The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1885-07-22
NIACDE


Now, papa" Maude said, settling
the pillows comfortably at the inva.
| lids back and head, II will bring
you the paper; and you can have an
hour of quiet reading while l make
pudding. You like pudding ?"
"Yes, dear make plenty for me.
There was little anxiety in the
tone of Maude Hannum's question,
but the quick, cheerful reply Danish.
ed the shadow from her blue eyes
and kissing her father tenderly, she
went to the next room, and was soon
singing as she stirred flour and milk
and beat eggs for the promised pud-
ding.
u am SO glad papa likes pudding,
for meat is so dear" she thought
"but l will have a nice beefsGeak
when Miss Morris pays me. Her
dress is just lovely. now that it is
finished" p"
For Maude was a dressmaker, and
her home was floor of three rooms
in tenement house, where she paid
rent that taxed her sorely that her
father might have the pure air of a
good neighborhood. Less TO eat and
less to wear seemed preferable to q
sitting court or narrow, crowded
fat /; and so the largest, airiest room
was the invalids, while Maude slept
in the hall room adjoining, and
made a kitchen of the back room.
She was about twenty-five, and
sweet, but not very pretty. In her
expression, womanly in its earnest
ness, chlldlike in its perfect inno-
cence, lay the only real beauty OF
her face. Her father, for three years
helpless cripple, had been injured
by fire that destroying his store
and stock of goods, had left him
beggared.
While che worked in the kitchen
servant belonging to the house
brought a long envelope, directed
John Hannum" to the door.
"Will you hand i'll papa, Janey2
NV hands are all covered with
dough- p Maude said, and the girl
passed on to the larger room.
There was more than an hours
work to be done before Maude left
her pudding to bake, and entered
her fathers room again.
Il must 60 with Mrs. Morris's 9
Dress she said hastily, ''for if she
is out | cannot get my money.
'-Maadei"
Her fathers voice was very trem-
ulous, and as Maude looked at him
she saw traces of deep agitation on
his face. Before she could speak he
said
please stop. dear, at DIR. War
ren's, and ask him to call as soon as
he can"
"You are worse {? Where2 How?'
she asked quickly.
II am no verse, dear, bat | have
some business calling for immediate
attention, and need a friends help"
II will send him, but"
swell, dear?"
Cant | attend TO il ?"
"No, dear. You do not dislike
DR.. Warren, Maude?"
A quick flash of color passed over
the girls face.
mo, papa but I've are under
obligation now-and-"
''Maudie, let the dress go for an
hour. Sit here beside me while |
tell you a story. Then if you are
unwilling to have DR.. Warren come
to help me, he shall not come Once
upon a time, Maudie, there was a
man who shall be nameless who
was brought up in the hope of in
heriting large fortune from an un-
Gle. He was a dreamy ,studious lad
and be grew up a dreamy, impracti-
cal man. When ne was still young
he married. and his wife died one
year later, leaving him baby girl.
Soon after, the uncle from whom he
had expected wealth in the future.
married and went abroad, an old
man with a young wife.
mot unmindful of the hopes he
had fostered, he gave his nephew
five thousand dollars, which was in
vested in a stationers stock, and
store opened. But, as | have said.
the man of whom | speak, had no
business talent. He earned liveli
hood, laying nothing by, making no
provision for the future, but careful
lv cherishing his child. He guard
ed her as if she would be heIress to
millions, having teachers in her own
house, servants for the work of the
small household. clothing fine and
dainty. She grew up, gentle, loving,
inexpressibly dear to her father till
she was eighteen
Remember, Maudie, if this was
tenderness, only love die
tated it-only true, tender love"
The tone was entreating. but
Maude replied by loving kiss and
mute pressure Of the thin, white
hand.
"She was eighteen, this carefully
cherished child, when FIRE swept
away the store her father had
bought gradually in years of pros
perity, and in his efforts to save
something the father himself was
crippled for life. When
he recovered from a long delirious
illness he expected to find his child
prostrated and helpless. Darling,
be found d woman. self-reliant, hope |
full, cheerful. where the petted child
had been. Friends had helped at
frst. A new humble home was pro-
vided, and the daughter was learn
ing trade. There was a little MON
ey in bank. very little, but it kept
awav acfual hunger until the daurh- !