Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1891-04-02
A PARCEL.

Katherine 8. Alcorn. In st. Mic holas
A PARCEL.
The very place for me-" thought
Miss Hester Drake. as she folded the
mornings paper. "Companion to an
old lady, living alone. Only a pious.
respectable person. with the habits of
lady. need apply WE'LL I'll apply
as soon as ! can get there. aud If I
don't suit the old lady nobody will.
Whatever she wants me to think I'll
think. 1t is just as easy to express
one set of opinions as another, and I'm
sure I'm ladylike."
And Miss Drake, who had been
tossed about the world considerably,
and had occupied many positions, none
of them peculiarly lucrative, but all
eminently genteel. took the measure
of her neat figure with her eye and
regarded her slim foot with admira-
ton.
No one had appreciated the figure or
the foot sufficiently to make Miss
Drake Mrs. Anybody. but really at 40
she had seen 50 many other peoples
husbands turn out badlyHhat she felt
that fact was not very la,Hentable.
companion to an old lady is the
very thing" she said to herself, as she
set aside the bonnet with the yellow
ostrich tips, which became her. and
put on the. gray one, which did not;
and. deliberately brushing out her
''crimps," did her hair in three little
rolls on each side of her forehead. Il
know what old ladies like, and l won't
risk anything for vanity's sake" she
said.
Teen placing in prim reticule of
Russian leather her card-case. her ref
erences from clergymen and officers
families. well-known merchants and
stately senator's. she proceeded to take
her way to the nearest station of the
elevated road. and entered car in
safely.
AS she sat in one of the central seats
and looked down into the crowded
avenue, she rehearsed many carefully
worded speeches and practiced deport-
ment as far as possible. Holding her
head erect. folding her hands at her
belt. repeating the wellknown govern
ess formula of 'prunes and prisms"
in order that her mouth might assume
the proper primness. aud wondering
what manner of old lady she was
about to encounter.
Meanwhile the car gradually filled.
and the seat beside Miss Drake was
taken by Il gentleman in large light
overceat who brought with him the
odUr of cigars. and who had neat
white parcel tied up with pale-blue
cord, which seemed to incommode
him. and which he shortly placed up
on the cushion beside him. while he
began to read some article in news
paper which seemed to be of absorbing
interest.
"Forty-second reet!" shouted
conductor at the door.
The gentleman read on.
''Forty-Secoud street," shouted the
man at the other door.
The gentleman took no notice. but
turned the she ct aud began to 20 down
another column. New passengers on
tered.
Next stop SD street" shouted the
conductor, banging his gate.
"Thirty-third next!" roared the other
voice. and at this instant the gentle
man started up. leaving his parcel on
the seat. aud dashed toward the door.
"Lcmme out, l say" he was heard
to vel.
Gates closed" was the reply.
Don't care; lemme outr'
Then came n clatter-a whack. The
male passengers all started to their
feet to see the irate gentleman stag
ger headlong out upon the platform.
and, being rescued from a sprawl by
the ticket-taker, shake large, white
fist after the car. on the platform of
which the conductor was performing a
pantomine, expressive of desire for
vengeance. FL
That's the way they kill them
selves" said one passenger. a'
'.All the conductors fault" asserted
another.
Meanwhile. Miss brakes eve never
left the white parcel. If any official
were aware Of it, it would be takeL
possession Of ut once. she said to her.
self; but how was any one t. know il
was not hersp 1t looked valuable.
Perhaps it contained jewel-case. and
large reward would he offered for it,
And might rs we'll have it AS any
one else." thought Miss Drake. AS she
spread the skirt of her dress partially
over the parcel. In fact. when she
left the car at 23d street she carried it
with her. 1t was tidy package that
in no way disgraced her neat toilet.
Mrs. Bolus," whose name was on
the old-fashioned plate which graced
the door at which Miss Drake rang,
WAS in the parlor. She was large
old lady, with u pale. habby face. who
wore a widows cap on her gray hair
and dress we'll covered with Grape.
II see you have been companion
before" she said, having examined
Miss brakes credentials. '.Bisbor
speaks highly of YOU. and really Mr..
Dom of Dom & Dixon could not say
more for you. like your appear.
ance"-Miss Drake simpered-.'bu we
must have little talk. am so hard
to suit. I am old-fashioned. and pco
pie are so frivolous nowadays. Now
shouldn't like any one who was fonC
of reading what call doubtful work,
books of to-day, which are not quite
the thing. lhave my library of stand
ard works. No novels whatever-un
less. indeed. those of Sir Walter Scott
should like my companion to satisfy
s her mental hunger from those shelves
dismissed my last companion becans,
found silly novel under her pillow
She read herself to sleep every nigh
with such things"
Most denoralizing!' said Mis-
Drake. II never touch work .
fiction. Solid books alone satisfy"
Very true" said the old lady. :.
like your sentiments on that subject
Now another-very delicate-a mer,
form in your case-but had q Ger
man companion. well recommended
who drank bottled beer before retir
ing. and made no secret of takin,
claret with her dinner. When 1 ex