The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-03-18
her pencil and flowers, what a bit Of vital

hearth-fife she had become.
But while this peacefulness was develop
ing at home there was trouble broodinp
abroad. Ralph's business was in sad
way, and creditors were cruel and disaster
was impending. And one day it came.
The great operation on which, outside OF
his legal business, Ralph had beeh en-
gagged 80 long, fell with crash, and all
our hopes OF the future and all our GER
tainty Of the present fell with it. Every
thing was to be given up, and with all the
rest of ourhome that had been such nest
of happiness for all our married years.
OF course did what could to hold up
my poor Ralph's hands, and it was settled
that We were to go into lodgings and live
in the smallest way possible while he was
picking up some practice again, taking a
desk in an Office that was open to him.
"Now," said Aunt Juliet ''you see
what 1t is to have burdened yourself with
another mouth to feed and back to
clothe."
nina is no burden" said I. ''she is a
blessing She is an angel we entertained
unawares."
"Oh, yes; she's all your fancy painted
her; she's lovely, she's divine. But she s
got to live!" said Aunt Juliet. "And
you've got to find her the means. And l
don't see how you're going to do il with
out starving and stripping yourselves.
Surely you can't afford TO keep cook
now; and I'll take Rose of your hands,
I've always wanted her."
OF course, gave Rose the option Of 20.
ing to Aunt Juliet ''No, thank you.
ma'am," said Rose. 81 wouldn't live
with your Aunt Juliet, ma'an, not il she
had the only mansion there was in
heavenl"
II always told You ] was your little
servant maid, said Nina, "and now will
either go out TO work some way, or stay
and do your work here. ! can't do too
much for you l can't do too much for
him DO you know once l thought, for
just q little while, that Lance was the only
man in the world! Lance isn't q shadow
beside him There isn't such soul alive
as his, and you were made for him. oh,
II ! only were good for something now !"
I'VE will all work together" ! said,
thinking It best 10 disregard her enthusi-
asm lest II became bysterical. "The laun-
dress and the second girl have gone, and
it's just Ms well, for we shouldn't have
room Tor them in our new lodging" and
then II was i who was hysterical, for
broke down crying, the thought OF leaving
my dear home being more, just then, than
could bear. The appraisers had been
there that day going over everything and
i had seemed such an intrusion and pro-
fanation that il had been too much for
me. and wondered, when an apparently
accidental bucketful OF water was dashed
from an upper story window as they were
going away, giving them thorough wet
n taf l,.s
body else, and the old spirit might not be
again taking possession.
1T made something flash fire inside of
me like sparks, said Nina, ''to see those
men turning over our dear things. Oh,
why can't | do something 10 earn some
money in lump. II there were only
millionaire for me to marry. Knight mar
ry him, you know--lm very pretty"
'Oh, Nina!' exclaimed. "ls this the
end OF all my teaching?" But had 10
laugh in the midst OF my troubles. But
Nina did not look at IL as did. the affair
anyway being in the nature Of n myth.
ard marry him, YOU know, in a minute
II ! could" she said, "and give his money
all to you. II had Aunt Juliet's money.
do you suppose I'd take your cook9 DO
you suppose Id let them take your house?
No! II | had quarter OF the bonds she
has packed away in that safety deposit box
Of hers I'd make life 40 gay for you all that
you'd think you'd died aud gone TO heaven!
And he should never have care again.
And have Ellie grow up without an cduca-
tion-heavensi I'm 40 glad / learned
something at last-shc can have all that
nowl She couldn't have everything, the
darling, II had IL, and you and he should
have the resll | lie awake at night and
picture how Id spend n fortune II had Il.
and spend Il all on you"
Well, felt such love more than repaid
me for all the trouble had with her from
the hour when found her in the little
fishing hut on the shore; and told her 10,
and We had n very enjoyable cry together.
was sitting that night rocking myself
discontentedly by the low freight for We
had already begun 90 economize IN the
matter Of lamps, when Ralph came In
from out doors and sat down opposite.
Nina was on a sofa behind the screen, with
Ellie lying back in her arms, telling stories
in low voice 20 the child, who had not
yet outgrown them, and ] marveled it,
tic 10 hear her and think Il was my bit Of
wildflrc tanned.
Ralph sat looking In the fire and oc.
casionally throwing on handful OF cones
and watching the swift fragrant blaze they
made. 81 suppose we shall have 10 ~
next week." he said. 1--WE been over 10
look at that little fiat. | suppose Il will
do. IL isn't the place for YOU"
ooh, anywhere Is tho place for me-" I
said, THAT you can manage 10 put me in!"
"four rooms in the heart OF the town"
he said bitterly; mo views from my win
dow but one OF squalid back-yards; no
river, no great hemlock trees, no pine
cones 20 burn on open fires Just the barcst
getting along until We can do better-ii We
ever can"
"well," ! said, ''it might be worse. W.
can be very happy II We are only well and
have each other"
Eyes" he said, eyes. But Il II hard 10
leave all we have worked for these DOZEN
years. all that is dear TO us. hard, too, TO
have slipped by 80 nearly as have done
10 q vast ioriune-as that would have been
but for-if II had not bcen-if had only
seen-but there, there, the moc one
thinks the worse II grows. The world IN
all alike. Somebody else IL slipping toler.
ably near fortune with lcf~ likelihood Of
getting II, by what heard In the Office to.
day. One Of those English fortunes fall.
ing due 10 some unfndabe heir.
81 thought the things were ali iauds,"
said !. Tho great fortunes In the Bank
Of England belonging to people over
here"
ooh, they are, very likely" said Ralph,
abscntly. This wasn't one OF that sort
This is the case Of an absent hcir-the son
a -. A