Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1889-10-12

Is waiting down below.
Il must go home after my clothes,
said the girl "I'll be back here il
half ali hour Wait p
And she vanished.
"Now," said Mr.. Cummings, turning
over new leaf in his ledger, Il cal
that stroke o business for both o
you. They all want to be companion
or secretary, or somethin' O. that sort.
1t sounds more high toned, you know.
But, arter all, good honest housework's
the thing!'
Mr.. Cummings here paused to t
with stout young man who desired &
position as porter in a store.
Zenas Galway sat staring at the
checkered reflect n of the window
panes on the floor, as they moved
along with the westering sun. AND
little Elfrida Hewitt fled swiftly down
a narrow street, up a winding stair tc
close little apartment, where lay q
pale young convalescent trying tc
while away the weary hours with sew.
ing cut beads on silken gimp for the
nearest fancy store. She looked up
her bright eyes all inquiry.
well ?" she said, eagerly.
Eve got place, darling. at last p
The invalid drew long breath.
''It's only So month" pursued Ell
frida "but III send every cent of it to
you, dear, until you're well enough to
get back to the store. And it's quite
a small family-only one lady. And
I'll try so hard to suit her !"
"But, Frida-oh, dear little Fridai
what shall | do without your" cried
the pallid convalescent, clasping her
thin hands.
"We mustn't think of that" said
Efrida, resolutely. "You're going to
get well, and then we shall both do
spleudidly. Kiss me, dear. I've got
to pack my little bag, for the-the
carriage is waiting at the 'Headquar-
ters,'
"The carriage They must be very
grand people," said the elder sister
"But you haven't told me the address,
Frida."
Elfrida stopped packing and re-
garded her sister with eyes of puzzled
amusement.
II forgot to ask it," said she, but
I'll send it by mail. 1t will all be
right, dear. Now one more kiss,
Goodbye y
And Elfrida ran away, blinded by
the tears she was too brave to shed in
her sisters presence.
as it very wicked, 1 WONDER" she
asked herself, ito let her think I'm
going to be companion to sick lady
But something had to be done, or we
both should have starved"
1t was twilight when Zenas Galway
assisted his companion to alight at the
farmhouse under the following maple
boughs.
"My mother is sitting there by the
window" said he. go and speak to
her she can't come to you. She has
no use of her limbs"
Efrida Hewitt advanced boldly to
the kind faced old woman in the
cushioned arm chair.
Mrs. Galway held out her hand with
a smile.
who are you y said she, pleasantly.
II am the new girl"
Pm glad to see you, my dear.
What is your name ?"
"Efrida Hewitt"
"What can you do p
EIfrida colored to the roots of her
glossy, chestnut brown hair
u can sing" said she, "and paint a
little in water colors and play the
piano; l can read aloud aud en-
broider -
Land alive, child !" cried out Mrs.
Galway, what on earth do you sup
pose is the use of all that ? Can you
know how to cook, and wash, and
make soft soap, and, -
No." said Ellrida, her fringed
lashes dropping and her lip quiyering.
But | can learn-Im sure | can
learn, if you'll show me how. Please
please do try me J.
And Mrs. Galway found herself
crying for sympathy before she got
through.
"Do you think I've done right Ze-
mas p said she, the next day. "'Fhe
child knows absolutely nothing about
homework, but she's strong and will
ing. She's broken two of the willow
patterl cups already, and she let the
clam soup burn this morning while she
stopped to play with the kitten. But
she's such a sunshiny bit of a thing,
and she really does want to learn"
Right? Of course you're right,
said CHEEKY Zenas. Never mind the
clam soup and the willow pattern
cups, She'll do first rate when she
leaned the A B C Of the thing"
"And Zenas' -
Yes, mother ?"
"She told me SO much about that
invalid sister of hers in the tenement
house in Prince street. down in the
city-Lhe one that's had typhoid fever
you know-that I've most mind tc
send you to bring her here. She'd gel
well deal faster on new milk and
country breezes and think of the com
pany she'd be-to Elfrida !"
It's capital idea, mother" sale
Zenas. I'm go !"
because, you know" said Mrs
Galway, laying her hand on her son !
arm, "it's somehow borne in on m,