The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1889-11-28

"Belieye me he has II 10 making M
his servant to help you, | =sid. humbly
| Then | went over 10 the bed and smoot
ed the soft brown hair.
The chill of the room suddenly struck
me, warmly clad as | was. | glanced a.
The empty crate that told its own story
oh how selfish am" said bend
ing over and kissing her forehead
| Come, Besrie and show me where the
store Is. aud We will have fire and some
thing to eat in no time.
A few moments later, and stout BOY
| from the corner grocery had followed
me up the five long flights Of stairs, laden
with huge basket Of provisions on one
arm, and similar one flied with kind.
| ling wood on the other. Fifteen min
utes later the fire was burning briskIy
and the room was warm and filled with
the odor of fragrant tea which boiled
and dubbed over the top of the LITTLE
esrthern teapot.
drew the rckety table into the cen
ire Of the room, and covered it with a
neat white cloth. Then | placed the
chairs for the children, and put pillow
IN the back Of the large rocker for the
little sick girl-mOther. who was half fam
i=hed, aud ate the food with such rel
ish it would have done ones heart good
~ see.
Poor little thing she had told me much
of her history while | was preparing
their meal. She was born in England
aud like myself was an orpan. When
sixteen years Old she visited London
with her husband, and was married after
brief courtship. They came to Amer
lea two years after, and had resided in
| Chicago until year since, when her hus-
band took cold, and died in quick con-
sumption. Then she had written to her
uncle i'll England, but received no ans
wer.
Dollar by dollar her little sum of money
had dwudled away, until from sheer
necessity She had sold her few yaluables
and come cast in vain hopes of finding
the the only relative OF her husband that
she knew of
Suddenly it struck me little singular
that we sad not even asked each othel
our names.
II don't know as | have introduced
myself, said, But | am Hetty Corine
at your service" kissing the sweet face
lifted to mine
And am Bessie Farnsworth" sh,
said softly.
mention of the name.
"And your husbands name VAS
"Rchard Farnsworth. He was an
Americans did you know himf' she sale
surprised at my eager tone,
Know him! o my God did not know
until this moment how much loved thi:
man, and how had looked forward witt
a vague hope of seeing him again. Anc
he was dead. Dead, dead. | kept repeat
ing to myself. After little | raised my
face from my hands, and said in a hare
strained voice.
Yes, Bessie, knew him.
Something in my face told the rest
She threw both arms about my neck ant
sobbed bitterly.
you know him, my Richard, and low
ed him.
Yes, Bessie" said through my tears
Don't ky, mamma pity lady, don't ky :
and two little hands stole up to oul
cheek. caressingly.
Then we dried our eyes, and Bessie
told me how she came here in hopes tc
| ilnd IL cousin of her husband, and how
vain it had been. How she had hiret
this miserable room for two dollars 6
week, and had supported herself sewing
for two or three large dressmaking es
adjustments.
II would have pawned my wedding
ring in the morning, for | had nothing
else left One day last week cut my bes
dress over for the children, they looked
50 shabby in their old garments. | had
no one To 20 to; Richards folks were
very angry because he married me, and
refused to ever see him. He wasn't muct
of business man, you know, and We
were very poor the year he died. He hac
n cousin who thought the world OF him
and if | could only find him | know h,
would help US, :" and she gave little anx
ious sigh.
"Oh, Bessie" | cried do you think
you are ever to be poor or needy again:
Why | am rich, child. Very, very rich
and no Que to help me spend my money
but you. But there, dear, must 90, for
the clock is striking ten, and Auntit
will worry her life out if do not put in
my appearance soon. Keep up good
heart until morning, and | will come the
very first thing to see you.'
| Aud kissed the children and the little
mother ood-night, and in her hand
left roll of money that would suffice fol-
any immediate wants.
| took a street car home, and found
Auntie, as had predicted in great wor-
ny about me.
"Where have you beenf" she said in
great distress.
"Only making call, Auntie, on some
friends of mine whom am going to ask
here on Thanksgiving day.
With this she was happy. for If there
was one thing more than another that
Auntie Barker doated on, it was enter
tanning company.
Then | went to my chamber, but not to
sleep. Long after midnight | laid there
thinking it all over, and planning for the
| future.
Thanksgiving dawned bright aud clear
the air just cold and frosty enough t.
give one a sharp appetite. This year il
came on the 27th Of the month, By birth
day. remember how ten years ago IL
had happened on the same day in Maine
All me | gave little sigh as | thought
how strangely things came about and re-
solved to make Richards wife and child
rem as happy As it was in my power.
| Then some one came pounding on my
door, and little voice clamored for All
mittance.
"Auutic Hessy, auntie Hessie, ct me
in - and moment later Mabel was in my
|
kisses. For | had taken them home tC
live with me. There was a large chamber
vacant on the same floor adjourning my
suit, and had furnished it. and instalec
my little family, much to the delight OF
Auntie Barker, dear, hospitsle soul thai
she was.
We were to have dinner in our owl
parlor that day, as | preferred it to din
ing at the public table. Such a merry
time we had IN the morning, driving
shout the city in the carriage
| had given the express orders not tc
be disturbed, and was engaged" shoult
any caller happen in while were at din
uer.
SO You can tell how annoyed | wa.
when servant knocked at the door JUS
rs we were sitting around the table, anC
Informed US that 4 gentleman wished u
see Mrs. Farnsworth on most important
| business
"How provoking" | e1clsimed, petu
lantly. How in the world did he evei
lind you were here?
But Bessie had caught glimpse o.
some one in the hall who had followed
the servant up, and before | could speal
she had given lutte glad cry, and dash
ed through the open door.
Who could it be? heard her sob, an,
kiss some one again and again, while sh
cried
"Oh, Dick, Dick is it you at last?'
And then she dragged some one int
the room, and with her face all a-dri
with glad, sweet tears, she said
"Oh, Hetty this is my husbands cou
sin, Dick, of whom | told you. Mr.
Farnsworth, this is my very best frien
in the world, Hetty Corning"
saw him catch for chair for support
as he gasped;
"Hetty!'
felt the room swim around as
stretched both my arms out, erwin