The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1891-03-13
HEIRESS HUNTING.

have done that | should be rich and
courted. while Justine Maynard. who
was my elassmate AZ Madame Paulinis.
trims dresses for living. She isn't to
blame because her guardian was
villain. | deserve no credit for the
Bkillful management of Uncle Crotch
ley, whereby my dollars all became
eagles, only wish sr would let me
divide with her bur she has too much
of the naughty MAYNARD blood In her
veins for thati m 80 to see her"
And Ettie Hall ran mp stairs into a
little boudosr to tie on her hat. just
as she came out, the maid brought mp
n card on a silver salver.
Ettie's tell-tale eyes sparkled rs she
glanced at the Roman lettered inserip-
tion on the one side;
MARKHAM FERNLEY.
And then taking it up, perused ON the
reverse the following words:
May accompany yon 70 the opera to-nightf
F1ortne has box and Saltercih viii sing2
Yours. ever devotcdly. NJ F.
PLEASE ma am, said Barbara. the
maid, 1.-THE man is waiting for an
answer
Ettie caught up a sheet of pink note
paper. monogrammed in gold. and
hnrriedly scribbled upon il the one
word Yes
Give that to him. she said. and
hurried OFF.
Justine Maynard's little room was
no luxuriously appointed nest Of lace
and gold and Administer. Bare and
cold, and poverty-stricken, its cracked
walls and sloping roof gained no glow
from the rosy sunset; and Justine her.
self lay on the bed, with hands pressed
TO her throbbing forehead.
..Only a headache, dear she said
essaying n faint smile, as Elite Hall
hurried toward her. THAT is ALL And
l have been little worried with the
landlord; he viii be back again
presently for the money that shall not
be able TO give him. Ii he wouid only
wait until tomorrow
Let me pay him, Justine"
Il am not a beggar yet, Etta-nay,
do not look hurt. know how tender
and large-soulcd You are, but | have
never yet accepted charity. even from
rs Ttcaf- ftiend as You, and / never
will-no, not il die first. Tomorrow
1 can take that satin dress home and
receive $40 for making it. That will
set me all right. l should have re-
turned il tonight. but this pain makes
a mere child of me.
Elite turned and for the first time
saw folded dress upon the table-a
robe OF wine-colored satin, richly
trimmed with costly thread lace, for
Justine Maynard earned her bread by
the toilseme plying of her needle, a
dressmaker, poorly paid, and stung by
many chance word and cutting
sneer.
Justine" said she, 1--WE an idea,
I'll take this dress home for you. I'll
get the money and bring it back.
Nonsense, Ettiei"
VERY good sense on the contrary =
And Elite deftly placed 1t within
sheets Of brown paper wrapping and
tied it up.
"Come, where is it to go?"
ITO Miss Fernley, Middleton Square.
Oh. Ethel how shall ever pay You for
all your kindness?"
Elite was tying dark brown vail so
closely over her hat that Justine May
nal.i never saw the deep dye on her
cheek She was almost sorry she had
offered to take Florine Fernley's new
dress home. For a second her resolu-
ton wavered. and then she reproached
herself for even that seconds indie
eision.
..TIl be back very soon. DEAR" she
said STOPPING to press her cool lips to
Justine's fevered brow. And I'll bring
the money, too, or | mistake my own
talent at the debt collecting business.
She hurried away with the bundle
neatly balanced in her arms, and
walked rapidly, lest her resolution
should fail her. 1t was not a long
walk, for the Fernleys lived in Middle
ton square, but few blocks distant.
And Ettie went up the steps of the
marble fronted mansion, wondering il
she should see Markham.
Elite Hall was not certain, but she
was beginning to suspect that she
liked the handsome young fellow,
whose dark eyes and ietty curls were
such counterpart to her own blonde
beauty. Nor was she altogether dis
pleased with this curious adventure
which was leading her toward him.
A smart, blue-ribboned maid came
to the door.
Yes, Miss Fernley was at home,
and with supercilious insolence which
made Elites blood boil, the girl point
ed up a dark stairway.
Just up there and you'll find her.
First door to the left.
Miss Ettie Hall followed the direC
tons and found herself in twilight
apartment, where draped mirrors ant
sweet faint scents betrayed the mani
1OlQ mysteries Oh Il young ld0y tOiiSb
Whats wantingP Why can't
have my nap in peacep" querulously de
manded Florine Fernleys voice. s'Oh
it is that everlasting dressmaker
Mark Mark / want SO"
so do I-ten thousand" )" retorted /;
familiar voice from the next room
sBut can't have all want"
You borrowed twenty of me to hir,
that nonsensacal opera-box."
That was business, my dear"
Business! Nonsensei Give me tn
money, say" fretted Florine.
s.Yes, business, my girl. Heiress
hunting is as much business as specu
lating on Wall street, and the fail
Henrietta is fish that won't jump a
any ordinary bait.
s.Hushrp cried Florine, sharply, anC
then, turning to the soi-disant dress
maker, she said:
1t isn't convenient to pay you to
day. Call again next week or tht
week after. /"
Excuse me. answered Elite in a l0e
but resolute voice; Il must have Eht
money now"
MustF' retorted Miss Fernley, IS shi
tLn< all ssAf aI.y show