Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1890-01-17


the silk department. and yeu may take her
place in the Lace Department"
Thank you" said Helen, end arose TO go;
but before she reached the door Mr.. Paine
said. in q careless tone: Your salary will
be so week"
Again Helen said Thank you;" but this
time it was in a tone that was at once
naughty and indifferent.
why is it," menszHy calculated Mr..
Paine, shat the very women who need
money the most are ever the proudest about
the acceptance Of itp
Helen was indeed at home among those
soft, creamy laces She banded them as
tenderly as q student would . rare manu-
script; her touch seemed to have q magic
about it. Under her handling patterns
seemed almost 30 match themselves. How
it hurt her when people came in with soiled
hands and took hold Of those dainty meshes
When the customers weTs gone she talked
very little to the other employees; but II any
OF them were sick or tired out DO one was so
quick 10 detect it as she. II they ever
thought her handsome it was when that
sympathetic look creps into her face, as she
said: Let me take your place q while"
When the rainy days oame or the duh sen
son set in far away look crept into her
eyes Helen is dreaming today the other
girls would say.
With the same dreary look Helen opened
her letter. 1t was from an attorney in San
Francisco, informing her OF the death of her
only uncle, who had lef: her bank deposit
of $50, coo.
Helen read the letter with great agitation
to her aunt When she was able to think she
kept wondering what she could do with 80
much money. Her Joy was snbdued from
the first by an overwhelming sense Of respon-
sibility Fer uncle had given bis life for this
money. The great question to her was how
should she make this hfe worth something to
the world
After long consultation with friend,
who was a lawyer, she decided to turn the
money over to him to invest IN mortgages.
He was to pay her per cent, and retain all
above that amount that he made.
AS she went home she kept repeating:
mine thousand year. Unjust r,akea great
many hearts happier with that
When she entered the store the next morn
ing every one had a word Of cOngratulation
for her The publicity worried her, but she
tried not to show her irritation, lest it might
be misinterpreted Mr. Psine came in at 9
O'Clock, and she followed him into the Office.
Before she could say word, he said: Il see
by the morning paper that the fates have
been very kind TO you"
They have treated me more kindly than
deserve. l came to resign my position
Perfectly natural. II has always been
my custom to require two weeks notice; but
these circumstances are 50 unusual that will
Ia IN yorfr ra<sa u
'The first homage that my wealth has re-
ceived," she sid mentally, but aloud. IF
that has been your rule I shall remain at my
counter two weeks longer" and walked out
''Heigh dayl" exclaimed Mr.. Paine. ''She
does not seem to know that she showed more
pride by remaining"
Back to her place she went, and sold her
laces better than ever. The novelty Of her
position aroused her. 1t was wonderful to
see how many of the friends Of her former
days recognized her. They asked so kindly
after the health of her dear aunt, T" too.
Some of the shop girls petronized her, but
the ma jority Of them had penetration enough
to see that it was offensive to her.
One evening, about a week later, Mary
Paine came up TO her and said: "How glad
am for you Especially glad, because YOU
have too much sense 10 bet this inherited
wealth make fool of you. As soon as you
are free, go and see sweet little Lucy Snow.
She is completely broken down"
The two weeks at last came to an end, bat
in that time Helen had decided that to put
people into relations where they could help
themselves was higher and better thing to
do than to give them direct assistance.
When Helen reached home her aunt said:
Mrs. Thompson just left and her last words
were I must have this cosy cottage when
you move"
''Movef" exclaimed Helen.
why, of course You do not mean to live
in this little seven room cottagel l had been
hoping that you would buy our old home ON
Washington avenue
I'VE VIII hive right here
Helen, you surely have lost your sensesr'
son the contrary, my mind was never
clearer We viii keep a servant, however"
Really, feel ike sending for Dr.. Church
man and having him examine your head A
woman with $3.50, eco to be content with one
servant There is something wrong with
you. nv child
tsNo, aunt; the wrong is with the women
who make business Of running big esssb-
llshment. To manage houseful of servants
is an occupation IN itself"
Seriously, what viii society think of your
QUixotic notiOrs"
1T is very imnaterial to me what society
thinks
'.Helen!1
Society dropped me at IS; at % do not
mean 20 take it up"
What are you going % dor
81 am going to see Lucy Snow Just now.
Good-by."
Strange girlrr said Mrs Belle. She is
never 80 full of plans as when she viii say
nothing about them viii prepare myself
for anything that is ursal6sh; for while she
is economical, she could not 90 q little OF
mean thing"
Helen found Lucy on the third floor of
fourth rate boarding house. There was but
one window in the room, and that overlooked
the back yard of a soap factory.
Helen WIS shocked TO see how the girl had
changed since she left the store. Her face
was as white as lily, and her large brown
eyes were so clear and brilliant that they
were startling.
Lucy WIS weak and nervous and almost
hysterical When she looked up and saw
Helen. the tears filed her eyes.
Helen did not seem to notice this, but sad,
pleasantly How are you today"
- don't know. | just feel SO tired Tho
least little thing that occurs excites me So
The doctor SAYS l must have change. He
recommends that l 60 70 the sea shore. He
might as well recommend the leopard 10
change his spots"
There Is your piano, Laey.'
~ knew that Again the tears filed her
ewes, but she controlled herself to say: 1T
was a second hand one when | got IL Was