The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1884-10-02

books were found in Nahum Dalton's
stained pine desk, labeled respectively
with the names of his two nieces.
Eunice and Nina, ..to be presented up
on their marriage
''Fiddlesticks!" said Eunice, disdain-
fully, Il don't want the vulgar old
things"
''Then." said Nina, softly. II. will
keep them both for Uncle Nahum's
sake!''
And, in spite of Eunice's sarcasm,
she put them carefully away among
her treasures.
"Who knows but what l may want
to made the real election cake one of
these days?' she said, laughingly.
The double wedding came off gor-
geously at the Dalton mansion, but it
proved to be the last glitter of the ex-
piring torch of wealth and fortune.
The cake, all glittering with its sugar
ed fairies and pictured orange wreaths,
the bridal banquet. the very band
which discoursed sweet music to the
wedding guests, were obtained on
credit, and not one of the luckless
tradespeople was paid!
For the next day Matthew Dalton's
entire and total failure was ringing
over all the town, and with this was
also involved the ultimate ruin of his
son-in-law, Herbert Lesdener.
From suite of elegant apartments
at the St. Saffron Hotel. Mrs. Lesdener
descended to second floor in respect
able tenement-house, and great were
her weepings and wailings and gnash-
ing Of teeth.
Jerome Falconer struggled very
bravely against the adverse tide as
long as struggles were of any avail.
but the failure of his father and BROTH
er-in-law induced withdrawal of con-
tidence and credit, and his temporary
embarrassment followed.
$50 you've come down in the world.
too" said Eunice bitterly, as she seat
ed herself in the pleasant little room
where Nina was dOmiciled.
up in the world, rather" laughed
the CHEEKY girl; ''why, we are on the
third story here, and to tell you the
truth, Eunice, like it great deal
better than l did the big house in
Madison avenue, with its hollow-sound-
ing rooms and frescoed walls and
marble-paved halls. To be sure. it
isn't pleasant to be poor, but as long
as Jerome is well and in good spirits"
''Pleasant,' pOuted Eunice, Il
sometimes almost wish that l was dead.
What are you going to do now?'
For Mrs. Falconer was examining
the state of her little range stove with
dimpled, housewifely interest.
''What do you think?'' she asked
archly, by way of response.
I'm sure / haven the least idea"
'Im going to try my hand at cake
baking. jerome delights in fires. cake,
and Uncle Nahum's recipe book GER
:.a.1-y ought to be used. Don't you
want yours?'
''No, indeed, I have no heart for
such folly" sighed Eunice.
''Folly! don't call it folly.' laugh
ed Nina. II don't think Uncle Nahum
could have given me more acceptable
present. OF what use are all my point
laces, jewels and cashmeres now?'
AS she spoke she opened the curious
little volume, dark-hled, and fastened
with little tongue of discolored lcath-
er, which slid beneath strap of the
same to fasten it.
''What a queer little BOOK she
said, land what an old pocket at the
end, stuffed full of newspapers. Why,
they'r re not newspapers at all-they're
look, Eunice, they are folded bank
notes.
They were. The end pocket or
compartment was filled with packets,
each wrapper in slip of newspaper
containing some single recipe for cake,
jelly or marmalade and tied round with
a bit of waxed linen thread.
Uncle Nahum's quaint fancy had
taken that peculiar turn, and each
worn little receipt book contained 81
GOO in fifty dollar bills.
''Eunice," cried Nina, when the two
sisters had recovered from their aston
ishment,' ''there is Uncle Nahum's
wedding gift, and how inestimably val
ued just at present? Oh, if l could
only see the dear old man once more to
kiss him and thank him as he de-
serves
And Nina burst into tears which flow
ed from mingled sources.
A little while ago $4,000 would have
seemed but triile IN the aggregate of
her annual expenses; now it was COM
parative wealth-the fountain, as it
were, of new fortune. The old man
could scarcely have taken more Sc
cure method of excepting his memory
green," in the hearts of his two nieces.
And years afterward, when Eunicc
and Nina were once more restored,
through the instrumentality of Uncle
Nahum's oddly given present, to COM
petence if not to wealth, the worn old
receipt book, occupied a position of
honor on the rosewood shelves of the
carved library bookcase.