The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-04-21
MILLY'S VENTURE.

"There is news g" cried Edith Man
ming, entering hurriedly the small, shah
by parlor in which her mother and sis
ter were sitting, an open letter in her
hand. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. do you
think Milly is coming home"
"Coming home !" echoed Eleanor,
while a look of dismay came upon her
face. "Why, is she ill ?"
No; not exactly i'll but she says she
has been running down in heelth for
some time past that the climate OF New
Orleans doesn't suit her at all, and that
she has grown utterly weary of being a
governees. I don't wonder. She has
been at it now for four years, and those
Grays are fearful children-so many Of
them, too j"
"But, my dear, what is Milly to do
here ?" and Mrs. Manning looked up
from the pillows of her invalid-chair, a
fretful expression on her faded face.
Sand what are we to do 2" questioned
Eleanor. "That is more to the point, it
seems to me- It is hard work now to
make both ends meet, and with another
mouth to feed, starvation will stare us in
the face. OF course it is hard for Milly
to be obliged to teach, but we simply
can't have her here"
81 don't think there is any danger OF
starvation, said Edith 6" but of course
her coming would necessitate closer
economy"
"As if we could economic any closer /"
interrupted Eleanor.
"But if her health really requires that
she should have change, Eleanor"
Nonsense |" and Eleanor's voice was
decidedly impatient. "Let her wait a
while. may make up my mind to marry
old Haggaman, and then there would
be room for her. Her coming now would
drive poor Hugh to despair. There are
mothers doctors bills to be paid, too
we can't expect DR.. Forbes to wait for
ever. No, Milly can't come. I Twill write
to her that it is out OF the question. :"
"You haven't time, said Edith, coolly.
"She is on her way home now"
"How inconsiderate p exclaimed Flea
nor. ST will tell her very plainly what I
think OF the whole thing. Hugh"-as the
door opened to admit a tall young man
with kindly but careworn face" we've
heard from Milly, and she has given up
her position and is coming home. What
are we to do ?"
"Welcome her, of course" answered
Hugh Manning. "She is not sick, I
hope p" a little anxiously.
Edith briefly explained.
"Her coming means more rigid pinch
ing and saving than ever, said Eleanor,
when Edith paused. ST feel almost des-
perate."
"We'll manage somehow, I fancy, >
said her brother, with faint sigh. 1t
is of no use to borrow trouble Milly
may find something to do here-she is
very energetic.
"That is most unlikely" said Eleanor,
with good deal of spirit. "She may be
energetic, but it is not probable she will
find work in field which Edith and I
have canvassed thoroughly. 1t is not
from choice that we are dependent upon
you, Hugh. "
"My dear girl, I know that. You need
not assure me of it. Don't l see you
looking at the advertisements in the pa
pers regularly every morning ? And as
7 remarked before, fancy we will be
able to get along, whether Milly finds
employment or not.
~ don't suppose she will even try, I"
said Eleanor.
But she was very much mistaken. Mil
ly had not been two days at home before
her head was full of all sorts of plans for
self-support.
She had been away for four years, and
had learned very little of the family econ
omies and trials through the occasional
letters she received from Edith, who
made it a point never to allude to any
thing of the sort.
When Milly found that her mother and
two sisters were entirely dependent
upon Hugh's slender salary, and that all
sorts of mskeshifts were necessary in Or
der to keep out of debt, she was sur
prised and indignant.
at is not just to Hugh, she said. at
is cruel, unkind, and selfish for you girls
to sit down with your hands folded and
let him support you. What chance or
hope can he have of marriagef"
81 have thought of that often, said
Edith, in tone of regret. 81 know he
cares great deal for Anna Blake, and
would ask her tomorrow to marry him il
he only could. She is such nice girl,
too. 1t does seem too bad that he has to
take care OF us. But, as Eleanor says,
we have tried in vain to get work. There
are 80 few occupations open to women.
We have answered every advertisement
for governess or reader we have seen, but
to no avail. The trouble is, we neither
of us know anything thoroughly"
eyes that is one trouble. Another is