Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1885-12-30
CARYL'S NEW YEAR.
BY ESTELLE THOMSON.

remember as though it were but
yesterday how pretty Caryl looked
that night after church, as. she
flung herself down on a footstool, and
buried her face in my lap. Her hair
was rumpled from being tossed by the
wind; her eyes were shining, and a
crimson spot burned in either cheek
from her being SO angry.
1t was all because Join Dakin had
walked home with her, and she could
not ask him in because we were so
poor; though, for that matter, he was
poor enough. But we lived in dingy
lodgings, and had not chairs enough
to go round if visitor should happen
in. There happened to be a fire, how
ever, that night, which was not al
ways the case; and things were not as
bad as they soon would be If no work
could be procured.
"I wouldn't mind" I said at last,
softly. II should have asked the doc
tor in if I cared. He knows we are
poor"
"But I don't carep' flashed Caryl
81 don't care, I tell you! But am
tired of poverty. despise this scrim-
by fare, this plodding about through
mud and snow, while others ride in fine
carriages, and dress in silks and satins,
and have good dinners every day.
And I hatedoctors- FLOODED peo-
pie, cutting and slashing folks, with no
more feeling than old Tab has when
she claws a mouse. What do you
think John Dakin did tonight ?" turn
ing upon me fercely.. "Wished he
had the right to care for me always
AS though it wasn't hard enough to
live on half g. crust now, without shar-
ing it with him -
''Perhaps he intended to furnish the
crust himself. Then you would have
not only your own half, but half of
his" | ventured TO suggest, mildly.
'Jane, you know better. John Da-
kin is lazy-rides round in that old gig
0; MS, until, [ declare, | expect some day
to seeit 60 to pieces all at once, like the
sdeacon's wonderful one-hoss shay,
and therell be the doctor seated on O.
stone, gazing on the ruins, and wonder
ing when some one will come along and
pick him up. I'm out of patience with
shiftless people, and I'm going to end
this worse than useless search for en-
ployment. I'll tell you what, Janey,"
laying her head against my clasped
hands, while she whispered confden-
italy, "we're going to make our for
tunes yet."
E'Going to make our fortunes ?"
felt like laughing when | heard the
child say this, for she was q visionary
creature and always building castles
in the air. knowing her habits In this
direction, after a moment / replied,
not very enthusiastically, what
them"
'What them Haven't you any
spirit? Don't we need a fortune bad
enough? O, we'll do it, never fear! [
see the way before me just as clearly
as | see you sitting there, staring at
me in astonishment. Listen! / am
going to accept the place with Mrs.
Ernstein for while. | know I can
suit, and there's nothing else offers
lust now. Don't look so disconsolate
It's only for the present, you know
till we can get enough to take us away
from here. And there's that sweet
little place out in the country for you.
It's waiting for you still, and you al
ways said you could be happy there.
Now, don't be obstinate, Jane"
What was Ito say TO such plead
er? True, Mrs. Ernstein had been
persistent in her efforts to secure Caryl
as a companion, and the girl was
pleased with the. offer; for Mrs Ern-
STEMS home was elegant, and wages
were liberal. But | had always de-
INJURED. Laurie Ernstein, the hand
some nephew, was an objection. He
was known asa ''fast young man" in
his set, and his habits were anything
but what | approved. We must
do something, and what alter
native was there? Motherly old
Mrs. Fields had long offered
me home in the suburbs-a
rural little cottage-with only the
housekeeping cares to attend to, and
the ample compensation Of two dol
lars week for my modest service.
For once CaryPs plan was the prac-
ticable one, and before another week
passed our home was broken up, and
we had entered upon our new duties.
was counting OUT knives and forks
for the tea-table that afternoon, when
Mrs Fields surprised me with.
clay another place, Jane. John
Dakin is coming home to tea"
"John Dakinl Coming home to
teaW
"Why, Jane! what ails thee? Had
forgotten to tell thee about John !?
You see his ride lies mostly on this side
of the city, and he only moved out here
last week, to be quiet and feel home
like, the boy said. A good boy John
Dakin is. I've known him these many
years, and gladly took him into NV
home. And thee knows him too,
Jane?"
told Mrs. Field what little | knew
how three years ago he had attended