The Wilmingtonian., 1886-10-23

Balutn a new interest, ana long Walk 10
the boat or car only pleasant country
stroll.
There was little money to put in the
bank for rainy day, when Aunt Sue Oh
tained employment at her old trade, and the
girls undertook embtoder! for large dry
goods establishment June had come, when
one morning Aunt Sue received letter, ask
ing to take a boarder.
"a boarder p cried Fannie, aghast "the
man is crazy p
For the letter was signed "John Harris y
So it was man.
''He is an invalid and wants perfect quiet
in private family. He offers ten dollars a
week, Fam"
"Aud he'll be twenty dollars worth of
bother Just imagine sick man to fuss
over"
"Ten dollars week." said practical Nell.
''It would nearly keep the table for all OF
u.s.
Discussed in all its bearings, the proposal
VAS finally admitted to have its advantages.
The old family ply sician was given by the
loom fairly yawning with emutness," Neil
said.
So John Harris was graciously permit d
to take up his summer residence in the lutte
cottage. He was white-haiIed old gentle.
man who stopped badly aud had large soft
eyes, as blue as Fannle's own. From the
time Of his arrival his devotion to Aunt Sue
was marked as to excite the mischieyou,
railIery Of the girls in spite of the little od
maids blushes and plutes'at ions.
Was Aunt Sue n the esummer-house stitch
| ing upon her caps, john Harris was sure t. lie
found; reading aloud the interest n pOrtl MS
If the daily new spapers. Was she IN the
kitchen s,lrring cake, or rolling PIE crust,
John Harris was certainly leaning against
the wlndow.sll, making sage It marks upon
| The beans or tomatoes in the wee vegetable
garden. Did Aunt Sue remark her love for
flower, behold the nexr day wagon from
town with a whole garden ready TO be trans
terred to the soil of Harlem, under John
| tarris's directions. lie was very kind to
he gills, bat their youthful charms evident
1t was pleasant summer,in spite ni Fans
hearl-sickuess and the many privations that
were now duty. Poverty had not bitten
deeply into the nest-egg at the bank, thanks
to the supply of work and the board of John
Harris. Upon the plea of poor appetite, this
invalid was constantly sending orders to the
city for supplies of danties for the table,
hat aided materially in |, sseniug the culln-
lry expenses and he set the girls to en-
broidcring such pile of handkei chiefs with
initial letters, thar Nell declared he could
never want another if he spent the lemaindeI
OF his existence blowing his nose.
He liked carriage exercise, and hated to be
alone, so he kept an open barOuche at the
livery stable and the whole four rode every
pleasant day along the country roads. He
insisted that servant was needed for his
mullitulinons wants, aud Jane was reinstat-
ed, to her own profound satisfaction.
But the crowning act of Kindness came
When the October winds were sweeping
round the little cottage, and fire in the sit.
Cing-room CRATE looked CHEEKY and home.
like. The Durrimers were expecting every
day to hear Mr.. Harris announce his inten
ton of returning to the city but he linger
ed day after day, as if loath to leave the cot
tage. One clustering day, when he bac
been in the city since early morning, he CANT
home after dusk. Neil thonght there wert
two pairs of feet on the stairway, but con
cluded she must have been mistaken whel
IT Al, Il.
Fannie was sitting near the window, and III
old man took seat very near her as he said
81 heard some news in town to-day.
EVERYBODY looked interested.
'IIerbert Norris died in England tw
months ago. DR.. Garner was telling m
about it. He had a son, noble fellow, VIII
left the city after he d, TO try to find him
ana persuade him 10 restore the money h
: nad taken. But, when he did fluid him, Ii
ascertalned that he had taken-nothing
The money, his own, trust funds, everthn
was invested in unfOl tunate speculation.
J and it was to avoid ruin and disgrace til
: man fled His son stayed by him, workin
TOR him, striving to make hun return an
D face the consequence of his mprudence, bu
+ his heart was broken, and he died. Died
/. poverty and grief! But his son came hon
t to face the misery and disgrace from whic
I. his father fled. He brought his clear brai
d aud legal knowledge to bear upon the con
: plicatiuns, and he has succeeded in gettin
5 affairs into training, 1t may be months b.
/, tore there is any result, but Fred. Norr
laces the world to-day as an honest man, fir,
/ from any complicity in his fathers disgrac
ii But he is very sad. think If he had fe
d loving words to cheer him on, the thougl
that he had not altogether forfeited lU'
j, he struve hard 10 win, the hope that succe
Ii IN the future might mean wife's love,
= happy home, he--why Fan"
For Fan, had risen from her seat, h
y cheeks glowing, her eyes radiant.
"Where is he ?" she said softly.
II 'Iu my room. will call him down."
:. But Fred. fingered in the bail till Fa
d went out, softly closing the door. Tn
d came in presently together, aud Aunt s.
"A and Nell gave the young man coldial W.
y come.
It When they were all seated again, Jo
y Harris said suddenly
re Miss Dorrimer, had you ever broth
le John, who went to California many yes
in ago-a scapegracc boy, who deserted hoI
,,t = .,aiI e ,r Id cnyar and upy