Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1884-11-27
ELs1E's RIGHTS.

''It's nice FARM said Mr.. Hubbard
Spruce, as he stood on the top Of Chalk
Hill, from whose peak Chalk Farm lay
spread out before him like panoramic
display. "A very nice farm. No nicer
in the neighborhood.
s'And a house with all the modern i'm
provements," said Mrs. Spruce, her thin
thin lips widening into spasmodic smile.
sTt does seem as if luck had reached us
at lastp'
Sand we can KEEP hired girl, ma,
can't we2p said Helena Elvira Spruce,
who had her gowns made long and
straight, with little ruffies around the
skirt, and big shoulder-p -puffs, to look
s'spirituelle" s'It's such drudgery to
wash dishes and scrape frying pans!t'
'.Of course!" observed Mrs. Spruce.
II am sorry for my poor stepson. Paul.
But Paul would have been alive now if
be had taken my advice and stayed at
home, instead of going out to Nevada,
ilver-hunting.''
"Paul was always headstrong boy"
said Mr.. Spruce. smoothing down the
Grape band on his straw hat 'alwaysln
And so the Spruce family came down
the hill, through the sweet, pine woods,
softly carpeted with tiny pine needles,
snd across fields all golden with butter
cups, to the snug farmhouse under the
monster sycamore trees.
And there, on the steps, sat pretty
young girl, seemingly not more than
eighteen or nineteen years old, with a
travelling bag in her lap, and black ba-
rege veil futtering in the evening breeze.
Her dress was of cheap. black material; !;
her face pale and worn. as if with IA
igue. She rose hurriedly up as they ap-
preached.
Have come to the right placer
said she. "Does Mr.. Spruce live hereYt
Mr. Hubbard Spruce cleared his hroa
sonorously.
"Young woman" said he, my name is
Spruce
The girl burst into tears.
"Please-please, then, be kind to me-"
faltered she. II am your son Paul's
widow"
And as she spoke she came up to him,
holding out both trembling hands.
"There's some mistake here, 7 said Mr..
Spruce, unfolding a big, red-silk hand
kerchief. "Paul's wife died in Nevada,
few weeks after his DEATH
"No, she did not" said the young
woman. "She's here now. was very
very ill-they gave up all hopes of me.
But did not die. y
Humphl" said Mr.. Spruce, while his
wife and daughter got behind him, eye
ing the stranger with cold. unsympa
thetic eyes, "This is very remark "a
bic story. am inclined, young woman,
to believe it all fabrication. I'm very
much afraid that you are an impostor!"
A deep-red flush rose to the girls
face.
Il can prove that am not that, F." said
she. " have the papers here in my bug.
thought, as matter of course. that
Paul's parents would be good to me.
There was no one else for me to 90 to-
Mr.. Spruce's face turned all manner
of colors as he looked at the little packet
of papers which she extended to him.
Upon my word, said he, " this is
very extraordinary! julia to his wife,
II am constrained to believe that this
young woman really is Paul's widow"
Mrs. Spruce dropped stiff courtesy.
"How do you do, Mrs. Paulr said
she.
''You will call me Elsie, won't you ~
said the girl, appealingly. eAnd this is
Paul's sister 2"
'His half-sister," corrected Miss Hell
ena Elvira. eve never were at all nike
Ma was only his step-mother. And |
scarcely remember him."
"And," added Mrs. Spruce, querul-
ously, ''it did seem as if Paul had made
us enough trouble one way and another
without dying and bequeathing us wife
to take care of
"Julia, said Mr.. Spruce, pompously,
1--WE must not question the will Of provi-
dence. Come here, Elsie, and kiss me.
Well do the best we can for you-aI-
ways taking it for granted that you mean
to earn your own living, and not be de-
pendent upon us2"
Il will do my best, " said Elsie. II
am good little housekeeper. Paul al
ways said that my cooking was excellent.
and made all his shirts with my own
hands.
every sensible-very sensible" said
Mr.. Spruce. "And now mother, let's go
in. ! suppose Elsie can havs the little
end-room close to the shed ~
81 was calculating to keep my flour
and stores there" said Mrs. Spruce,
sourly. s'But guess / can manage.
Come, Elsie; I'll show you where all the
things are kept, and then you can get