Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-12-27

WHAT CAME OF RoMANCINa.
The Story Relating to a $50 bill That il
Hung in a Girls Boutloir.
From the New York Times.
In the pretty morning room Of a certain
young woman in this city there hangs on the
wall $50 BILL framed first by a wide gray mat
! and edged with narrow rim of scarlet plush
picked out in gold. Thereby hangs a tale. One
OF the Easter weddings last spring was that of
| the young woman's sister. She married civil
engineer. who straightway, after the manner of
civil engineers, rushed of to Arizona to survey
copper mine about to be or already opened
! IN that distant territory. His bride accom-
panied him, and the sister was induced to 60
also for purposes, as she put it, Of ''travel e1-
ploration and q venture
Things were not altogether bad out among
the Indians; the mine was on the line of a rail-
road; they had carried with them good many
nome belongings; a house was secured, such as
1t was, and a more or less proper establishment
set up. The summer and the sisters stay were
nearly at an end when one afternoon Mr. Tom.
the husband and brother-iu-law, sent word
from the works that the English member of the
nrm which was developing the mine had ar
rived suddenly for few hours stay and he
would bring him mp to dinner.
This announcement created some consterna-
tlon The cook was half-breed. who was ex-
cellent within his limits but he knew nothing
even Of the rpdiments of butieriny. AS q
matter OF fact the family were accustomed to
dine en- buffet, This freely translated. meant
frequent trips on the part of one diner or
another to the chestat the side OF the ROOM
But an Englishman, you know, Nell,'' said
Mrs. Tom, plaintively, expects ut dinner 10
be served, if he takes that meal in an Indian
jungle. With our canned soups and lobster,
and the superb joint which Nelson can get up,
we can oiier a most presentable menu, but
what shall We do for some one to change the
piates?'
MISS NELL As WAITRESS.
Miss Nell Immediately begged to take the role
f for, single appearance ut will be no end of
fun, she urged. ''and warrant neither you,
nor Tom, nor the Engishman has ever been
always commended it took a high degree of
intelligence to create a perfect butler or but
leress,' she added with a laugh, land I'd
immensely like to show what culture can do
with dinner tray"
In the end, though with many missivircs on
Mrs. Toms part the plan was arranged. A
note was dispatched to Mr. Tom warming him
not to mention his sster-in-law in any way
that oil would be explained later. 1t was few
moments after their guest had been welcomed
that capped and aproned figure appeared in
the doorway announcing quietly, Dinner is
served" Whatever Mr.. Tom may have thought
or felt he could not express-cOuld do nothing,
indeed, but follow his wife as the Englishman
handed her out. Everything went beautifully
in the dining room. From SOUP to cheese the
serving was irreproachable.
1he guest, genial. companionable man of
perhaps fifty. was rlsbiy affected by the skill and
general elegance of the waitress, and Mrs. Tom
caught several searching giances thrown upon
close of the dinner, when, the coffee having
been placed upon the table, the def and
dcmure handmaiden withdrew. Then the
Englishman voiced his surprise that Mrs Tom
could keep in this out-of-theway place such
thoroughly trained and capable maid. where
upon Airs Tom, knowing that her sister could
retire no further than the screen in the corner
OF the room, which concealed an emergency
buffers pantry, evolved for her benefit a de-
lightful little history.
YES Yes she began, slowly, slipping her coffee.
ELLEN is quite superior young person. As
you have noticed she is intelligent and refined
much beyond her station, really very we'll edu-
Gated, too; And she is the heroine of very
pretty little romance"
Al this iuncture slight rafting of glass ware
behind the screen warned Mrs. Tom that her
story was taking effect and, with a CLEAN of
mischief. at which her husband could have
groaned aloud, she proceeded: ''She is en-
gagged to be married to very estimable young
man in New York dhe sister, by the
was act over year ago, when, six weeks before
the date arrived, the coming groom was stricken
blind in an hour. He has been under treat
ment ever since, slowly regaining his sight and
she, poor girl, is saving every penny of her
wages against the time when he must leave the
hospital. l think che means to marry him as
soon as possible and support him until he can
get work again. 1t is quite pathetic and inter
esting-Ler DEVOTION"
THE APPECIATIvE VISITOR.
But 1ir. Tom could stand the strain no longer
and proposed to return to the parior. The
Engiishman. however. did not drop the subject
at once asking number of questions about
Ellen and her company" He left, as was ey-
pected, soon after dinner, and Miss Nell was
free to pour the walls of her wrath upon her
wicked sisters head. an occupation in which
she was ably seconded by Mr.. Tom when lie
returned from putting their recent guest
aboard his train.
The end, however, was not yet. Within a
fortnight Mrs. Tom received u note from the
Ensishman, dated at New York, in which he
said he had been much impressed with the
loyalty and devotion Of her maid, Ellen, who
was undoubtedly most worthy young person.
and he went on to beg Mrs. Tom to find some
way to bcstow the inclosed-a $50 bill-upon
her to aid in her courageous and praiseworthy
effort.
Thus retribution came to Mrs. Tom She
was overcome at what she had done, and there
possible to explain to the Englishman how he
had been deceived. Nor could the bill be
plausibly returned on the part of Ellen. There
seemed nothing to 90 but to keep it and thank
the donor, which Mrs. Tom accomplished. it
must be confessed, with much less than her
usual grace. The bill hangs on the wall of
| "E.lens ." room today double warming against
thea.ricals in private life and the utterance of
pretty romances which have no foundation in
fact.