The Osceola times., 1886-03-13

was carving her hospital 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, IL don't
guess you've got more money than you
can useP'
I'VE have only enough for our rail-
raad tickets" said Essie, her eounto.
nance falling, "but--"
II thought So" said Miss Comfort;
''and here's five-dollar bill I've laid
aside out Of my butter money that Ella
Kim don know notbin' about"
The child's eyes were brimminR as she
looked up in Miss Comforts s honest,
hard-featured face.
"Will you let me kiss you, Just onree"
she whispered, standing On tip-toe to
bring her blooming cheek to tbs spin
ster's wrinkled lips. Kissing, as Miss
Comfort might herself have remarked,
had she leisure for remark, was not
much in her way, but she could not re-
sist the sweet, wistful entreaty,
There" she said, with strange
moisture in her eyes, run along, Joab's $
oh" cried little Esther, as she sat
on the buflalo-draped seat, II wish
was rich and grown upr'
why, what 'ud you doP" demanded
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
Iocularity. $50 gee up, old Dollrf
81 know I'm pretty old to be lookin'
arter a situation said Miss Comfort
Fsirhaven, 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. So if you know of 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 Farhaven's ex.
planatory eloquence,
What wages did you askP"
Il amt particular about that so long
as it's good home.'
Here's place that might perhaps
suit you-h0usekeeper wanted at Mr.
Duponceau's, No. - Fifth avenue. You
might try it, although | hardly think o
person like you would suit"
Il amt young, know" said Miss
Comfort with a sigh, "but there's deal
Of tough work left in me yet Give mo
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
within her as she sat in the luxurious
rcception-room of the Fifth avenue
mansion, surrounded by silken chairs,
gilded tables, flashing mirrors and pic
lures, whose radiant skies might have
been painted in liquidized gold, so rare
and costly were they.
I'm a'most sorry | comet! thought
Miss Comfort. Il don't fairly believe
l can give satisfaction here"
While the thought was passing
through her mind, the door swung
open, and a tall young lady in blue
silk morning robe entercd-a young
lady with golden-brown hair looped
after the fashionable style over her
brow and deep blue eyes.
Miss Comfort rose and dropped .
stiff little courtesy
"Tve called to see" she began, but
to her amazement the rest of her speech
was abruptly checked by the young
lady's arms being thrown round her
neck.
"Oh, I'm so glad to see you," she
cried out ecstatically; IL thought never
should see you again. l went to the
old farm, but you had gone away, no
body knew whither!"
And she hugged Miss Comfort more
enthusiastically than ever. with bright
tears sparkling on her eyelashes.
why" demand the bewildered
spinster, "who are you?"
'.l'm Essie! Don't you remember
little Essie Bell that you gave the five
dollar bill to in the twilight by the wild
rose bush, when"
"Oh-o-o-h" exclaimed Miss Com.
fort, 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 adopted her. and how
she was surrounded by all that luxury
could devise or art invent.
''And | have longed to see you
again" added Essie. 'for il 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, 1--WE come to apply
for situation as housekeeper, and il
you won't give it to me, why must go
elsewhere"
And Essie was obliged to consent
"But mind" said she, nodding the
golden masses of her crepe hair, al
shall give you what wages | please!
Grandpa always intrusts those things to
my management.
So Miss Comfort Fairhaven stayed
nominally as housekecper-really the
trusted and revered head of the estab-
lishment, and her declining years were
surrounded by peace and luxury she
never had dared to dream of in her
loftiest aspirations.
Miss Comfort Fairhaven had invested
the five-dollar bill advantageously. She
had cast her bread upon the waters, and
after many days it had returned to her
Chicago Interior.
Artistic Embroidery.