The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1885-02-04

VOWED upon her shoulders. A contrast
this, to the days in which her hardest labor
was half an hours practice on the guitar OF
= strip of fioss-silk embroidery.
Z" But really think am happier than I
was in those days" said she when, wearied
out at night, she sat down to snatch the first
repose she had been able to gain since tbc
dawn of the morning. There's great
deal in not having time to lament over ones
misfortunesn
You are oyerworking yourself, said the
little old man one day, when he saw her
come in from q brisk walk to market.
Marcia shook her head, smiling.
" But soy you are, said he, for she had
comical dislike to being contradicted.
"Do you think haven't any eyes or ears
Of my ownp What's the use Of making
slave of yourself ?"
:" must" said Marcia, quietly. If !
lid not work could not live.n
Are you dependent on the proceeds OF
your own labor p"
" Yes, SIR
No relatives, eh ?" he questioned, with
that odd curiosity about other peoples
affairs which seemed part of his nature at
| times.
None that can expect 10 trouble them.
selves about me-"
q thought old Miles Stanley was cou.
sin of yours, pursued hs. E
$50 he is"
Sand don't do anything for you Pr
"No-not anything Marcia answered,
coloring little
Cross old ourmudgeon, eh ?" hazarded
the meddlesome old gentleman.
~ have no right to expect any help from
him." Marcia answered, spiritedly. He
Is no very near relative, and he has himself
10 care for"
/" Humphl" was the only reply. "N
seems to me you are very Independent"
Marcia smiled
:" try to be, sir" she said, but don't
know how long can maintain my indie
pendence." .zsz
She spoke jestingly, but she did not know
how near to the truth her words came. Al
long as health and strength were vouch.
safed her, she did very we'll but she fell
III presently, and the dodgers, one by one,
dropped away.
All save the little old gentleman he re-
NAMED steadfast at his post.
He came into her sitting-room one morn
ing as she lay. listless and respondent, ON
..Ae sofa.
Here's a note the postman hos Just
brough&," he said, giving her folded slip
of paper.
She opened it with slow, languid fingers
It was bill
Well, said the old gentleman, watch
ing the tears steal slowly down her cheek
and drop upon her slender, wasted hands,
"whats the matter now ?"
Nothing" said Marcia, only the man
wants immediate payment, and l have no
money"
1.-The grasping jew !" cried the cid gen.
tieman.
No." said Marcia, her quick sense of
Justice coming uppermost, 1t his money,
and he has perfect right to 1T only, you
see, don't myself know where TO look foi
it,"
The old gentleman pulled out a Plethora
looking leather pocket-bo
I'm pay the bill, said he.
Indeed you shall not, said Marcia hel
pale checks suffused by momentary color
Why should you pay my debts?"
Why should 1 ?" repeated he, looking
OF her with peculiar and not unkindly
smile.
Yes"
8" Because Pm your cousin" he said,
bouncing out of his chair, as if it were o
sudden relief to speak the sentence.
"Youl My cousin !"
Yes, Pm old Miles Stanley, the cur
mudgeon, the screw, the grinding old
miser; and you're the dearest little girl in
ill the world, and the most independent.
But it's all right now you shall come home
with me, and we'll let this kind of life be
forgotten. Why didn't say 30 before 2"
answering her earnest eyes. more than any
word she had spoken. because had
notion should like to see what sort of stuff
you were made of. II you had turned out
9 nissish, idle young lady, whining at
Providence and grumbhng at your reIa.
tons, do you think should ever have told
you who i was Not by long chalk. But,
thank goodness, you're just the girl want
to be my adopted child and make my lonely
home BRIGHT 90 the sooner YOU nut nm a
" To Let !" on the front Of the house, the
better.
BE was as good as his word and Marcia
Dane IL now the cherished darling of the
odd, eccentric old man, with Bridget O'Neil
for her lieutenant. Forrest Graues