The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1885-02-14
REBECCA'S PLAN
BY LUCY RANDALL COMFORT.

or two from the eyes thai v re- still
blue and bright.
Well, | would, them sud Rebecca
who stood in the middle OF the kitchen
floor, brandishing her china towel as il
it was an aggressive weapon OF warfare
Nobody wants to see their little say
Ings made ducks and brakes Of. If you
had took my advice, Mrs. Orme, Won
never would have give it to youl
city cousin to invest, but KEEP It in the
county bank, whore it was safe and
sound, even if it didn't draw such q
high interest. But you always was fool,
ish about money"
At this Clara Orme fred up, as a
dove might resent the attack of some
warlike hawk on the maternal nest.
"Rebecca," said she, "be silentl You
shall not speak so to mamma"
well isn't it the truth?" said Re.
beoca.
Mamma, don't mind her," pleaded
Clara, putting both arms around the
gentle widows neck, and laying her
velvet cheek against the flushed fore
head. "Let the music go. After all,
what does.a little money signify?"
Mrs. Orme. Money means a great
deal more than you think"
But nevertheless she was instructive
ly comforted by the magnetic touch of
her childs cheek, the coaxing sweet
ness of her voice. And although Re
becca, the hired help, still stood there
scolding, the sting had all gone out of
her reJroofs. Rebecca had lived with
them since Clara was a baby. It was
her way to scold. And in spite of the
sweet sophistry of Clara's excuses Mrs.
Orme admitted to herself that Rebecca
was more than half right. She never
should have given that thousand dollars
to her cousin, the city broker, to invest
in South Central Pacific when South
Central Pacific was running up to such
a dazzling figure that everybody has
tened to share its splendors. what
goes up must come down." her old
uncle Lemuel had always said, and she
should have known that South Central
Pacific wasn't Sound" But there was
no use crying for spilled milk The
money was gone in the South Central
Pacific collapse, and all the city cousin s
regrets couldn't bring it back. And
after all they didn't mind little econo-
my, if only it wasn't for Clara's musical
education; the lessons from Madame
Queschi would have to be stopped now,
and how could Clara ever expect to be a
great pianist if"
But just then the kitchen door
swung open. and little Bell came in, car
rying her apron full of wild grapes,
with the glory of late sunshine around
her, and fringe of blue asters stuck
like deep amethyst plumes in the shah
by ribbon of her old straw hat.
@Oh, mother, mother" she cried
breathlessly, see what have got And
there is a city lady down at old Mrs.
Nickelsa's buying all those funny wood,
en- chairs that T eleg was just going to
split up into kindling wood, and the
broken clock too, and the spinning,
wheel up garnet"
Mrs. Orme and Rebecca looked al
each other with a sudden Frightening
of their eyes.
"Old furniture, eh?" said Rebecca
And you was a talkin' of seilin' yourn
at auction, to go up to town, and be neal
the woman that gives lessons to on,
Clara. 1t amt noways likely they'd
fetch much at vendoo sale. Amt this
good chance fer you, Mrs Or 90"
"Ye-es, L suppose so, SAL y meek
widow, with doubtful hu, 3 hel
heart. Put On your nat, : ~, anC
go down to Mrs. N-chei-. ID Sc,
what you can do"
Mammal cried Clara eurelv vor
never will sell the old callls aud bed
steadi"
MY dear, something must be done
said Mrs. Orme, with varying color il
her soft face! at will cost ae pans
to part with the old thing but, afte
all, deserve to be punished for m,
folly in that South Central Pacif,
business, aud You know we couldn't d,
anything with such lot of old furnitur,
in a city fiat. Hush. Don't make ID
coward when | need most to be brave.
But as she sat there in the low ceiled
broodlng old kitchen, with the yelloy
September glow around her, the vim
leaves whispering at the easement, an,
the locusrs winding their tiny bugles il
the maple-trees outside. il seemed as
all the golden air was full of the ghost
of departed days. Poor Mrs. Orme
the world was very hard to her in thes
times.
Rebecca presently returned. accom-
panied by portly lady elegantly dresse,
IN surah satin, jetted lace, and a scente,
valley cashmere shawl.
Yes, Mrs. Van Voscelin was bnyini
old furniture. She dotted on real an
tiques +; indeed-with a simper-sh
might almost say that she was craze,
on the subject. Had Mrs.-Mrs.- oI
yes, Mrs. Orme-anything that sh
wished to part with?
Yes said Mrs. Orme, rather abashe,
by so much splendor; Il am talking o
giving mp my house here, and shoul,
like to sell the old claw-Iesged table
and perhaps the hall clock, and th,
curious carved chairs in the parlor
These last she added, with modes
pride, are, l believe, quite rare. The
were given to my mother, before sh,
was married, by captain of Hoilan,
trading vessel, who brought them direc
from Antwerp, and they hay e been mGcl
admired by artists
"Oh, indeed y said Mrs. Van VosceIin
But there is so much imposture abou
these things, you know. However.
don't object to looking at them
Clara had grown scarlet at the coo
lnsolence OF the city lady's tone. bu
Mrs. Orme smiled deprecatinely as sh,
led the way toward the best parIor
Rebecca expressed her feelings b,
scrubblng vigorously away at the vel
low paint on the window-sill to remov,
an infnttesimal hy-speck therefrom.
Up and down sassy, amt she?D sale
she.
Il don't see how mamma endures il
cried Clara, tightly clinching her little
fist.