Montgomery County sentinel., 1890-02-21

THE TRAINED NURSE.

Farm the milk was strained into gilt.
tering pans on the dairy shelves, and
the hen house door was locked beyond
all chance of danger from chicken
thieves, and, in the soft purple of the
cleaning, Ann Philpott aud her young
visitor from the city had put on their
sun bonncts and were climbing the
wooded slopes to Holly Hill.
Ann was typical country maiden,
rosy, fair haired and plump, not to say
common place.
Mary Holly was taller and more slen-
der, with large dark eyes, skin that
was transparently pale, and a sweet,
serious mouth.
Her dress was far palmer than that of
her companion, but there was certain
style in every fold and plat that was
lacking in AIMS.
"Oh," cried the latter breathlossly
"don't walk so fast, Molly Do stop a
minute and look around you--at your
own ancestral acres'
"My own ancestral acres !" Mary
shrugged her shoulders. 'It's all rock
and woodland, so far as can soc aud
the old house is ready TO tumble down
at the first gust of wind. Oh, dear,
there's an end of my plans about taking
boarders and making little money
No boarder with any regard for his per-
sonal safety would ever come to Holly
HILL"
Side by side tho two girls sat down
on the doorstep Of the old mansion.
Above their heads frowned an imposing
row of Ionic columns; the porch floor
was rotted through in more than one
place, the roof of the little conservatory
at the south end was little more than a
skeleton of weather worn beams, and the
shutters swung and creaked in the wind
1T would take" said Mary Holly,
looking despairingly about her-"it
would take at least two hundred pouads
to put this place into anything like de-
cent repair And where am to get
such a sum, | should like to knowY
can't even sell the place. Nobody would
buy it. | did think | could make u
living by the old home, but now that
have beheld it -" and she finished
tho sentence by despairing gesture.
"Oh, Ann, I've seen quite enough Of
my ancestral hall. Let US go homo !"
Ann Philpott's attempts at consolation
were in vain.
"Oh, don't talk to me-" said Mary,
swinging through the the scented tbicket
of sweet fern with more Of disinherited
princcss's gait than ever. II am a
pauper, beggar. Since old Cousin
Phoebe died, ! haven't even roof over
my head. Why on earth wasn't !
brought up to trade, instead of being
kept at that genteel boarding school !?
| wonder what / am good for ?"
Dear Mary don't fret" said chubby
Ann. Remember you are lady. your
great uncle was rear admiral. and
your great grandmother on the mothers
side was n baron's daughter"
Much good that does me, said Mary
scornfully. "I couldn't 90 begging to
my far away relatives if would, and |
wouldn't il | could. I've some pride
left. Oh, Ann, don't you know Of
somebody who wants something done
for them, so that I can earn my bread ?"
Ann meditated as she took down the
pasture bars to secure short cut down
into the valley
Squire Secor wanted more hay hands
he had told her father so that morning
but Mary Holly could not 90 out and
drive a moving machine around forty
acre lot Mrs. Ludecker was in need
of strong girl for general housework,
but Mary would hardly come under the
denomination of strong" for such pur-
poses as soft soap making, and the wash
ing for family of nine boys.
Something will certainly turn up"
said Ann hopefully. "Oh there is a
light in the living room Some one has
come in, and mother has lit the big
lamp. / wonder who it can be? Oh,
it's only Miltiades Green"
Miltiades Green was a neighbor, q
tall, stalwart young farmer with Q
healthy, sun-burned face and kindly
Dlue eyes
dts MOTHER" said he. "She's dowr
with diphtheria, and the doctor wants
you to write to your cousin, the traineC
nurse up in town. He says she's got t.
have some one that is thoroughly relia
BILE TO take care of her."
"Ah, Miltiades," cried Ann, "wha
pity! Is it really diphtheria? But wh'
is TO do the housework p
"Oh, can manage that myself.
said Miltiades, "if only could get th
nurse"
"1'll write ut once" said Ann. "Or
better still, I'll go for her myself. Blu
she comes expensive, Miltiades, pount
a week."
"I don't care for the expenses" sal
the farmer; "though | know mothe
will fret about it, But she must hav
the best of care"
'Ts that your Miltiades Green Z" sal
Mary Holly, as the tall figure vanishe
into the twilight. Hes rather goo
looking, isn't be 2
But Ann Philpott returned from tow
the next day.