed-and search was instituted In tn basket, between the bottom and the oil cloth lining which protected it, wa found bank-book, with deposits creG ited therein to the amount of sever; hundred pounds, most of which, as a forwards appeared, had been account lated by the sale of the old crone's muc vaunted Life Pills"
 And it was all Lucy Meade's. Sh was the heiress of the family now. Ii; zy and Fanny bit their lips, and pr' tended to make fun of the whole thing but in their secret hearts they envie Lucy her golden luck. ''She can marry that poor youn druggists clerk now said Lizzie spit fully.
 And she'll be the first bride of Il family" added Fanny somewhat nal ciously, ''in spite of your good look :, Lizzy."
 : But Lucy was quietly happy. ''It has come just in timc," said sh
 "Orrin has a chance to buy partne ! ship now, and we shall be assured Of ' modest livelihood. Oh, if Miss Pee