Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1889-11-28
"oh, my dear, you can'tl' said Mrs.

but Iarsley farm wasn't New
York"
THAT makes no difference" said
Myra. THE expenses here are some-
thing awful, and father looks so tired
and worried. No wonder, with six
great, idle daughters to provide for!
There isn't a girl in Parsley Point,
mother, but what does something for
a living. / should think Eugenia and
JEANNE and Nell and Marian and Addy
would be ashamed OF themselves.
What do you think is going TO become
OF thempi
my dear, what becomes OF all the
girlsP" reasoned Mrs. Dollard.
They'll marry, of course
us it of course?" said Myra,
thoughtfully.
"Mr. Roper is very attentive to
JEANNE, and Captain Stafford calls
here quite regularly think it is to
see Marian and the FalkIey girls. with
the handsome brother. are always
sending for Adelaide to spend the day
with them. You see. it is essential,
IN such circle as this, to keep up
their social position"
Even il you and father are worked
to death?n said Myra. satirically.
Mrs. Dollard sighed deeply.
II don't see any help for it." said
she.
But | doP" cried Myra, her big
gray eyes shining. Il didn't come
back home to hang myself like sixth
lightweight around fathers neck; and
if you won't let me send Bridget away
and take her place
my dear child, you would utterly
lose your chances for a good match by
any such proceedingv'
Nonsense" said Myra, laughing.
IF, / say, in that case. I'll 90 to be a
typewriter or book-foIder or some
such business.
Myra Dollard was as good as her
word. She entered her name at the
nearest employment agency, and set
herself diligently to work to find
something to do. The five sisters were
scandalized past all description.
And Dollard is such an uncommon
name" said Adelaide. people will
be sure to identify her with rs.
II won't own her for sister," said
Marian Indignantly.
Il don't thinkr' cried Eugenia, "that
mamma ought to allow itr'
And with one accord the five Dol
lard girls sent their sister to Cow
entry.
Father" said Myra, coming home
one evening with radiant face, 1--WE
got such a nice situation! Through
Mrs. Hartcombe's Office.
"A situation, my dear? What kind
of situation?"
'House-keeper. father"
I'm afraid, Myra. your sister won't
like it.
That's very likely, father" said
the partridge, Struggling her shout
ders. But I'm going to be house,
keeper, all the same, in Dr. Vivian's
sanitarium. Mrs. Vivian is an invalid,
you see, and lives at the seaside-and
I'm to take entire charge of every
thing, with six servants under my or
ders. To receive the lady patients,
you know, and take the head of the
table and keep the accounts and give
out the linen, and all that sort of
thing-and ! am to receive $25 a
month, and I'm sure, father, / can
spare $40 every month. 1t will pay
Bridgets wages and help with that
outrageous laundry billm
"My dear" said Mr.. Dollard, his
spectacles moist with tears, you are
a heroine?n
The five sisters, however, took a
different view Of affairs. In their
eyes Myra had degraded not only her
self, but her family. And just as
Harper Dale had begun to show some
interest in Nell, the family beauty
and Harper Dale's sister was under
DIR. Vivian's care for diseased hip
joint.
Hell be sure to hear all about it, g"
said Nell, bursting into tears, land
then of course he'll despise mel Oh!
how dreadful it all ISL
II wish Myra had staid in Rhode
Island, " said Adelaide. with a flash of
her eyes.
Il don't think" exclaimed JEANNE,
''that mamma ought to touch that
housekeeping money Of Myra's."
''My dears, said Mr. Dollard. you
don't know how hard your mother has
to work, while you girls are enjoying
yourselves upstairs!n
Hateful thingr' interjected Marian.
she has set even our own father
against usr'
But in spite of whispered innuendo
and boldly-spoken scorn, Myra kept on
the even tenor of her way, earning
wages like any chairwoman. as Nell
wrathfully expressed it. and actually
seeming to enjoy her independence.
Nell darling cried Jeannie, one
evening as her sister came in from an
afternoons shopping, "what has kept
you so long? Colonel Dale has been
herer'
HAS hep" Nell changed color; her
bright eyes grew brighter still.
'And that poor young sister Of his
is dead. Oh, Nell, think he felt the
need Of your sympathy and consola-
ton! | said what | could. but, Of
course, it wasn't as If it had been you.
And oh. Nell! what do you think? He
said this family had always seemed
very near to him-and he hoped one
day to call me sister,
Nell flew upstairs to her room, only
stopping to hug and kiss JEANNE. 1t
was true, then. Colonel Harper Dale
did call for her.
Mrs. Dollard thought that under the
circumstances they were quite justified
in ordering Nell's trousseau.
"Such things take so long," said
she and If Colonel Dale goes to
Europe in the fall, as people say he
will, he'll want to start of with very
little notice. II couldn't do any harm
to be ready"
But Mr. Dollard shook his head
wait until he has formally proposed"
said Mr.. Dollard.
Colonel Dale, as it happened. pro-
posed that very afternoon, in the little
back office at Mr. Dollard's place of