The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-12-14

Are you my aunt Dorcas?"

nv yOu IL duut DOrCaSs
Mrs. Torrance had been entertaining a
quilting bee that afternoon, and she had
got the frame out of the way, the dishes
washed up. and the apartments generally
"tldied, when there came meek tap at
the door, and there in the yellow April
twilight stood small figure in gray
travelling shawl anu holding bag.
''Sakes allver said Mxs Torrance,
who are you?"
II am Emily" said the girl. "Please
let me in. for | am tired aud cold. I've
walked all the way from the station, and
I've had nothing tx. eat since noon."
well. l neverr' said Mrs. Torrance.
You re the cily schoolma am, amt you
as went ont to live with Cousin Shad-
rach? And he's dead, and the money is
all gone to the Baptist widow and or
phan fund? You didn't make much by
that move, did you? And you've come
back to us now, though we wasn't stylish
enough for you before. Well, come In,
come in"
And Mrs. Torrance, who was essen
TALLY a kind-hearted woman, albeit she
could not repress the sneer that rose to
her lips, moved the low rocker to the
fire, and flung another log on the and
irons.
Cousin Shadrach had been the family
apple Of discord ever since they could
remember. He was rich, hc was eccen-
centric, he was grabbed. He had shut
the door in the face of all his relations,
until toward the last sick and feeble, ne
had signifed his desire th It 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, in
stead of entering factory, or learning
the dressmaker's trade, she had elected
to be a teacher. She had never visited
Job Torrance's family until now--now
that Cousin Shadrach had willed his
money to the Baptist widows and or
phans-her own mother was dead, and
her step-father pompous old whole
sale grocer, objected to step-children, so
that there seemed to be no other hayen
Of refuge left to her.
Who could blame Mrs. Torrance for a
momentary feeling of triumph when
Emily Alden came thus to her door.
stone in the twilight of that April day?
But she helped her off with her things,
made a cup of tea for her, and finally
escorted her to little room under the
roof-tree, where the floor was covered
with homemade rag carpet, and the
bed was decorated with a rainbow Jobs
troubles quilt, and you could look out
of the window into a greening meadow,
where whip poorwill planted its mel :;
sncholy refrain.
Il hope you will sleep WE'LL" said
Mrs. Torrance. We eat breakfast at 3
o'clock"
Aud 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 robins and
blue birds in the old orchard would per-
NIT any one to Sleep And as she lay
with her cheek against the pillow, watch
ing 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" said Job,
Jr.. vino was milking.
ooh, she looks we'll enough" Mrs.
Torrance carelessly responded. Little
and dark, with big shady eyes and real
Torrance mouth. Doesn't talk great
deal. and dressed shabby, as one might
expect"
Poor thing" said job, pityingly.
WELL" said Mrs. Torrance, sharply,
II can't say but what l think she de-
s,rves all she's got Them Aldens always
were as proud as ucifer."
you'll keep her, mother, of course"
y suppose So" said Mrs. Torrance.
81 don't suppose she's got anywhere else
to CO."
There was no more delicious doing
for Emily now. She rose hurriedly,
dressed herself and came down stairs.
"Aunt Dorcas," she said, as she en-
countered that lady frying ham and eggs
over the kitchen fire, "what is there in
this neighborhood for woman to do?"
"Eh?' said Mrs. Torrance in sur
prise.
ITO earn my living, 1 meanl' ex-
claimed Emily. SIS the district school
supplied with teacher"
Mrs. Torrance nodded as she placed
the slice of frizzling ham on q blue
edged plate, and arranged the eggs in
golden spheres above.
us there factory hereabout?" pur-
sued Emily.
Used to be-" said Mrs. Torrance,
'but they failed, and it's been shut up
for ten months"
do you know any one who wants Q
"Trip" pursued the CITY cOusiu