The Washington critic., 1886-03-06
HOW TT HAPPENED.

/
ing relative in the shadow of the cross
crowned church over the hill. 1t was
dismal prospect for girl of seven.
teen, and one who was absolutely igno-
rant of business. The Fords had al
ways lived in luxury. But ON his
death-bed Mr.. Ford called Ellie to him;
his articulation was imperfect, but she
caught: "Bad investments, mortgage
bonds. Poor Poor y Barker
will tell you" A few gasps and IL was
over. b
All day she had tried to bring order
out of chaos. At last, with sigh, she
tossed the golden fringes from her
forehead, as IL even their light weight
were an oppression.
ut Is useless" she murmured; II
can make nothing of anything" Then
suddenly she remembered, I" Barker
will tell you" The memory came
with sigh of relief.
A servant answered the bell.
Take this to Mr.. Barker" she or
dered, "and wait an answer"
II came In less than an hour.
"Mr. Barker will wait upon Miss
1
II lacked five minutes of the hour. ii
Barker was q lawyer in the same
town. She had always known him,
and she remembered that he had beeu
with her father frequently before she
went TO school for the last time.
AS he entered Eflie started. She had
thought of him as rather elderly, but
the man who stood before her was ex-
tremcly handsome, and perhaps double
her II years.
"You are kind, Mr.. Barker, to re-
spond so promptly. | did not know
make nothing of papa's papers," she
sighed, wearily.
"Of course What can you know
about law ?" and together they turned
to the pcrplexing pile.
paper, and a startled look came into his
eyes, keen lawyers though they were.
care these all ?" he asked.
II believe go. Papa kept his papers
in that secretary; and, Mr.. Barker,
know from what he said that there
were losses-that I shall not be very
well off. I do not mind" she added
quickly, "other people are poor, why
not II"
"Some losses Not as we'll off as
she had been y He regarded her
queerly, Poor child Did she know
that house, lands, even the costly fur
niturc was covered with mortgages ?
No, and he determined she never
should know. He had no living rela.
, tlves, and why should he not do for
J this helpless girl what he would have
l 4.. Il. czx., al, g.,
, of his
"There will be something left after
the debts are paid, will there not p
The pretty pathetic eyes looked
!, squarely into his. He could not answer
: this child-woman with evasion. '1l
you will trust to me, Miss Ford, | will
y do my best. Your father trusted me
y on several occasions" (he did not add
, if that father had been guided by his
\ judgment, his daughter would not now
\ be penniless) "and / am confident
know more of the business than any
0 one else." He waited her reply.
0 "Oh, yes. and thank you, Mr.
Barker" With a childish, trustfu
0 notion, she slipped her hand in his
0 Barkcr's experience with women. wa
0 bounded by aggressive little widows
0 and soul terrifying Sally Brasses, ant
there was queer little flutter in hi
O manner as he bid her good night.
Mr.. Ford's affairs were in hopeles
tangle. Ruin was inevitable. Sucl
y was Barker's verdict after u reperusa
of the Ford papers. 'Poor littl
thingv' he whispered to himself; Ssh
!, shall never know If can help 1t"
: Out Of those deeds and mortgage
l. seemed to start vision of hom
'' Eden, where certain eyes looked int
: his with bewildering love. Bah! Wha
have sentimental love.dreams in CON
= mon with an austere lawyers office.
81 X II n u
A puzzled face appeared at the OF
flee of Barker & Hawkins one day, nc
r long after.
II am sorry to worry you, but sc
here" Efiie produced slip of pape
% which she held toward him. 1t state
~ ~ the existence of note, covering $40
10 600, principal and interest, held by on
. Isaacs & Tobias, brokers in a neighbo
10 ing city.
% "WIcn did you receive thisg" II
% avoided looking at the captivating fac
y, " as much as possible.
~ "To.day and, Mr.. Barker, 1t mn
be paid. The $4,000 you saved fc
% me will just cover it. Will you do
% for mel"
y eyes, Miss Ford. 1t is fertunat
% however, that l changed the inves
% ment BY the new arrangement 1t HI
% doubled. You can pay this bill an
90 retain the same amount"
90 81 can? How NIGEL / thought
would have to go out as a nurse-ma
90 or-something. Mr.. Barker, when
,o your client coming who owns Il
% house? ] feel as if were an intrudc
90 somehow"
20 you are not. The favor is to hir
h / have his word for it.
90 Still she fingered "Mr Barker, yo
90 have been so kind and good. l wis
~ / could do something for you. If
90 can ever will you let me?"
"Yes, Miss Ford"
n. Effie left the Office with queer, di
90 satisfied feeling at her heart. Dow
"a the browsing street, filled with lai
% shadows, she strolled. AS she turn,
20 corner she collided with ralIis
~ looking youth. He recovered himsC
30 with an apology. There was such
90 frank look in his bright, blue ey
!" that Eilie took to him at once. He a
-, companied her as far as the gat
" opened it, and, with bow, turned
zoo ward the open plaza. "What a yer
ioo rely nice, accommodating boy,' W
~, Eflic's mental comment
% She met the every nice boy fl
% quently after this. He was IS and qui
~ idle. He obtained conventional
90 troduction-Bert Gwynne was l
90 name--and he constituted hims(
90 Enie's veritable double. On the sire,
at church, Mr.. Bert Gwynne was