Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1890-12-24
ETHEL's CHRISTMAS.

ETHEL'S CHRISTMAS.
The winter was at its worst. Ethe
had come back to her humble attic
utterly worn out in body, and hope
lessly despairing in mind and heart
Her walk through the slushy streets
of the great manufacturing town, ant
across the bridge, exposed to the full
fury of the winter blast, and through
the snow.piled lanes to the cottage il
the suburbs, where she lived, had ex
hasted what strength she had, especial
ly as nothing in the way of food hao
passed her lips since morning.
Yearly throwing off her hat an6
cloak, she sank into chair, too tired
for the moment, even to prepare hel
cup of tea, which, with some dry
bread, was to be her only meal
The chair was common splint one
and the other furniture of the room
was as poor. Yet this now friendles'
orphan had once lived in luxury
been an only child. petted darling
the heiress of millionaire.
Her summers, ever since she left
school, had been passed partly at hel
fathers country-seat and partly a
Saratoga or Newport. Later, sh'
had been a favorite at the Englisf
court, and a belle in London society
for her father, a banker, having re
tired from business, had gone abroad
to live.
A noted fashionable artist hat
painted her, in profile, as Diana, will
the crescent moon behind and tn,
picture, when exhibited at the Roya
Academy, had been the talk of tn,
town. "Sir Frederick Leighton" ex
claiming an art-critic, "could not hay
done better" In every way, FORUM
favored her. But, one day, her fathe
had come home to his almost princel,
mansion on Park Lane, so weary
looking that Ethel knew, at once
that something was the matter. N
opportunity, however, came to ask
until dinner was over, and the stat
butler had retired. Then she leane
forward and said:
Papa, dear, what is it ?"
The answer had come YEARLY:
"Ruin-hopeless ruin"
At the words, he fell from his chat
in a fit of apoplexy, and died befor
the doctor, hastily summoned fror
almost next door, could arrive.
What need to dwell on what follow
ed The harpies of the law swoope
down OH everything, and, before
month, Ethel was homeless and PENN
less. She took her ruined fortunes t
a great northern city, the centre O
mighty iron-interests, where certain
circumstances, not necessary to men
ton here, offered, as she thought, al
opening to her.
She had at first had hope, bu
this was now gone. During her pros
perity, more than one title had beef
laid at her feet but she had rejected
all, and selected younger son in
stead. He was good-looking, brave
and frank-qualities that quickly VOL
her heart; and, on his part, be wa
passionately in love with Ethel. III
could not be accused of mercenar,
motives, having competent FORUM
inherited from his mother. He wa
in the Guards; and, when they wer
ordered to Egypt, had to obey tn
call Of duty. The separation was tn
first real sorrow that Ethel had eve
experienced. When her fathers mis-
fortune came, his family, that ha,
been so eager for the match, studious
ly avoided her. But she said to her
self:
"He at last will be true" Sooi
after, came the news Of his death, il
one of those terrible battles, whel
Lord Wolseley was striving to reliev
Gordon. Thus alone in q strang
land, deserted by all her fair-weathe
friends, her little stock of money ex
hausted, Ether had no resource but t
seek some means Of livelihood al,
she sought it, as we have said, ava
from London and her false and heart
less friends.
Alas, her disappointment was a
bitter as it was immediate the pos
she sought for, that of governes'
was filed, and no other employment
presented itself. She tried everything
but in vain. She advertised for
position as teacher F; she made person
al application in stores for a sales
woman's place but either there wa
no vacancies, or recommendations wer
asked, which, as she had never live
out before, she could not give. Final
ly, when her small store Of none,
was nearly gone, she hired herself on
in despair, to work with others, in on
of those great shops that deal in cheaI
wearing-apparel-the cheapness, al
me ! representing the heart's-bloo'
and lives Of the workwomen. Blu