The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1892-09-07

whether you wish to remain with me or
not?"
81 decided that the first day I was
here" / replied.
"And you still wish TO stay?" she
queried.
Eyes, ma'am," answered, nothing
could please me better; and II you are
so good as to keep me shall try my
very best to please you and perform my
duties we'll and faithfully"
II told you the other day." she said,
''that am a queer womani and sus-
pect you have found me so. Still, you
do not know me now as you will when
you are here longer. Perhaps you had
better take another week TO decideP"
mo, ma'am," / answered. II am
ready 10 answer now, and delay only
makes me uneasy lest you should turn
me away. II you can give me employ
ment, and are disposed 10 do 30, please
do not hesitate on my account"
"Very WELL" she replied. "If you
are satisfied, am, 80 you may consider
the matter settled"
She relapsed into silence, seemingly
having no more TO say. waited some
time, then asked:
'Mrs. Lawton, when am TO begin
my duties?"
"What duties2" she asked
''Why, the duties you have employed
me TO perform"
"Ah, now, / suppose"
evil you instruct me how 30 pro-
ceedP" questioned, Us she paused
again
"Why, you know that already" she
replied. "All you have to do Is TO go
on as you have the past three days, aud
enjoy yourself as well us you can"
"Am TO have no work?" asked.
"No," she answered. ~ have moth
ing for you to do"
"Then," said l, ~ have no right TO
stay. have no claim on your charity,
and, rather than be burden TO anyone,
I'd prefer to do any kind Of work"
you're not going to be burden,
Agnes" she replied; land there's no
charity in It. You want home and a
friend, and want some one to keep me
company and make my life more cheer
full. We can each furnish that which
the other wants, and each Of us is will
ing 10 do so; and that Is all there is OF
H. A mutual exchange, with balance
In your favor. You give more than you
receive"
NO." objected, You cannot deceive
me that way. give nothing and re-
ceive all"
"You do not know what You give,
she said. "You do not know what your
presence is TO me. You remember
told you had taken u strange fancy to
your ! will tell you now why;
"I once had daughter about your
age. My husband died when she WA
small, and from that time she was my
only companion and friend. Ny family
disowned me when married, ant
treated me with such coldness that
never sought a reconciliation. So fol
years my child and lived alone ant
apart from the world, and we came u
be very near and dear TO each other
All my love and thought was centeret
in her and all my life was devoted 4
her.
"But death, cruel and unfeeling
came between US and took her from me
Then / was alone, bereft OF my onl,
treasure and my heart left vacant.
had no tie on earth from that day
nothing TO love and nothing TO live for
My life was blank and purposeless, an,
Us a consequence the years havv
dragged wearily around with monot
onous and unvarying sadness. My lif
has been desolate and dreary and
have found no pleasure In II.
, "when | saw you the 6rst time
|, thought Immediately Of my daughter
|, and from some cause | felt that 20,
might all her place In my heart. No
!. rs sho filled II, Of course, for no on
, could do that but In great measure
. You reminded me OF her, though 20
. do not resemble what she was, In tn
least, and liked you ! like you ye'