Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1891-06-12
A BUSINESS VENTURE.

alianthus blossoms ratified overhead as
if the tree in front of Mrs. Medlaw's red
brick house had blossomed full of little
rattle boxes
And Mrs. Medlaw had just sat down
to her evening reflection OF toast and
tea, when Polly, the little maid. who
always wore green checked ginghan
and carpet slippers, came shuifling in,
please, ma'am, there's two young
ladies down in the parlor as says you're
their aunt"
"Oh, botheri" said Mrs Medlaw, in
sort of soliloquy, tits Eda and Ella.
knew they'd come on me when their
father died AS if | hadn't anything
else to do but to support a swarm of
lazy relations. Why didn't you say |
wasn't at home. PollyY'
II would, ma'am, if I'd a-supposed
they was any relations of your'n,
afore I'd let 'em in, said unconscious
Polly. "But they was dressed SO nice
and looked SO clipper | thought of
course, they was real ladiesV
"And just as the tea was boiling, too"
said Mrs Mcdiaw ooh. dear me, what
world this isl"
Eda and Ella Carr were sitting, pale
and black robed, in the moldy smelling
little paror, when their aunt came in.
They were pretty girls, with delicate,
wax white compilations, hair SO dark
that it gave you the impression of being
black, and great, blue gray eyes.
"Well, girls" said Mrs Medlaw. rather
ungracously, $50 you've come hereF
"We had nowhere else to go, auntT
said Eda, meekly.
"Humph" grunted the old lady
Take off your things. | suppose you
calculate to stay all night Well, and
what are you going to work atf'
ave don't know, aunt said Ella,
trying hard not to cry
"Well, amt it high time you had?"
said Mrs Medlaw. Folks can't live on
airl Aud two great, grown up girls like
you ought to be doing something to earn
their salt, There's always plenty of
work for willing hands. Eve had to
foreclose a mortgage on little fancy
store. | want to put some one in it to
sell out the stock. I'll give you fair
commission on what you sell. Come,
what do you say to thatt'
Il am willing to try said Ella.
"Heaven knows am anxious enough to
earn my own living"
And |, too" said Eda. 1--WE know
nothing about such q business
"But you can learn, suppose" said
Aunt Medlaw.
"But we can learn, said Eda, hope
fully.
And In less than week the little
thread and needle store around the cor
ner, which had presented a grim and
shattered front for some days. was re-
opened, and two pretty girls. dressed in
black, were posted behind the counter.
Mrs Mopson sent her two little boys tG
match n skein of green worsted and in
quire for peppermint taTy first. The
widow Hope purchased a little hosiery
and three cheap pocket handkerchiefs
A small girl came to ask the time of day
and an old man bought pair of sus
penders, all within the hour, and Edo
and Ella began to think they might, il
time, develop into commercial character;
of note.
To be sure, business waxed rather dull
toward the end of the day, but just Al
dusk tall. nice looking young mar
came in to buy u card of pearl shirt but
tons Ella took down a box, and they
were quite long time in selecting thC
prettiest pattern and the most appropri
ate size
~ forgot one thing. said the young
man after he had contracted for Al
eighteen cent investment. II must hay,
them sewed on. Could you do it2'
"Ill try" said Ella, laughing, 81
you'll bring the shirts around"
So the young man brought his shirt
and sat down to wait, while Elias needl
flew deftly in and ont. He was in
hurry. he told her. He was foreman il
the printing office of great daily paper
and worked at night, when the rest 0
tho world was asleep like bat or a.
owl
In the meantime Eda was trying t
suit an old lady in green spectacles, VIII,
wanted some ribbon whose color sh
didn't exactly know whose width sh
wasn't certain about, and whose qualit,
she had yet to make up her mind con
corning. But Eda's patience, tact am
good temper were ineXhaustible. At las
the old lady was suited. and went ava,
rejoicing. leaning on the arm of he
nephew, who had manifested cXtraordi
! nary interest in the shade of drab ribbon
THAT'S q nice girl, Oswald. said she
"Do you know almost think she Nigh
suit me as companion? She seems $
very good humoredl | wonder if
would do to ask her if she would like
situation?'
5 II don't see why not" said Oswal
: Grey, thinking he never had seen softe
gray eyes or prettier hair. shall we s
back?'
, Tomorrow is time enough" said Mrs.
Martiguy.
, On the morrow she came back.
; Didn't the ribbon suitY asked Eda.
"Oh, yes. the ribbon was all right, BIT
there's something else l want"
!. "What is that" asked Eda, innocently
"a companion to read to me, take car
of my canaries, and play drowsy oil
tunes on the piano when | feel sleepy.
give $500 year, Saturday afternoon an
, board. win you Gomez
Eda looked at her sister. Five hun
bred year seemed a great sum for I'll
t girl who had never yet earned Eve &c
x herself
q YES, go, Eda," said Ella; 81 can mar
age the store 10y myself easily enough
And, in a whisper, I've taken a col
tract m make half a dozen new shirf