Huntsville gazette., 1889-07-20


'.Well. forget the health suit now
and put on your thinking cap" said
Alice, rising from the comfortable
easy chair in which she had been
lounging for the past half hour. You
know you have that problem to work
out and only a month to do it in"
Alice continued to gaze from the
window after her sister had left the
room, but she scarcely saw the people
who hurried along the wet, darkening
street, so absorbed was she in her own
thoughts, which were far from being
cheerful.
This problem of the self-support Of
herself and sister was a very difficult
one to solve. She had been house
keeper for her father for three years
following the death of her mother. and
then, when her father was gone too,
there had been no change, except that
it was her brother Bert who provided
now for the expense of the small house
hold. | .
Bert had always seemed so quiet and
settled, and so seldom sought the So
ciety of ladies, that his sisters never
thought it probable he would marry,
and the news of his engagement TO
Adeline Ellis was a great shock to
them both.
Unfortunately they had never liked
Adeline. She was the daughter of
Bert's employer, and Il cold superior"
sort of person, who had appeared to
think it u great condescension to call
upon the Starr girls once or twice a
year. And consequently they could
not understand her attraction for Bert
though they thought it very natural
she should find him attractive, for he
was tall, handsome, and possessed of
great dignity.
Bert had taken it for granted that
they would all live together after his
marriage.
''Adeline and have talked matters
over very frankly" he said, after an
nouncing to his sisters one morning at
breakfast the news Of his engagement,
land there will be no change here eX-
cept that she will take charge of the
housekeeping instead of Stacy. And
| do hope every thing will be pleasant
all around"
''It's all very well for Bert to talk of
every thing being pleasant" said
Alice, when her brother had gone
down town, and she and Stacy were
alone. at seems easy to him, Of
course. but it won't be so easy for US.
Adeline said there need be no change
because she knows Bert couldn't af-
ford two establishments, and she
makes a virtue Of necessity. But all
the same, she would be glad to be rid
of Us. I'm perfectly sure of that"
well. we can't blame her for it"
said honest Stacy. WED feel the
same, no doubt, were we in her place
And we mustn't put her in SO disagree
able a position. We must look out for
ourselves after Bert is married"
'rd like to know how" cried Alice.
my five music scholars bring me in
only enough money to dress myself
decently, and your drawing pupils
have dwindled down to half dozen.
Take care Of ourselves, indeed.n
1T must be done somehow re-
joined Stacy. 1T wouldn't be right
for us to depend on Bert. for suppors
after he is married; and he would find
us a heavy burden before long. And
then, too, we wouldn't find it pleasant
to live in the same house with Ade-
linen
Find way by which we can live
out Of it, then" said Alice
"'Where there is will there's al
ways way" quoted Stacy, cheerily.
But she was any thing but cheerful
this gloomy, wet October afternoon,
as she sat by the parlor window star
ing out into the quiet street. She had
thought over that problem until her
brain was weary, and was no nearer
its solution than when she began.
She did not hear the bell ring, and
gave a great start as the parlor door
was thrown open suddenly, and a
young girl in long, dark ulster and
turban hat came in.
Lou Dane!' cried Stacy, holding
out both hands in cordial greeting.
Yes, Lou Dane answered the
other. II know you are surprised to
see me such a wet, disagreeable even
ing, but | had to come over if only for
q few minutes. I've been sitting with
Emma all the afternoon, and l need
cheering" :
And you think | am the ono to
cheer you, | suppose? I'll have the
gas lighted, then"
No, don't light the gas Just to sit
here in the twilight is better than sit
ting at home under the glare Of every
jet in the house. Oh, dear, every
thing is so dreary since Emma lost her
health. She does nothing but lie on
the sofa and complain. And she goes
over the list of her ailments to every
one who comes in. Henry is getting
discouraged. He isn't half as patient
rrrifb ha, ha ,,col ~ Ia IA