News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1885-04-02
he btisy click of the sewing-machine
rrnr lnnrd co., no tho flinhk

the btisy click of the sewing-machin
was heard far into the night.
There was kindness shown by tn
village people that helped in this labo
of love. Some came to sit up at night
which the invalid required Watching
Many dainty dish, sent to tempt Mrs
Vests appetite, proved sufficient mea
for both. One neighbof sent cart -loa
of fire. wood, one barrel of apples, an
there was never wanting a kindly wor,
of sympathy. So the dreary winte
wore away, and to the surprise of all
Mrs. West lived, through the bite
March weather. How tenderly she wa
guarded and nursed in that trying montl
none knew but herself; but as the warn
spring days came she frightened visibly
Theoda wrote occasionally, seemingly
glad that Estelle had corae to take the
post she had so heartless!y abandoned
In one of her lettere she wrote:
"My hgsss$ss.SSi hidskss3,sll Hstelle i
is as well, perhaps that size did moi
build any strong hope upon Mrs. Vain.
wright's capricious adoption of her, a;
he will certainly inherit his uncle't
money"
Estelle made no comment upon the
message, but in her heart wondered il
the money could be evei put to any
good use in hands so selfish as Theoda's
or her husbands. 1t seemed a bad pre-.
cedent for any noble action, this deser-
ton of dying parent,
Summer stole away, every day lessen
ing the invalid's strength and winter
loomed up threateningly in the future.
All of Mrs. Wainwright's gift was gone,
and poorly paid, often interrupted sew.
ing, was but slender provision for cold
and sickness. Yet the wasted face, grow.
ing paler every day, pleaded silently fol
many comforts; and Estelle, spurred by
the sight, wrote to her Aunt Cora. 1t
was one of many long letters, but the
first that asked for aid. Estelle wrote:
The doctor tells me Aunt Mary can
not live many weeks longer, and she re-
quires almost ineessant care, having
frequent distressing spells of bleeding
and suffocation. l find I cannot supply
the comforts she needs; so turn to you,
not to beg, but to borrow. Will you
lend me q hundred doIlafi, and I will
faithfully work till it is paid when Aunt
Mary no longer needs my time?
There was the usual curt reply to this
letter, but the loan was sent with brief
intimation that the promised payment
was expected.
Early in November the end came.
gently and painlessly. the dying breath
spent in blessing for the faithful nurse.
Never once had Mrs. West suspected
that her niece was forbidden to return
to the luxurious home she had quilted
for her sake, so she had made no dispo-
sition of the little property in her power
to will away-the cottage and garden
around it. 1t seemed to Estelle, young
and ignorant of business, only matter
of course that she should continue to
live and work in the cottsge where she
had nursed her aunt's last moments.
But Theoda, vino earae e The funeral,
informed her ishe would put the place
into the hands of lawyer for sale, and
she must look for boarding-place in
the village.
BewiIdered, weary with Watching,
sorrowing sincerely for her dead, Estelle
turned from the words, issued almost
insultingly, with sick faltering of her
true heart.
"a letter, Miss Estelle," said one of
the village boys, tapping at the low
window. 81 was passing the post-ofice,
and brought it.
''Come and work out your debt to me
here. Cora WAINWRIGHT.
1t was temporary home, at least. and
the desolate girl promptly obeyed. In
the November twilight, as they had
parted, these two met again. The stern,
cold woman, who had so harshly put
the choice of duties before the warm
hearted girl, was waiting when she en-
tered timidly.
$50 you have come back" she said
looking at the pale face and dropping
eyes.
'To pay my debt" was the gentle
reply.
"Pay it herei"
And Estelle found herself infolded in
an embrace so warm that the tears
sprang to her eyes.
"Here on my heart p said Mrs. Vain
wright, "craving such love as you give,
tender, true, self-sacrifcing little Estelle!
I tried you sorely, child, only to find you!
We will not part again, Estelle, till
the grave closes over another old aunt. :"
And when that hour came, comforted
by Estelle's love, Mrs. Wainwright's
will was found to leave all her property
to her "beloved niece. Estelle Mason. !"