Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-02-03

v
down q smack O. bread and meat and
a bottle of my currant wine. 'Tain't
good to travel on an empty stomach. Z"
And five minutes later Miss Comfort
was carrying her hospitable intentions
into effect. greatly to the delight and
appreciation of the hungry child.
"Now, see here" said Miss Comfort,
drawing the child aside, when Joab
drove up with the comfortable farm
wagon and stout old horse, 81 don't
guess you've got more money than
you can use?"
eve have only enough for our rail-
road tickets said Essie, her coun-
tenance falling, 'but-"
81 thought So" said Miss Comfort;
''and here's a fve-dollar bill I've laid
aside out of my butter money that
Eliakim don't know nothin' about"
The child's eyes were trimming as
she looked up in Miss Comfort S honest,
Manufactured face.
"WilI you let me kiss you, just
| once ?"she whispered, standing on tip
toe to bring her blooming cheek close
to the spinster's wrinkled lips.
kissing, as Miss Comfort might her.
self have remarked, mad she had leis-
ure for remark, was not much in her
way, but she could not resist the sweet,
wistful entreaty.
"There," she said, with g. strange
moisture in her eyes, run along.
| Joab's waitin'."
"Oh" cried little Esther, as she sat
on the buffalo draped seat, II wish |
was rich and grown up!"
"Why, what 'ud you dor demand
ed honest Joab.
"I'd buy diamond necklace and a.
pink dress for that good lady"
Joab chuckled. II don't know as
they'd become her." he said, with
grim POPULARITY. Sogeeup. old DOLL"
81 know I'm pretty old to be lookin'
arter situation" said Miss Comfort
Fairhaven, "but l can't starve, nor
won't beg, so what's there left? We
had good farm once, but my brother
couldn't rest till he speckilated it all
away, and now he's gone and I'm all
alone. Soft you know of a good place
as housekeeper, or matrOn In an asy-
lum, or general overseer, | don't much
care where"
The intelligence Office keeper, with a
slight shrug of his shoulders, broke in
on the torrent of Miss Fairhaven's ex-
planatory eloquence.
"What wages did you ask?"
81 amt particular about that SO
long as it's good home"
Here's a place that might perhaps
suit you-housekeeper wanted at Mr..
Duponceau's, No. : Fifth Avenue.
You might try it, although I hardly
think a person like you would suit"
81 amt young, know" said Miss
Comfort with q sigh, "but there's a
deal of tough work left in me yet.
Give me the address; | shan't give up
and starve without tryin' for it,"
Yet, in spite of all her philosophy,
Miss Comforts heart, like that of the
Queen of Sheba of old, grew faint with
In her as she sat in the luxurious re-
ception-room Of the Fifth Avenue man
sion, surrounded by silken chairs, gild-
ed tables, flashing mirrors and pict-
ures, whose radiant skies might have
been painted in liquidized gold, so rare
and costly we're they.
''Im Almost sorry come !" thought
Miss Comfort. ~ don't fairly believe
Il
While the thought was passing
through her mind, the door swung
open, and a tall young lady in a blue
silk morning robe entered-a young
lady with golden-brown hair looped
after the fashionable style over her
brow and deep blue eyes.
Miss Comfort rose and dropped a
stiff little courtesy.
give called to see she began, but
to her amazement therest of her speech
was abruptly checked by the young
lady's arms being thrown round her
neck.
"Oh, I'm 80 GLAD to see you," she
cried out ecstatically; 81 thought l
never should see you again. went
to the old farm, but you had gone
away, nobody knew whither"
And she Rugged Miss Comfort more
enthusiastically than ever, with bright
tears sparkling on her eyelashes.
"Why," demanded the bewildered
spinster, "who are your"
''I'm Essie Don't you remember
little Essie Bell that you gave the FIVE
dollar bill to in the twilight by the
wild rose bushes, when"
VI-O-O-u! MISS
Comfort, "you don't mean to say
you're that"
And here she stopped, nearly stran-
gled by Essie's renewed embraces,
while she listened to the story Of how
grandpapa had a6*<tee<d boz r II ~
she was surrounded W =, 'sAeG luxury
could devise or art invent.
"And / have longed to see you
again" added Essie, E'for if it had not
been for your kindness papa never
could have lived to reach his home
And you shall live with me always
now, and be my darling old friend"
''No," said Miss Comfort, gravely,
shaking her head, tI've come to apply
for a situation as housekeeper, and if
you won't give it to me, why I must
go elsewhere"
And Essie was obliged to consent.
fBut mind,". said she, noddipg the
golden masses of her crepe hair, "I
shall. give you what wages [ please