Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1882-05-26
LOVE ON A FARM.
Are you my Aunt DOrcas?"

Are you my Aunt Dorcas?'
! Mrs Torrance had been entertaining a
Quilting Bee that afternoon, and she had
just got the frame out of the way the
dishes washed up and the apartment gen
orally s'tidied," when there came meek
knock at the door. and there in the yellow
gray travelling shawl, and holding bag.
sSakes alive!'' said Mrs. Torrance, who
be your"
Il am Emily said the girl. please let
me in for am tired and cold. I've walked
all the way from the station, and I've had
nothing to eat since noon"
"Well, never !" said Mrs. Torrance
You're the city scboolma am, amt you,
as went out to live with Cousin Shadrach?
And he's dead, and the money has all gone
to the Baptist Widow and Orphan Fund
You didn't make much by that move, did
you? And you've come to us now, though
we WASH It stylish enough for you before.
| Well. come in, come in -
And Mrs. Torrance, who was essential
ly kind-hearted woman, albeit she could
no. repress the sheer that rose to her lips,
moved the low rocker to the fire, and flung
another log on the andirons.
Cousin Shadrach had been the family
Apple of Discord ever since they conld re-
member. He was rich, he was eccentric.
he was grabbed. He had shut the door
in the faces of all his relations, until, TO-
ward the last, sick and feeble. he had sig
niied his desire that Emily Alden should
come and take care of him And Emily
had gone.
There had been spice Of jealousy in the
family as regarded Emily, for long time.
Emily had been looked upon as ''proud'
and ''stuck up" because, instead of enter
i ing a factory or learning the dressmaker' g
! trade, she had elected to be teacher. She
had never visited Job Torrance's family
willed his money to the Baptist Widows
and Orphans-her own mother was dead,
/ and her step-father, pompous old whole
sale grocer, objected to step-children, so
refuge left to her.
Who could blame Mrs. Torrance for a
momentary feeling of triumph, when Emf
ly Alden came thus to her doorstone in the
twilight of that April day.
But she helped her off with her things,
made cup of tea for her and finally es-
corted her to little room under the roof
tree, where the floor was covered by
homemade rag carpet, and the bed deco
rated with rainbow ''Job's troubles"
quilt, and you could look out of the win
dow into a greening meadow where
whip-poorw planted its melancholy re-
frain.
II hope you will sleep WE'LL" said
Mrs. Torrance. 1--WE eat breakfast at
five.''
And then she went away.
Early as was the breakfast hour, Emily
was awake at least an hour before it. AS
if the tumultuous glee of the robin MS and
birds in the old orchard would permit
anyone to:sleep! And as she lay with her
cheek against the pillow, watching the
rosy dawn-light creep up the wall, she
heard the sound of voices in the meadow
below her easement.
"What is she like, mother?n said Job, Jr.,
who was milking.
rance carelessly responded. 'Little and
dark, with big shady eyes, and real Tor
rance mouth. Doesn't talk great
deal. and is dressed shabby, as one might
expect"
Poor thing" said Job, plying.
"Well," said Mrs. Torrance, sharply, Il
cam say but what think she deserves all
she's got. Them Aldens always we're as
proud as Lucifer.''
you'll keep her, mother, of course?"
Il suppose so," said Mrs. Torrance.
Il don It suppose she's got anywhere else
to go.''
There was no more delicious doing
for Emily now. She rose hurriedly, dressed
herself and came down stair.
'sAunt Dorcas," she said, as she en-
eggs over the kitchen fire, "what is there
in this neighborhood for a woman to
do ?'
'sEh?' said Mrs. Torrance in surprise.
ITO earn my living mean ~ explained
Emily. lis the district school supplied
with teacher?n
Mrs. Torrance nodded as she placed the
slices of frizzling ham on blue-edged
plate, and arranged the eggs in golden
spheres above.
lis there factory hereabouts p'' pur-
sued Emily.
Used to be- said Mrs. Torrance. s'But
! they failed. and it 8 been shut up for ten
{ months"
''Do you know of any one who wants a
grip" pursued the city cousin.
Mrs. Torrance set the coffee pot on the
table, blew the horn for Job, and then re-
spended to her niece's query by a counter
question:
"Why don 'tyou stay here?''
because" said Emily, with spirit, 81
want to earn my own living"
"Well, you can earn it here, can't your
l was calculating TO hire girl this spring.
And if you'll work honestly for it, Eli give
YOU the six dollars a month 1 was going to
pay hired help.
l Emily's pale face Frightened.