Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1893-11-22

.comprehended that this was his way oil
getting rid of her.
Poor Ninettel Poor little tropical cailc
of the South, how infinitely lonely she
felt at that moment.
But the stout female took up pen,
opened big book and began to ask
questions with bewildering brusquenes:
and rapidity, and Ninette soon caught
the infection of her energy.
The rest of the week was like the
shifting scenes which Ninette remem.
bered to have seen at a pantomime, years
and years ago. She was hurried from
place to place in the great, noisy bsdiam
of city. Nobody wanted nursery
governess; the school lists were crowded
to overHowing; from the stores Ninette
shrank with trembling horror, after she
had seen the smooth, nice, oily-faced
superintendents of one or two.
~ Can do nothing more for you,"
said the stout female at length, sunless,
indeed, they can give you employment
at the Decoration Rooms. 1t won't cost
anything for you to go aud see!"
To the Rooms of Decorative Art Min
ette accordingly went. The directress
was engaged. She would see the young
person presently. Let her be shown into
the workroom.
A great, bright, well-ventilated apart
frames, some at tables, some standing
before easels; and one pale, middle.aged
women was drawing design for wall
paper on a huge sheet of coarse paper
daisies, corn flowers, trailing vines, all
tangled together.
"That is not right!" exclaimed MIN
cite, involuntarily, as she watched the
slow, uncertain progress of the pencil.
"Let me show you how to bring that
vine outl"
The woman stared, but Ninette had
caught the pencil from her hand, and,
with two or three bold strokes, altered
the whole character of the design. From
mediocre it became original; from stiff
ness it took on wild, woodland grace.
"How did yoI do thati" asked the
stupid, miGdle-aged woman in bewilder-
Tent.
81 don't know" confessed Ninette,
crimsoning. "But don't you see-can't
you comprehend 1t couldn't be other
wise! 1t must come out sop
\ hand was laid lightly on her shoul-
der, and turning around she found her
self looking into the calm, amused eyes
OF the directress.
"You are right, my child" said she,
'it could mo- be otherwise. But it is
not one in a thousand who would know
it. Come here, l must talk with you'll"
That half-hour in the work-room of
the Decoration Society was the turning
point OF Ninette Beauvoir's life. She
had found her niche in life's temple.
She could scarcely reckon up within
her own mind the number of years that
had passed when she sat alone in the
little private parlor of the Decoration
Rooms in the soft dusk of March even
ing, with the red CLEAN of the fire filling
the room with dreamy softness. She
had grown from an impulsive child into
q tall, beautiful, self-poised woman, who
presided over the ramifcations OF the
great society with queenly dignity and
well-balanced judgment. And Ninette
was happy now in having discovered her
true career.
The girl entered with lights. Miss
Beauvoir glanced up.
~ shall not need the light, Gretchen"
she said. 81 am going home as soon as
the carriage comes for me-"
"There is an old gentleman, Miss
,Beauvoir, to see you," said the girl,
apologetically. 81 told him it was past
hours. but he said he had walked long
distance to see you, and seemed so old
and feeble that didn't like to refuse
him. He has portfolio under his arm"
"Where is he, Gretchen1 In the re-
ception rooml" interrupted Miss Beau
volr. ~ will go to him"
A tall, stopping old man, with scauty
locks, threadbare clothes and gloves
mended until they resembled a piece of
mosaic, turned as she entered.
"Do speak," he asked, "to the head
of the establishment"
Miss Beauvoir inclined her head. II
the dark silk dress and mantle edged
with fur she looked evea oder, more
digniied than her years.
Il am very poor" he said. 81 have
met with reverses in business and am
quite dependent on the exertions of my
daughters. They have been brought up
ladies, and, consequently, are compare.
lively helpless; but they have done a
little needlework, for which they would
be glad to obtain a fair price, and"
;:Mr. TreDietonI" cried out Ninette.
holding out both her hands.
He flushed deeply.
THAT is my name" he said," but I
was not aware"
"Have you forgotten mei" she inter.
rupted. 'Little Ninette Beauvoiri
Don't you remember that we are cousinsl
Ny circumstances are good, she added,
coloring a little. 81 receive an ex.
cellent salary here and have money laid
up. Do you think I can allow my
fathers cousin to want2 l have a COM
Portable home; it shall be yours, and my
cousins also. Ny carriage is at the door
now. Let US 60 together to your home"
And Minette, in her enthusiasm, over
ruled poor Mr.. Trebleton's feeble objec-
tious.
"a comfortable home" she mad called
it, but to the poverty-stricken inhabi-
tants of a tenement-hoIse on Grand
street the little brown-stone dwelling
seemed palace, with its bright open
fires, its sweetness of hot-house flowers,
its moss-soft carpets, dark oiled boards
and walls tinted with the softest of
cOlors.
Mr.. Trebleton sat feebly down in the
big velvet arm chair; his pale, sickly
daughters stood beside him, embarrassed,
yet happy in their young cousins warm
Southern welcome.
"Do you mean," he faltered, "that
we are to live here-always"
"What else could possibly mean2"
said Ninette, kneeling to arrange the
coffee and fruit on the table at his side.