Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1885-08-26
A JUST RETALIATION.
BY N. 8. c.

'.Of course [ am very sorry for you,
my dear" said Mrs. Gen. Gore; COM
placently arranging the lappets of
her new lace cap, as she sat before the
blazing fire, "and dare say you will
soon find some occupation to suit you.
But it is quite impossible for us to
help you. The general has so many
claims on his purse, you see. And,
really, when we come to think of it,
you are only a sort OF third or fourth
cousin"
Ruby Phelps looked at the fair,
plump, elegantly dressed matron with
a sort OF amazement. She had come
to the city in the most perfect conf
dence that Mrs. Gore would help her,
advise her-perhaps even offer her a
home until some opportunity to earn
her bread should offer itself.
do?''
''Dear mel" said Mrs. Gore, "what
a very strange question! [ should
think you might have made up your
mind as to that before you left
homeI"
Il wasn'ta wise then as am now,"
said Ruby, with flaming cheeks, as she
rose up to depart, reminded involun-
tarily Of the old parable Of the Priest
and the Levite.
'.Don't you think you had better 60
back to Mushroom Hollow" said
Mrs. Gore, sweeUly.
mo, don't!" said Ruby; and she
went away without another word.
She would have died sooner than tell
Mrs. Gore that she had not enough
money left for a return ticket to
Mushroom Hollow.
Out in tie snowy dark she crept,
with a strange empty feeling at her
heart. She did not know where to 60,
so she simply followed the current OF
passers by, and when she came to an
humble little restaurant she opened
the door and went in.
Il have had nothing to eat since
morning, :" she said to herself "I can
not starve."
At the back of the shop there were
two or three little oil cloth covered
tables; she sat down at the nearest
one and asked meekly for a roll and
a cup OF tea, and as she ate and
drank she could hear the mistress Of
the place scolding a girl across the
counter.
she said, land now you've thrown me
over, and I'd like to know what I'm
% do, and just our busy season, too /!
DING to get married, why didn't you
ay so at frst?"
And her diatribe was only ended by
le abrupt founcing out Of the shop
the young woman whom she was
,olding.
Ruby Phelps had listened intently
this little by-play.
She was a girl Of some decision and
iginallty. Her mind was made up
once.
She rose and came forward to the
,unter.
"Can not I do?" said she. "You
ed a helper. | want work. I will
me for low wages until I have
armed your ways. I am willing and
tive. VIII you try me?"
''But," gasped Mrs. Ely-for that
as her name-'you are ladyW
Il am a woman who wants work, :"
id Ruby II think [ could suit you
you would but allow me a trial"
ELY will say it isn't business" said
e woman. "But | do need help
'eadful, and I never yet was mis-
ken in peoples faces. Yes, you may
me-for a trial, anyhow-Miss-
ISIS
Call me Ruby" said the girl. "My
anne is Rubina Phelps"
At the end of the week, Mrs Ely
eclared that she never had had a
clip that suited her like Ruby Phelps.
The girl was quiet and efficient. She
7w everything, and was prepared for
very emergency. But she had been
her new place only three months
hen good Mr.. Ely died.
The widow Wept and Wrung her
ands.
,'Oh dear, oh DEAR" she cried; "what
: to become Of me? The children all
babies, and noJ a penny of insurance
IN Ely's life! We're asgood as 5eggars !
What shall do"
GO on with the business, to be sure, +"
said Ruby, calmly.
Mrs. Ely stopped whimpering and
stared at the speaker.
s'But | am only 9woman," said She
II couldn't carry on the business"
'"Then let me do it," said Ruby. 81
know that | could go on just as Mr..
Ely was doing. He was talking about
enlarglng the restaurant We could
serve twenty tables as we'll as ten. We
could have creams, and ices, and
chocolate, as well as tea and rolls
There IS Emile, the new French cook,
can get up anything; and little Kate
makes delicious tarts and pates. We
may as well be fashionable place.
And then, you know, we can charge
accordingly. All that we want is to
get our names up"
And Ruby Phelps prediction proved
true. When two or three years had
elapsed, the establishment of Madame