The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1884-11-06
!. less answered Ms. Dirk.

full an Mrs. LOnSdale. My term;
for room of this size are thirty
shillIngs a week"
"But that is too much" whineC
Mrs. Lonsdale.
"How much did you expect tc
paw" asked Mrs. Dirk, with a Gu
rious sparkle in her eyes.
SIN this Wilderness here" SAID
Mrs. Lonsdale, twelve shillingt
would be"
''If those are your ideas we never
shall come TO terms" said Mrs
Dirk. "But ifyou are really cramp
ed for money"
"My dear Mrs. Dirk" said the
rich mans wife, "you have no idea
of the perpetual demands on us for
money"
81 will take you for twenty five
shillings." Mrs. Dirk completed
her sentence as if the other had not
spoken.
And the bargain was completed.
Mrs. Eonsdale had not been in-the
house a week before she took her
husbands cousin severely to act.
THAT horrid old man in the fad
ed olive-green suit has the best
room in the house." she said. "The
very test."
"Yes," said Mrs. Dirk" he is my
mothers uncle. He was always We
ry good to my poor husband"
"But l am told he only pays half
price?''
"rhat is my affair."" said Mrs.
Dirk.
''But that is true?" insisted Mrs.
Lonsdale.
''Yes, it is true" confessed the
widow. "He is very old and can't
20 up and down stairs, so of course
he must have the first-room floor"
"Blt he hasn't any property?
"He owns Carragee Farm, across
the mountain" but nobody will
rent it of him, because the land is
80 rocky and the farm house was
burned down last fall when there
we're so many fires in the woods.
that he has nothing.
Mrs. Lonsdale curled her lip.
"Such impudence," said she. "No-
body has any right to live to be sew
enty years of age without having
laid up some little provision for the
future"
81 was thinking" said Mrs. Dirk,
''that perhaps Cousin Mortimer
Lonsdale would contribute little
something to his support, as we
are equally related"
"You may be very sure that he
will not" said Mrs. Lonsdale, with
every WE'LL" said Mrs. Dirk, calm
Iy. "He shall never want while 1
can help him."
The very next week, however, old
Mr.. Darrow was found dead in his
arm chair. And by will he had left
everything he possessed to his
grand-niece, Mary Dirk.
81 wish you joy of Carragee
Farmr chuckled Mrs. Lonsdale.
'Of course you'll have to pay taxes
On it, so it will absolutely be money
put of pocket"
''It was all he had to give," said
Mrs. Dirk.
Meanwhile the family was pros
oering. Sarah was engaged to mar
~ a thrifty young farmer of the
1eighborhood. Helen was earning
a good living.
Lizzie was contemplating the set
ing up of a small milliner's shop
IN her own account-and Rosie was
n high favor at Millingham place.
Even Mrs. Lonsdale admitted
hat her grave French cook could
lot excel the syllabus, creames, del
cate cakes and delicious puddings
which these young damsels com
pounded, with the help Of new laid
Eggs and country cream.
''Im almost sorry our rooms are
engaged at Saratoga" said the city
ady. 81 am getting rather to like
Noon Mountain. And your table
s decidedly good, Mary"
But just as she was packing her
big trunks for the removal to the
Mecca of modern fashions, Mr. Ions
lale himself came down.
"Well?" said the lady, airily,
what is the news, Mortimer"
"Bad news!' said Mortimer, in a
loarse accent. "We are ruined The
business has gone to wreck-the
cashier has fed to Belgium-and
We haven't cent to call our own"
WhereupOn, naturally enough,
Irs. Lonsdale went into Mysteries.
When Mrs. Dirk came in, Naomi
vas wildly loading her husband with
eproaches. Mortimer Lonsdale
TODD leaning against the mantel,
With something glittering in his
land. Mrs. Dirk went up to him
nd took it away with gentle au-
hority.
"Give me the pistol, Mortimer"
aid she. "Get up, Naomi, and
cave off crying and sobbing. If|
yer you needed to be a woman,
-ou need it now!'
"We are ruined-we are ruinedp
hrieked Naomi, tearing her hair.
al never can redeem myselfr'said
huskily. "You had bet
er have let me shoot myself, Mary"
"Pshawr' said Mrs. Dirk curtly.
Suicide is the last resort of a cow
.rd. Don't you know, Mortimer,
hat it is always darkest just before
laylight2"
II don't know what you mean,"
aid he.
"Then listen to me. The old law
,er has just come oyer from Car
'sgee Farm. He says that they
lave strucd rich vein of iron on
he rocky hills there. A stock com
oany want to buy it of me for
e5, 900, and I've agreed to sell it.
Uncle Darrow was as much your
yrand-uncle as he was mine. Well
iivide the money, Mortimer, you
md l."
"But I've no right to it, Mary"
altered he.