Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1891-12-18
NED"


anxious impatience, as she came into the
sitting room of her pretty country house,
seeking consolation, advice and assist
ance. The window curtains parted, re-
vealing in the deep window-seat little
figure curled up, pouring over an open
book
"What is the matter9" inquired Ned,
with sleepy, drawling voice.
" 'Matter?'" said Ellie, dolefully.
tread that letter. No, you will go to
sleep over it. I'll tell you what's in
it. The Claxtons are coming this after
noon"
81 thought they were to come next
month";"
$50 til ~ were, and here Charley has
gone for a week to Boston, and Mag
gle left this morning. She is only the
eleventh girl have had in six weeks"
Ned puckered rp pretty rosebud of
a mouth, drew her brows up over a
pair of larC., dreamy, brown eyes, and
it mu,I be recorded, shocking as it is
Ned whistled. "There' nae luck about
the house." as clearly as a plow-boy.
oh, -NShy Nhat Cdh L QOf Sdlu Elllc.
"there are four people, and how can l
entertain them and do all the work and
cooking for such family?"
"Four?"
''NIr. and Mrs. Claxton, their son
Harry and daus hter Laura"
"H-m-Yet I've heard Charley talk
of theml"
"Don't gu know them," Ellie asked,
amazed. ~ thought they were Charley s
most int mate friends"
"Ve true; but, though Charley is
my b. Jther, you must remember while he
was It Harvard, forming the acquaintance
of ne Claxtcns and various other people,
was with Aunt Jane at Baltimore,
f,0ing to school and learning housekeep-
hg-oh" cried Ned, as a sudden idea
seemed to strike her. 'Oh, Ellie, have
you got some calico dresses and big
apIons!"
'.Of course havep'
$50 have I-where the Dutchman had
his anchor-at homel But, Ellie, lend
me some of yours, and I'll be your Mag
gie!"
"Edmonia Colebridge, are you crazy?'
"I can't bring you any references
from my last place." persisted Ned, her
brown eyes dancing. ''but if don't suit,
you can discharge mel"
"But, Ned, Harry Claxton is coming,
and Charley said-thought--" and here
Ellie stopped, confused.
Ned tossed her curly head in magnifi-
cent disdain.
'You need not tell me what Charley
said, she said, scornfully, 'I can i'm
agine! / hate matchmaker But, Ellie,
| want my own way. Remember you are
not to interfere with me, Mrs. Cole.
bridge. 4 don't want no ladies poking
about my kitchen, as your last girl but
two used to say"
Ellie demonstrated once more, but
feebly.
"But, Ned, you are company just as
much as the Claxtons."
81 am your sister now," was the re-
ply. "Where are the calico dresses9"
''[n my room. 1t is lucky James
boards at home"
''By the way, tell James to hold his
tongue. 1t is time you were getting
ready, if you are going to the station"
''But, Ned"
''There, you have no more to say. NY
name for the next week, by the way, is
Jane. Ned is rather too remarkable for
a servant girl. an morally convinced
there was a streak of insanity in our fam
lily when I was christened 'Edmonia.
Charley made Ned of it before l was a
year old. There, my dear-go. You
will be late."
Very mistrustfully, Mrs. Coleridge
brought her guests from the station.
During her short acquaintance with her
husbands sister, Ned had exactly veri-
fed Charley's description of her. He
had told his wife:
"Ned is the dearest girl in the world,
but dreamy and fond of books; knows
more actually at nineteen than most
women do at thirty of books, music and
drawing. She will be literary, guess I;
but practical, never"
To this dreamy girl, who confessed to
having written poetry, Ellie had, under
the pressure of circumstances, trusted
the household affairs for four unknown
guests. They were to have come nearly
a month later, aud Charley was to have
been at home, and a paragon OF
girl secured somewhere. II
must be confessed Ellie carried
a smiling face over an anxious
heart, as she led her guest to their
rooms and descended to the kitchen.
Ned was there, with all her curls twisted
into demure knot at the back of hei
shapely little head; blue calico, rather
roomy and long ellie being the larger
of the two), but half hidden under ;