The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1892-10-01


anyone here"
but, Aunt Mslviny. we have been
looking over the place and thought it
best to have some changes made in the
buildings. The men will be here Mon
day to begin work. We may not be
able to get them again 70 cheaply."
II shall have NJ changes whatever
in the place at present and perhaps
never. II you have engaged men to
come, you had better see them a once
and tell them they will not be needed
here"
Robert made one more effort. 1.-The
improvement on the house can wait,
but the carriage house must be built at
once to make shelter for the new car
rage"
THE barn has always sheltered my
carry-all and can still do so. As 1
have no new carriage. I shall need no
shelter for it" O.
1--WE ordered the carriage for yov be-
cause you were not well enough to
look after it yourself, and it will be
here next week"
aft you nave ordered 9 carriage, you
certainly will have to pay for it"
One more effort to keep their foot
ing.
'You should have some nan here to
look after yonr interests and keep your
business straight"
81 have a good man. Mr.. johnson;
he will keep everything straight"
81 am afraid, Aunt Malviny, IL you
trust your business to these lawyers,
you will not have much left pretty
SOON
perhaps not. At any rate I will
try"
Falteringly / had begun, but 1 felt
my courage increase with every fresh
attack, and when we arose from the
breakfast table l had announced that
in three days l would close the house.
During the ensuing three days the
young men spent the greater part of
the time in their rooms, smoking and
lounging. Through their open win
dows l occasionally heard snatches of
conversation of which l give a few ex-
tracts:
Wonder what the old hump-back
expects to do with her money any
how"
Get married again, most likely.
She's just the kind 10 be looking for a
man again in less than six months"
Zone thi ng, l shall charge a good,
round price for my services during the
month I've spent here"
They took their departure without
any demonstrations of affection IN
their good-by. 1t hurt me exceedingly
to have to take the stand l did, for our
home had always been a hospitablc one
and these young men were my hus-
bands kindred But there was no other
way and l knew Robert would approve.
jamie was a comfort and a help to me
in the long journey which 1 would
hardly have dared III my weak state to
make alone. She was very happy, too,
to be able to visit her grandmother
whom she had never seen and who
lived only a score of miles from my
W relatives.
"Won't grandma be surprised to see
me? She sem me a doll last Christ
mas and writes about little jamie as
though l was only ten years old instead
of eighteen"
! was met at the station by my
nephew George, who gave me such a
welcome that my heart warmed toward
him and i felt that it was good to be
among my kindred. Of my brothers
and sisters all were dead ave my old
est sister, and she was hopelessl. par
alyzed in body and imbecile in mind,
but tenderly cared for by her youngest
daughter and her husband. Be
sides this niece there were three
nephews with their families living in
this New England city. All were en-
ployed in some capacity in the shoe
factories there, which constituted by far
the greater part of the business. Their
pay enabled them to live very COM
fortably, but not to get ahead any,"
as John expressed it. They all, there
fore, looked upon me with the awe and
respect which human nature is apt to
have for that which it has not itself
yet attained. They seemed to regard
me as little less than a Vanderbilt or a
Jay Gould, and much as l tried to re-
move that impression j found it impos-
sible.
h.. ,aJa ,,,-L -, ,.
of the neighbors whom l had met:
Aunt Malviny is rich. 1 shouldn't
much wonder r. sb. vas worth half .
million .Jobn was ont 10 tbe;r house
sve or civ ve.rs .go and he COWS thor
b,d farns ana cattle md r,o,.r n, -.
terest. Not a chick nor a child in the
world neither"
..Pretty good for Won folks was the
neighbor's answer. Better not dis
please her while she's here"
At first I conld NOT helm be;np amused
by these exaggerated ideas. but when
found it impossible to dispel them. and
moreover that it was a barrier between
me and them which forebade sympa.
thy, l really grieyed over it. They
were kind and polite and very respect
full, but / longed so for their love and
fullest confidence which I knew | had
not secured.
went one day to see jaime and al
most envied the humbI. nosit;on sbe
held when | saw how completely she