Stephens City star. (Stephens City, Va.) 1881-1883, 1883-02-24
ness. and I shall speak to him. Doi

gu re nOU going W De drreSCeu. Ohiy
let it be lesson to you through life
that you can't do a mean action with.
out its being found out. Is this your
carriage, Serena? Let me help you
in."
And the next half-hour tete-a-tete
with her mother was not a particularly
pleasant one for Miss Amandina
Wrangley.
"Just as your uncle was beginning
to be little fond of you, too p said
the indignant matron, "aud now he's
thoroughly disenchanted. Amandina
l couldn't believe this of YOU"
"But, ma" whispered Amandina,
"you didn't tell the storekeeper that
day when you knocked the cut-glass
cologne bottle off the counter and
broke it. You said it was his business
to look after his own goods. You told
me-"
"Will you hold your tongue, miss?"
said Mrs. Wrangley, with acerbity.
"It's strange how little judgment girls
havew
After due reflection she went to NAL
colm's, the next day, to inquire how
much damage she was liable for in the
matter of her daughters carelessness.
but was told that NJ. Rudford had
settled all that.
"Dear, DEAR" said Mrs. Wrangley,
.'things are getting worse and worse.
Your Uncle Robert is just enough of
Don Quixote to go chasing around
town to hunt up the pert shop-miss
and restore her to her place. Men are
such fools where a pretty girl is con-
cerned."
"I don't think she's pretty bit"
said Amandina, sullenly.
"Be quiet, Amandinap' said her
mother, sharply. "You've done quite
mischief enough already"
Mrs. Wrangley proved a true
prophet. Uncle Bob, who had no par
ticular business of his own to mind,
had an especial penchant for the mind
ing of other peoples affairs. He OBJ
tanned Mrs. Elson's address from Mr..
Malcolm, and went straight to the old
house on the docks, where dealer in
marine stores occupied the ground
floor, a family of Polish refugees
worked in ivory on the second, and
the top story sheltered Mrs. Elson and
her two daughters.
"My girl" he said to Ella, who sat
disconsolately by the window trying
to mend little Marys frock, "it's all
right. You're to go back to Malcolm's
tomorrow, just as if nothing at all had
happened. 1t was my niece, Aman-
dina, who broke the bird and smashed
the counter. Good gracious me 7
looking around him." You don't say
that you live in this little hot-hole
under the roof2"
And Mr.. Rudford stared around
him and drew a prodigiously long
breath.
1--WE are very glad, sir, to have sc
good home as this" said Mrs. Elson
meekly. "Rents are high, and"
Eyes, yes," sad Mr.. Rudford, 81
know. Dear, dear me; how unequally
things are divided in this world Now
I've got nice little place in Harlem
on the line of the elevated road-a cot
tage with bit of garden and an appl,
, tree. I'd be glad to get some respon-
sible party to occupy it just for the
winter, to see that it don't go to wreck
: and ruin. l shan't expect any rent
only little reasonable oversight.
, Come, what do you say?"
1--WE shall be so grateful was all
that Mrs. Elson could answer. But hel
{ eyes were most eloquent.
Ella went back to the store next day,
Mr.. Malcolm, who knew what Mr.
Robert Rudford's favor was worth
made a meek apology to Miss Elson
and hoped she would overlook any
trihing asperity with which he might
have spoken in the vexation OF the
moment. And all was serene once
, more.
"What ~ Mrs. Wrangley cried
"My brother has established those up
starts, rent free, in his Harlem cottage
Now I can read it all, from beginning
to end. He'll marry that shop-girl as
, sure as fate
But he did not. Mrs. Wrangley wa'
mistaken for once.
, "What do l want of chit of a girl
| young enough to be my daughter? P
said Mr.. Rudford. And he married
! the pretty, dove-eyed little cripple in
: stead.
And if ever you saw atender-heartet
, child playing with Dresden chinf
5 doll you can form some idea Of th'
t loving care wherewith he protected hi
r fragile little wife from life's cares ant
c ills.
f "Sister Serena don't like il" said he