The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1892-12-30
AN OLD FOGY'S MONEY

Here's your newspaper, Uncle Nat"
said Gladys Fame. I've aired it my
self, to make sure that there isn't the
least particle Of damp about it. And
your slippers-oh, here they are! Is the
screen just in the right placer And now
III go and see about the coffee-I have
such nice French recipe for making it
that Louie Alden sent me from Paris ="
All this time Esther Ellis stood quietly
by the window, looking out at the snow
which was falling-falling, a cloud Of
binding. eddying white, blotting out
the tai fir trees, thatching the gate
posts with elder down and covering the
carriage drive with mantle Of velvet
softness.
Esther was tall and slight, with
dreamy blue eyes, brown hair brushed
back from her temples, and delicate,
nervous mouth. She had none Of her
cousin Gladys dimpled beauty nor trop-
ical richness of complexion, and she felt
the contrast painfully in her heart.
Pull the shade down II little, Esther"
said Mr.. Fame sharply. Don't you see
how the light is binding my eyes? But
you never notice things as Gladys does y
Esther obeyed hastily.
you needn't jerk 1t So" said Uncle
Fame. Now shut the closet door-it
has been squeaking these five minutes
on its hinges in way to set mans
teeth on edge"
Il didn't observe it, uncle"
hot ,hot
don't notice my comfort or discomfort as
Gladys does. Gladys, now, is really
fond Of me. Look at these slippers; she
has crocheted them for me while you
were sitting dreaming over your novels.
Esther opened her lips us if to speak;
then she closed them again.
The slippers had assuredly been
Gladys gift to Uncle Fame; but was it
possible Gladys had concealed the fact
that she (Essher) had done all the work
at Gladys coaxing request?
She was too honorable to betray the
little diplomatist, who just then came in
with the tray of coffee and eggs, but all
the same she felt the injustice in her
heart.
Uncle Fame was rich and childless. He
had taken the orphan, Esther Ellis, to
bring up-and his brother, a keen Phila-
delphia lawyer, had sent Gladys to make
him prolonged visit on the chance of
her being able to ingratiate herself into
the affections of the rich old man.
"Oh, papa" pleaded Gladys, lit will
be worse than Egyptian bondage!
hate old peopler'
But you don't hate Inoney-do you,
Glad? And there's no reason you
shouldn't be this old mans heiress as
well as Esther Ellis"
"Oh, Esther Ellis! | can cut Esther
Ellis out easily enough" said handsome
Gladys, with an exulting laugh "And
she wouldn't know how to spend it if
she had it, the poor spirited thing
Well, suppose it's worth little hard
work, to get hold Of old Uncle Fane's
shekels. and he certainly can't last for.
everl"
So Gladys had come, smiling and
sweet voiced, to the old stone house
and Esther's affectionate little heart was
sore with jealous pangs, all the more
bitter because they were unuttered.
Uncle, darling, can't we have New
Years party at the old housey' Gladys
had suddenly burst out one day. THE
down stairs rooms could be thrown int
one so beautifully, and could find suci
lovely spruce and hemlock boughs il
the woods to decorate the doors and cor
nices, and this is just nice distance by
railroad for people to come. Please, un
Gle, say that may!"
mo. my dear" said Mr.. Fame, settin,
his lips together in that Napoleonic way
he had when he particularly mean
things. II hate parties and confusion
and when my poor wife died from pneu
monia. brought on by sitting in draf
at somebody's paltry birthday party,
vowed vow that no such toolery shoul,
ever so on in this house"
"Yes; but. uncle, we WON'T
mol" said Uncle Fame.
And even Gladys had not the audac
ity to press matters further.
"lt's too bad" pouted Gladys to he
cousin Esther. Hes perfect old do,
IN the manger Does he suppose nc
body ever is to be young any more be
cause he is oldf"
He has a right to his own way in hi
own house, Gladys" demonstrated Es
ther
You are as bad as he is" sal
Gladys.
On this particular day, when tn
breakfast was removed, Esther brough
In the little writing desk, bestrew
with papers, at which she ordinaril
wrote to her uncle's dictation, but th
old man waived her impatiently ava,
Call Gl>dys," said he. ''She is
quicker amanuensis than you are, an
she writes round, clerklike haut
I'll have Gladys do the copying for IN
henceforward."
Gladys flashed triumphant glanc
across tho table ut her cousin. and e
ther, meekly replying, "Yery well, u,