The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-02-10

Eda and Ella Carr were sitting, pale
and black nobed, in the moldy smelling
little parlOr, when their aunt came in.
They were pretty girls, with delicate,
wax white compilations, hair so dark
that il gave You the impression Of being
black, and great, blue gray eyes.
"Well, girls, said Mrs. Nledlaw. rather
mgraciously, 80 you've come here"
I'VE had nowhere else to 60. auntT
said Eda, meckly.
"Humph" grunted the old lady
Take off your things. | suppose you
calculate to stay all night? Well, and
what are You going TO work at
I'VE don't know, aunt" said Ella,
trying hard not to cry.
"Well, amt il high time you had:"
said Mrs. Modlaw. Folks can't live on
air. And two great, grown up girls like
you ought to be doing something to earn
their salt. There's always plenty Of
work for willing hands. I've had to
foreclOse a mortgage on a little fancy
store l want to put some one in il to
sell ont the stock. I'll give you fair
commission ON what you sell. Come,
what do you say 70 that:'
Il am willing 20 try" said Ella.
Heaven knows am anxious enough to
earn my own living"
and I, too" said Eda. ave know
nothing about such business
But you can learn, | suppose" said
Aunt Medlaw.
but we can learn, said Eda, hope.
fully.
And in less than a week the little
thread and needle store around the cor
ner. which had presented a grim and
shuttered front for some days, was re-
opened, and two pretty girls, dressed in
black, were posted behind the counter.
Mrs. Mopson sent her two little boys 10
match a skein Of green worsted and in
quire for peppermint tatfy first. The
widow Hope purchased q little hosiery
and three cheap pocket handkerchiefs.
\ small girl came to ask the time OF day,
and an old man bought a pair Of sus-
penders. all within the hour, and Eda
and Ella began to think they might, in
time, develop into commercial characters
OF note.
To be sure, business waxed rather dull
toward the end Of the day, but just at
dusk a tall, nice looking young man
came in 10 buy a card of pearl shirt but
tons Ella took down q box, and they
were quite a long time in selecting the
prottiest pattern and the most appropri.
ate size.
Il forgot one thing said the young
man after he had contracted for an
eighteen cent investment Il must have
them sewed on. Could you do it;'
I'm try" said Ella, laughing, "if
you'll bring the shirts around"
So the young man brought his shirts
and sat down to wait, while Elias needle
flew deity in and out. He was in q
hurry, he told her. He was foreman in
the printing office Of great daily paper,
and worked at night, when the rest Of
the world was asleep, Like a bat or an
owl.
In the meantime Eda was trying to
suit an old lady in green spectacles, who
wanted some ribbon whose color she
didn't exactly know, whose width Sue
wasn't certain about, and whose quality
she had yet to make up her mind con-
corning. But Edas patience. tact and
good temper We're inexhaustible At last
the old lady was suited and went away
rejoicing. leaning on the arm OF her
nephew, who had manifested extraordi-
nary interest in the shade Of drab ribbon.
That's a nice girl, Oswald" said she.
DO you know almost think she might
suit me as q oompaniOni She seems so
very good humoredl / wonder II /.
would do to ask her il she would like a
situation
Il don't sec why not said Oswald
Grey, thinking he never had seen softer
gray eyes or prettier hair. shall we go
back:'
Tomorrow is tune enough, said Mrs.
Martiguy.
On the morrow she came back.
Didn't the ribbon suit asked Eda.
ooh yes, the ribbon was all right, but
there's something else want"
"What is that" asked Eda, innocently.
"a companion to read to me. take care
of my canaries, and play drowsy old
tunes on the piano when feel sleepy. |
give $500 a year. Saturday afternoon anS
board. win you come:
Ella looked at her sGer. Five hun
dred gear seemed . great sum for III"
girl who had never yet earned five for
herself
YES, 60, Eda," said Ella; lean man
age the store By myself easily enough
And. in a whisper, I've taken con.
tract 10 make half a dozen new shirts
for Nr. Lessner, we to find the material
WHO is Mr.. Lessnerf'
ooh. the printer. can do it at odd
minutes, when there is no one in the
store"
AZ the end Of the month Eda came to
report to her sister.
"Well, Eda, how do you like IL" asked
Ella.
"Oh, SO much! Mrs. Martiguy is
queer but she is SO kind. And--and-
Mr.. Oswald Grey her nephew, is very
polite"
as be-"
YES" said Ella, lingering at a box Of
hooks and eyes; Il like him ever so
much, and he likes NE. To tel the
truth. Ella
IL see, said Ella. putting her arms
around her sister: "he wants you 10 10
his companion for life, eh, Eda"
How did you know faltered dim
pied Eda.
"Oh. I'm not quite fool" said Ella.
3D.. 49,. r.. -, e,,ta.f IfpO IN fqll Vou