The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-06-06
.ALICE'S FORTUNE.

s &; SISTER Theodosia,' said d feeble voice
trom the bed.
s. The Sister of Charity, mild faced
woman of middle age, answered the sum-
3 mons 2f the dying man, and approached
.the; BEDSIDE.
Thefdying man was Hector Moritz,
carpenter, who had fallen from a house
J Whiehhe was building, few days be-
fore, and so injured himself that he could
not Recover. He lived just outside the
village of St. Barbe, with his little girl,
\ Alice, snow years old. His wife had
died three years before, but Alice, child
< as she was, could make coffee and cook
an somelet as skillfully as if she were
{ twice las old, and had acted as her ia
: theirs little housekeeper. So it happened
! that, being alone, an unusual affection
had sprung up between Alice and her
father
US The Sister of Charity approached the
7 bedside. The sick mans face expressed
anxiety, and his eye turned from the
nurse to his little girl, who was pale and
griefstricken, yet had self-control enough
not to betray her emotion lest it should
distress her father in his last moments.
.".What can l do for you, NJ. Moritz?'
asked Sister TheOdosia, in gentle voice.
His glance wandered to his little girl
+ once more.
sAlice," he gasped, provided for"
edo you mean that you wish Alice
provided for?" asked the sister, striving
to interpret his broken words.
Already provided for-money there"
and he pointed vaguely downwards.
tsPoor man! He is wandering in mind"
Thought the sister-for he was pointing
to the floor; but she thought it best to
appear to have understood him.
2 Eyes" she said gently, "have no anxi-
ETY.
I Z; He looked at her wistfully, and then,
seeming to think he was understood, he
fell back upon the pillow from which he
had lifted his head, and moment after
! expired.
When Alice realized that her father
J. was really dead she gave way to excess
i've grief-so excessive that it soon wore
Itself out, leaving her pale and sorrow
lap and pressed her head against her
bosom in sad compassion, for little Alice
!. was now without father or mother.
Undue time Hector Moritz was buried,
and the next thing to be considered was,
/ how should Alice be disposed of?
Z Hector Moritz left two near relatives,
8 both cousins. One of these was a thriv-
ing tradesman in the next town, a man
who had prospered, partly through his
selfshness, which was excessive. The
other, also residing in the next town,
was q poor shoemaker with large fam
lily, who found it hard enough to make
both ends meet, but was, withal, kind
) and cheerful, beloved by his children,
Tor whom he could do so little, and pop
ular in the village.
These two cousins met at the funeral
: Of Hector Moritz.
suppose Hector died poor" said NJ.
!. Ponchard, the tradesman, little uneas-
ny.
This house is all he owned, SO far as
J Know" said the notary, "and it is
mortgaged for nearly its value"
Humph! that is bad for the child"
: raid III. Ponchard.
Ssss.I suppose you will take her home,
M Ponchard?' said the notary, bluntly.
I'VE all know that you are prosperous
man"
The tradesman drew back.
ts>sf am prosperous" he said, 81 have
! had to work for my money. 1t is all l
can do to provide for my own family. l
can't support other peoples children"
child?"
= didn't say that. I'll give her twen-
tyrfve-nay, tifty-francs. That's all /
+o6ght to do"
And how long will fifty francs sup
port herr said the notary, disdainfully,
$ f6r he detested the meanness of the rich
hNdesman.
'Ssss1hat is not my affair. She need not
s4tArve. She can go to the almshouse."
ssSssssWho speaks of the almshouse?' spoke
sup ~. Corbet, the poor shoemaker.
Ponchard suggests that Alice 90 to
.N6o almshouse," said the notary.
Z Not while have home to offer her."
.bSidthe poor cousin warmly.
:stbut, NJ. Corbet," said the notary,
are poor. Can you afford, with
your many children, to undertake an
additional burden?' $50 s3Ss;Ess
II never look on them as burdens
they are my joy and comfort" said NJ.
Corbet. Il can't give Alice luxurious
home, but such as have she is welcome
to. l am sure the good God will not let
me starve if undertake the care of my
little orphan cousin"
'He's a fool!" thought NJ. Ponchard
contemptuously. HE will always be
miserably poor"
But the notary grasped his hand, and
said:
IN. Corbet, respect you. If you are
not rich In money, you are rich in a good
heart, and that is the best kind of riches"
So, no opposition being made, the little
Alice went home with the poor shoe
maker. AS for the cottage, that was left
in the hands of the notary to sell. AS
already intimated, there was mortgage
upon it to nearly its full value, so that it
was not likely to bring much over.
What little there should be would, of
course, go to Alice.
Several months passed without any
opportunity to sell the cottage. During
that time Alice remained at the house Of
N. Corbet, treated, was about to say.
like one of the family. This, however,
would not be strictly correct. She was
not treated like one of the family, but
better than one of the family; in short,
like favored guest, for whom nothing
was too good.
But unfortunately at this juncture, NJ.