The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1886-09-11

the decree.
1t was late in the afternoon when
she returned. Mrs. Harvey looked
wistfully into her daughters face.
Well?"
Unsuccessful, mamma J"
"Oh, Ethelyn. my poor child ~
Ethelyn knelt down and laid her
hot check on her mothers hand,
while the tears streamed despair
ingly from her eyes.
"My brief dream of fame and
fortune is over, mamma; now for
life in real earnest"
"What shall you do, Ethelyn?"
First, | shall send my poor
picture to some shop to be Sold
| care not at how great a sacrifice,
so that l can pay my debts from
the money. And then | shall ask
Mrs. Johnson to try and find me
some place as companion, or gov
erness, or"
"Ethelyn !"
"Why not, mamma? / fancied
that / could become great artist,
but have discovered my mistake (;
it is not too late to begin anew"
So Ethelyn went downstairs to
Mrs. Johnson's room, and meekly
asked the fat landlady to help her
to some way of earning her daily
bread, and Mr.. Darcy, standing
by the window, participated in the
discussion.
Ethelyn had gone down prepared
to be very cold and self-contained,
but somehow Mr.. Darcy's kindness
melted her overburdened heart, and
the first she knew she was crying.
Now don't my dear young lady
don't" said Mr. Darcy laying his
brown hand soothingly on her bright
hair. I" Well find something for
YOU to do-see if we don't. Why, |
know of a house where they need
a young person like you terribly"
Ethelyn looked up, and began
to dry her eyes.
In what capacity, Mr.. Darcy?"
"Well, as-as a sort of compan-
ion. you know-to oversee things,
and look after the conservatory,
and do-oh, lots of things. I'll
go round with you next week and
Introduce YOU, if you say So"
"Oh, Mr.. Darcy, if you would
be so kind ~
And, with new heart and hope.
Ethelyn set out to see what might
have been the fate of her picture
in the shop-window.
Sold?"
" Yes. ma am"
The picture-dealer gave her three
twenty pound notes in business
like sort of way. Ethelyn very
nearly dropped them.
Sixty pounds, Mr. Jennings?
But the price was only forty"
Il know it, Miss Harvey; but
the gentleman said it was worth
sixty, and /, of course, had your
interests too much at heart to allow
the opportunity to slip by"
What was his name?"
I" He declined to give it, Miss
Harvey"
Ethelyn went home, feeling as if
some good fairy were working in
her behalf
Mr.. Darcy smiled as Ethelyn
told him of her unexpected fortune.
"Some eccentric old rascal, prob
ably, who had more money than he
knew what to do with, MissEthelyn."
That was all the remark he made.
Well, Miss Ethelyn, are you
ready to go and look for your new
situaiion?" asked Mr.. Darcy, just
a week afterwards.
"Quite ready, sir"
She slipped her arm confidingly
through his as they went out into
the snow-paved streets. Somehow,
Ethelyn was beginning to feel a very
strong trust in the brown-faced ten
ant of the second-hoor back-room.
A splendid brown-stone mansion
with a vestibule of colored marble,
and a superb Elizabethan staircase
sweeping up in the centre of the hall.
Ethelyn glanced round, half
frightened at the sound Of her over
light footsteps.
LET us go upstairs, Ethelyn." b"
"I-I am afraid | should never
give satisfaction in an establish
ment like this"
Fiddlesticks !! Don't then"
And against the tinted walls she
saw the picture of Morning ;"
hanging. with marble statues gleam-
ing on either side of it.
my picture Oh, how sweet
and familiar it looks !"
"Well, Ethelyn," laughed Mr..
Darcy. "will you accept the situ-
alton here?"
"Who lives in this housewife
owns it?' asked Ethelyn, looking
round the splendid apartments.
81 do"
"You, Mr.. Darcy?"
81. And l want companion
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