The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1884-04-25

WltDered roses out OF her nalr Wltn
quick, impatient little jerk. sand he
used to be so different. Oh, dear talk
about the 6ckleness of woman. Men
are twenty times as unaccountable.
But dcn't care one PARTICLE U
And, in undeniable proof of her in.
difference, the round, bright drops
rolled down her fresh, pink cheeks, and
her lip quivered.
Elsie was pretty, piquant little
damsel, with eyes as blue as china mar
bles, complexion like a damask rose,
and bright tendrils of silken hair, par
taking decidedly of the reddish hue,
greatly to our heroine's daily dissatis-
| faction.
Nobody has red hair in all my nov
els" said Elsie, almost ready to des
pair
Aunt Bridget Merriam had brought
Elsie up until she stood on the thresh-
old of her seventeenth year--brought
her up in kindly, old-fashioued sort
of way, to knit and sew, and TO make
her own fresh little merino dresses, and
stitch her own spotless linen collars.
"For there's no knowing what tribu.
lation body may have to pass through
in the world, Elsie said the old lady
solemnly; land it's always just as well
to be able to turn hand to almost any
thing. I've lived sixty aud seven
years, and I've found out that Heaven
helps those who helps themselves"
SO Elsie unconsciously proved her
self for stormy future, Frightening up
whatever weapons nature had given
for that battle with the world which
Aunt Bridget appeared to consider
almost inevitable. And when Aunt
Bridget died suddenly; and she was left
alone, poor Elsie thought vaguely of
dressmaking, school teaching, copying
all the make shifts by which women
nowadays contrive to stave off the
VOLTS footsteps from their doors.
"This is very unexpected stroke OF
providence, Miss Miller" said Mr..
Peck, the solemn faced lawyer.
"Yes, sir, indeed it is," said Elsie,
sadly, think how lonely the house
would be without Aunt Bridget's brisk
step, and aged, kindly face.
"But we must all be prepared to
meet the dispensation of a higher wis
dom than ours, he added.
"Yes, sir" said Elsie, wishing be
would stop talking in that sanctimon.
ous whine, and tel her whether she
had better accept the situation as
teacher to the district school, or 60 as
governess to Squire .Dalton's six moth
erless little girls.
"Ahd we, none of US suspected for
an instant that our dear departed friend
vas worth fifty thousand dollars.
| FIFTY thousand dollars " Elsie
opened her china-blue eyes widely
enough now.
Exactly that. sum, my dear Miss
| Miller-and she has been-been pleas
ed to testify her confidence in my-ha
humble abilities, by constituting me
your guardian until you reach the age
of twenty one years. Allow me-hum
Ito proffer my most cordial congratu-
latioDs.
How Mr. Peck wished his Freddy
was twenty instead of ten years of
age! .......
''For," he inwardly reasoned, strok.
ing his lank, bris,ly chin, "she's sure to
fall victim to some fortune hunter or
other And she's such fool"
But Mr.. Peck was mistaken III that
last estimate Elsie Miller was no
fool. uH
Gervaise Cotton heard the story of
Miss Miller's good fortune in silence.
Il am glad you told me-" he said to
his informant, Squire Dalton. 81 was
going there this very evening, to ask
Elsie if she would accept home al
my hands" "a
"Do you mean marry, marry you p
demanded the strai ghtforward squire
"Certainly-of course
"My dear boy, you couldn't do. a
more sensible thing. You'll have the
richest wife and the prettiest wife in
town, and ! always thought that little
Elsie fancied you. Go, by all means.
"Never" said Gervaise, emphatic.
ally
HALO" cried the squire, dropping
the red silk handkerchief that he was
flourishiDg about and staring fixedly
about at the handsome young man op,
posite him.
81 would sooner cut my right hand
off than give people occasion to call
me fortune-hunter, said Cotton,
with quiet determination that made his
mouth look like iron, his words like
adamant.
"Gammon y said the squire, rather
uncourteously; "didn't you just tell
me you were about to propose to her,
under the impression that she hadn't a
penny in the world 7"
"Yes l told you so, and it was the
truth-it would be rather difficult to
convince the world in general of it."
"Oh, bother the world in general
What do you care for its verdict one
way or the other2"
But Cotton shook his head.
81 have striven all my life long to be
an honorable gentleman" said hi
calmly-"nor shall allow the shadow
of shade to dim my character now
l love Elsie Miller as truly and tender
ly as man can love, but will no
submit to be called an heiress- hunter !!
"But, my dear boy, please rehec
that the days Of Don Qulxote are over
Nobody will appreciate the sacrific'
you are making and Elsie herself vii
r probably marry some calculating mer
chant or other, who won't make half S,
good husband to her as you woul,
have DONE"
Gervaise Cotton remained obstinate
ly unconvinced, however, and tn
squires eloquence was utterly throw
away. .... .....
And little Elsiei How she marvel
led at Gervoise's altered mauner-s
his cold eonstrant and distant polite
ness what scalded tears she cried int
her midnight pillow, and how vain
she tried to read the unreadable rio
die
SIN sure he used to like me-" sal
Elsie, as she bathed her ewes with ros,