Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1892-02-10

fenlalse is one of the foremen In Rat
tersby's works. He knows that a clerk
l. wanted who can write fiuently i'm
several languages, and be tells me OF
the vacancy apply. and soon con-
vince the hrm that | am at for the
post Surely, may be pardoued n
uont 60 staggering under a heavy load
OF gratitude To the end OF my days. DO
You suppose that Aaron's good word
would have got me into the ofice. II
had not been the man that amp"
oh, know that you can do any.
thing, Michael" said her earnest lips
and eyes. But poor Aaron l. devoted
10 you. and he Is such good fellow"
Well, Olive. we can't discuss his ex-
ceilencc row. replied Michael, stand
ing upright TITS nearly time for me
to start. and you are going to give me n
cup OF tea first"
We'll. Mrs. Hooper will give yor the
cup oftea. she said. keeping back a sigh.
you win like her tea better than ours.
She Is very good 20 me. and want you
to see my friend, Lucy Cromcr."
Lucy Cromerp Oh. all. yes. that,
the niece who has come To- live with
her" he answered rs they moved away
from the gate.
On the other side OF the quiet road
there were two cottages sheltered
! under one broad roof of thatrh.
Their walls were covered with moss
and weathcr-stains. and the little dia-
mond-pancd easements were set in
wrcaths of crecpcrs- And. although
there was as yet no wealth OF foliage
To dress mp the lowly dwellings with
summer beauty. they had the pictur-
esquc charm that belongs especially 10
places rustic and dccayed.
There was n large piece OF ground.
half fower-gnrdcn and half kitchen
garden. in front OF the two cottages;
and the only division between the gar
dcns was row OF flintS showing out
white against the dark mold. At one
OF the doors stood young woman.
with "A fresh. modest face, who held out
her hand timidly ~ Michael APP
preached. He greeted her with an air
of friendly patronage.
| How do You do, Jane? Glad to see
you looking so well" he said, and then
stallkcd I'm through the other doorway.
The room which he entered. followed
by Olive, was very low. with a heavy
beam across the ceiling. A fire was
burning brightly in The prim old-fash-
toned little iron cage, and between the
fire and the window stood "A small sofa
covered with faded chintz. Proppcd up
with cushions, another young woman
was sitting I'm the corner OF the sofa;
and she. too, extended her hand 20
Michael, but her manner was not timid
as James had been.
II am glad TO see you, Mr.. Chase;
have heard "A great deal about YOU" she
said In faint. sweet voice.
Something in the look and mir OF the
speaker surprised Michael SO much that
he lost his usual sclf-assurance. He
stood awlSwardly before Lucy Cromcr
for n moment, and then sat down
mcclSly in chair near her couch. How
was IL possible that this woman could
be the niece Of plain Mrs. Hooper. who
had lived in Eastmeon all her days? In
her letters Olive had told him that her
friend was pretty, and he had expected
10 sec a commonplace little person. pos
sesSed of ordinary good looks. But no
commonplace girl was here.
Lucy Cromcr was "A long, slender
woman, with the kind OF figure that
sways and bends with "A reed-lilSe grace.
Her face was long, too; she had large
gray eyes that were now prcteruatu-
rally bright, a delicate aquiline nose.
and fair hair which surrounded her head
with golden halo. A darls-blue wrap
per, OF some soft material, set of the
| exceeding fairness of her complexion:
and. simple as the robe was, II was