The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-05-22
COUSIN SHADRACII'S WILL.

care you my Aunt Dorcas2''
"Sakes alivel'' said Mrs. Torrance,
"who be your"
''I'm Emily" said the girl. "Please
let me in for 1 am tired and cold. I've
walked all the way from the station, and
I've had nothing to eat since noon."
"Well. Ineverl" said Mrs. Torrance.
"You're the city schoolma' 'am, amt you,
aswent out to live with Cousin Shadrach2
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 youp And you've come back
to us now, though we wasn't stylish
enough for you before. Well, come in,
come in.''
Cousin Shadrach had been the family
apple of discord ever since they could
remember. He was rich, he was eccen-
trio, he was grabbed. He had shut the
door in the face of all his relatives, until,
toward the last, sick and feeble, he had
signified his desire that Emily Alden
should come and take care of him. And
Emily had gone. There had been spice
Emily for long time. Emily had been
looked upon as "proud" and 'sstuck up"
because instead of entering factory, or
learning the dress-maker's trade, she had
elected to be teacher. She had never
visited Job Torrance's family until now
his money to the Baptist widows and Or
phans-her own mother was dead and
her step-father, pompous old wholesale
grocer, objected to step-children, SO that
there seemed to be no other haven of
refuge left to her.
Who could blame Mrs. Torrance for
g ,nomentary feeling of triumph when
Emily Alden came thus to her door-stone
in the twilight of that April dayp
But she helped her of with her things,
made 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 rainbow "Job's
troubles'' quilt, and you could look out
the window into greening meadows,
where whip-poor-will planted it's me-
lancholy refrain.
81 hope you will sleep well," said Mrs.
Torrance. eve eat breakfast at s o.
clock.'
"What is she like, motherp" said Job,
jr., who was milking.
''Ch, she looks we'll enough,'' Mrs.
Torrance carelessly responded. 'ELittle
and dark, with big, shady eyes, and
real Torrance mouth doesn't talk great
deal, and dresses shabby, as one might
expect"
"Poor thing" said Job, pityingly.
"Well," said Mrs. Torrance, sharply,
81 can't say but what think she deser-
YES all she got. Them Aldens always
were as proud as Lucifer."
"You'll keep her, mother, of cOurse?"
81 suppose So" said Mrs. Torrance,
Il don't suppose she's got anywhere
else to go.''
Emily rose, dressed herself, and came
downstairs.
Aunt Dorcas," she said, as she en-
countered that lady frying ham and eggs
over the kitchen fire, what is there in
q this neighborhood for a woman to do2"
81 "Eh?" said Mrs. Torrance in surprise.
& "To earn my living, Imean2" exclaim-
ed Emily. Is the district school sup
sEplied with a teacher2"
SE Mrs. Torrance nodded as she placed
IA the slice Of frizZling ham on a blue edged
Xplate and arranged the eggs in golden
# spheres above.
u els there a factory hereaboutsp" pur~
& sued Emily.
S. "Used to be" said Mrs Torrance, ''but
SSthey failed, and it's been shut up for ten
s$mOnths.
s# "Do you know any one who wants a
sgirl9" pursued the city cousin.
ss8 Mrs. Torrance SGT the coffee pot on the
sStable, blew the horn for Job, and then
sSresponded to her niece's query bya count
ser question.
"Why don't you stay here2"
s "Because," said Emily with spirit, 81
want to earn my own living"
s swell, you can earn it here, can't
MgsyouP I was calculating to hire a girl
this spring; and if you'll work honestly
SS8for 1t, I'll give you the Sc a month l was
ggoing to pay hired help"
S Emily's pale face frightened.
sS :" should like that" she said. And
sthen Job came in, tall, handsome and
FLUSHED, his curls yet wet from the spring
into which he had dipped them, and a
ssprig of trailing arbutus pinned on to his
coat, and spoke frank welcome to tho
young girl whom he had never seen be-
4ore.
M $50 Cousin Shadrach Seely is deadp"
she said.
sS S "Yes," said Emily quietly.
'ss did you like himp''
M NO" confessed the girl. ''IIe was
eross and surly, and had no sympathy
syith anybody. But Il tried to be kind