The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1886-11-03

"Aio pihc-ttocS IuuSeu HAo SentluelS across
her path.
Rachel was working-girl. For three
years she had stood behind the counter Of
Philadelphia fancy store, toiling all day
long for a pitifully insufficient sum. and
feeling strength and vitality go from her
the while; until one day she broke down
You must have rest and change" the
doctor said, oracularly.
Rest means the stoppage of my salary"
said Rachel, with frightened look;
change means the spending of money.
Doctor, how can / !"
Haven't you got some relatives some
where in the country" asked the medical
man, knitting his shaggy brows.
!" have a cousin" said Rachel, q out on
Milkweed Farm. But / have never seen
her. l only know that her name is Com
fort Penfeld."
That's good name," said the doctor.
Comfortable, Ell? Well, why don't
you go there?"
"I-I don't like to, said Rachel "Our
fathers and mothers quarreled once, 1 be-
lieve.n
9 Is that any reason that their daughters
should quarrel now ~
Mono, l suppose not" admitted
Rachel.
And SO, after many doubts and scruples,
she determined to go to this unknown
cousin.
"She can but send me away again. said
Rachel, as she packed her poor little ward
robe-all of it that had not been either sold
or pawned to meet the inevitable expenses
of her illness-into the worn old travelling
bag, and started for the country.
But on this heavy, sultry evening, with
the heat lightning si.i..i2s IN the ssir. and
the clamor of crickets and katydids making
weird confusing in her ears, the alternative
of being sent away app feared by no means
so agreeable.
Born and bred a ,ity girl, there was
something frightful 10 her in the dense
shadows of the forest Dad, the distant cry
Of night birds.
II wonder" she thought, if there are
any bears in these woods l wonder il
thieves and robbers ever hide behind the
trunks of the trees aud waylay helpless
travellers ~
In her panic and bewildermeut. she had
forgotten all about the red mill, where she
had been admonished to turn'to the left"
"Where am IYn she asked herself. with
sudden beating of the heart. g am
lost p"
And then she sat down ON a fallen tree
and began to cry
Until suddenly. through the tears, some
thing that was neither fireAies nor heat
lightning flashed across her visiop-the red
Qlimmer of a household candle.
II must be that she was near a house.
somewhere.
In an instant, as it were. she had STUN
bled toward this beacon star, and was
breathlessly knocking ut the door.
"Let me in - she cried" let me in!"
And the door opened, as II by magic.
Two men were in the room--a bright,
little interior, illumined by the glow of a
shaded lamp, with cheerful red curtains at
she windows, and red carpet on the floor.
One of them was old and feeble and lay
on a calico-covered lounge. with a pillow
under his head the other. who had OPEN
ed the door, was young, aud had a frank,
pleasant face. And woman came hurried
ly in from the other ROOM middle-aged,
shrewd-eyed woman.
"Well. YOU haven't hurried Yourself
said she. pettishly.
Hurried myself ~ repeated Rachel.
1--WE expected Won by the noon train
said the woman. What can possibly have
detained YOU ?"
.sI-I don't know said Rachel, sitting
helplessly down on the chair which this
querulous female set for her. 81 believe
lost the way.n
eve are yery glad to see YOU INV dear
said the elder man, looking kindly up from
his pillows. ~ am, as YOU see. helpless
with rheumatism, and require good deal
of waiting on, and John, although the best
fellow in the world" (noddine toward his
SOM, doesn't know much about house
keeping. And since Mary is going to leave
me we thought it would be the best plan to
write and ask you to come to u.s."
And we will try, as we said In the let
ter said John, who stood complacently
by, " to make it real pleasant home for
you. You'll try and be contented, won't
your"