, 1885-12-31
HEIRESS OR NO HEIRESS.
Why Matte Meredith Wanted to
Learn Houseworlz.

ing its very best ana prettiest IN the
yellow August sunshine, as Matte
Meredith came up the foot-path with
her trim travelling satchel in her hand.
Mrs. Oxweed was feeding her young
goslings at the kitchen door; she started
up to welcome the unexpected guest.
why, my dearie," she cried, 81
thought you would be waltzing at New
port or counting over your beaux at
Saratoga before this timer'
But Matte shook her golden-brown
curls.
No" she said, 81 am tired of New
portland Saratoga don't suit me this
year. Do you know what have come
here for, Mrs. Oxweed?"
Il couldn't possibly guess" said the
farmers wife, tenderly brushing the
dust from Mattie's plumed hat.
ITO learn how to do hoUsework, :"
said Matte.
''Bless mer' said Mrs. Oxweed, "why,
what has young lady like you to do
with drudgery?"
.'But, you do it, don't you?''
That's because I'm obliged to-" said
Mrs. Oxweed laughing.
.And that's precisely why want to
do it." said Matte. seriously. "Things
have changed, Mrs. Oxweed. Life
looks very differently to me from what
it used to do!''
'Deary, DEAR" said the kindly farm
er's wife. 81 couldn't have believed
it. Riches has wings, says the Good
Book: and I'm sure thara,s Drooi
| enough of it in this world.s1Indl You You
poor ma, how does she take it, Miss
MattieP'
Mamma is as well as usual" said
Matte. ''But please let me come in,
and have a cup of tea. Mrs. Oxweed.
I'm little tired with the Journey"
ITO be sure, deary, to be sure, ;" said
Mrs. Oxweed. Tea is just ready. But,
I've got five boarders, Miss Mattie.''
Il won't be in the way" said Matte,
pleadingly. "You can tuck me any
where. | should so like the little gar
ret bedroom, Mrs. Oxweed, that looks
out into the bough of the cherry tree. "
''And you shall have it my dear, and
welcome" said Mrs. Oxweed But
the two young theological students
have the big front room, and Mr.. Joyce
Hazeltine. that writes funny lectures,
has the back bedroom, and Mr.. John
Jefferson has the room on the wing,
and Lieutenant Cooper sleeps in the
slope-roofed room off the parlOr. We're
pretty well crowded, my dear. But
there is always room for you.''
81 remember them ALL" said Matte
with sparkling eyes, ''except Mr.. Hazel
tine. We used to have such merry
Ioc SiIpsf xuaf'f
"And every one of 'em was dead in
love with you."' said Mrs. Oxweed.
"Oh, you needn't blush and look so
confused, Miss Matte; its human ma
ture, isn't p"
And Matte, resting on the big parlor
sofa where the cool green lights sifted
through the maple boughs half an hour
later, could hear the voices of the
boarders at their tea.
Miss Meredith back again?n cried
B1r. Jefferson. ''Why, it will be a re-
newal of old times!"
s'AIiss Meredith was a most charming g
young lady," said Mr.. Dover. the eldest
of the spectacled young theologians.
.'Most remarkably so," said Mr..
Laidlaw, the younger, who had very
| red hair and Roman nose.
THE prettiest girl ever saw In my
life," said Lieutenant Cooper.
Really" exclaimed Mr.. Hazeltine,
''I've great curiosity to cultivate her
acquaintance"
Mrs. Oxweed bridled' and fiuttered
with pleasure. Years ago, before she
had married her farmer husband, she
had been Matte Meredith's nurse, and
she loved the girl still with almost ma
ternal tenderness.
"And you'll find every word they say
is true, Mr. Hazeltine," "said she. 'sBut,
dear me! things isn't as they used to
be. I'm afraid, from what Miss Matte
| has told me, that Mr.. Meredith has had
bad luck with his investments. She
won't be an heiress any longer, poor
| dear!n
'.Eh?" said Mr.. Oxweed, pausing in
his task of carving cold lamb. .But
what VIII she do. Mary Ann?"
.'What other folks does, to be sure, >
said his wife. briskly. ..Bless hel
heart! she amt one to sit down and
lament over spilled milk. She told me
with her own lips that she had come
here to learn to do housework.
..Housework, eh?" said Mr.. Oxweed
'tBut didn't s'pose as the young ladie:
called that sort O thing genteel nova
days Painting on eheeny. now, o.
| giving music lessons, or fine sewing
''Oxweed, hold your tongue!" saiC
his wife. Whatever Miss Matte Mere
dith does viii be right and proper. Ant
that's enough for you and me to know
Matte lay quite still on the sofa
thinking. And as she thought a curl
Gus smile came dimpling over her face
Perhaps it is just as well, after all, >
she said to herself.
When she joined the little group on
the veranda that evening, with the pur-
pie dusk glooming over the head OF
Black Mountain, and the night-birds
whistling sweetly in the woods. her
welcome was various. Mr.. jefferson,
q tall, handsome man, who was sup
posed to be well off," bowed low, but
little formally. Mr.. Davidson Dover s
! I Il L