Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1893-02-24

NlNETTE'S CAREER.


of Wilderness in the gloomy December
dusk, when Ninette Beauvoir was driven
up to her sousin's house. The air was
intensely cold, the houses on either side
of the street doomed up like huge phau-
toms, and the gas jets seemed to thrill
and shiver in the wind And the well
come of Mrs. Berry, her cousins house.
keeper, was dead match for the weather
and the wind.
81 am expected, | suppose ~ said
Ninette, wondering why the woman did
not open the door little wider.
"What name p cautiously inquired
Mrs. Berry
miss Beauvoir, from Atlanta, Ga
IF have heard nothing of it," said
Mrs. Berry, without opening the door a
fraction of an inch farther.
"Mr. Trebleton is at home, sup
pese 7"
"No, Miss, he's not" still frigidly.
Il will come in" said Ninette, trying
to swallow the sufocating sensation in
her throat. 81 will wait for him. tits
so cold, and IL am half frozen"
Mrs. Berry hesitated a moment, then
opened the door, ungraciously enough.
"Well," she said, IL suppose you can
wait in the study until he comes"
She showed Ninette into the red-cur-
tanned, coy little room. lined with
books, lighted by the soft ring of fame
that streamed from shaded gas jet,
warmed with the glow Of coral-red fire
upon the hearth. And here, surrepti-
tiously turning the keys in the secretary
drawers and writing-table aud taking
them out. Mrs Berry left her.
There are the paperweight," said
Mrs Berry to herself, land the ivory
paper cutters and the inkstand with the
stays head in bronze but don't be-
lieve she will take them 7"
While Ninette, left alone, crouched
down in the low chair before the fire
and burst into tears.
"ls all the North as cruel, US hard, as
frozen cold az this p she asked herself,
with convulsive shudder. oh, it
would have been better to have died of
starvation 10 my own sunny, golden
South If II stray dog, there, had crept
in out of the storm at night, they would,
ut least have given him bone and a
kind word. But for me there is no such
welcome !"
When Mr.. Trebleton came ia at 9
o'clock, he found Ninette still looking
at the fire through eyes that swan like
tears.
II am Ninette Beauvoir, your cousin =
child" said she, rising with varying
color
Happy to make your acquaintance,
| am sure" said Mr.. Trcbleton, appar-
emily so busy in removing his gloves
that be never noticed her offered hand
"What can | do for you, Miss Beau
v0ir p
Ninette looked at him with large,
grave eyes.
Papa said, before no died, she fall
tered, "tbat you would give me home
with your daughters. have no longer
a home Of my own. Papa's illness was
very expensive and took all our means"
"Quite out Of the question quite out
Of the question:" said Mr.. Trebleton,
hurriedly, as no took up a poker and
began beating the topmost Jumps Of coal
on the fire. Perhaps yau are not aware,
Miss Beauvoir, that | have a large and
expensive family Of my own, and
couldn't think Of undertaking any ad-
ditional expenses"
Ninette listened, apparently inoredu-
lous Of her own senses.
"But what am 10 do p she asked.
"What do other girls do who are
thrown on their own resources p rather
CURLY demanded Mr.. Trebleton, secretly
wishing that the interview was over
II don't know. said Ninette. simply,
~ am only an ignorant Southern girl
No one ever told me | supposed. Of
course, that ! could come and live with
you {"
"IIumph y said Mr. Treblcton.-
"Thoy teach, they take in sewing, they
60 into stores, shops, factories. They
strive for independence"
cousin Trebleton,' said Ninette
with quivering lip, "if I could se'
your wifc--your daughters they arr
women like me; they"
II am very sorry" said Mr.. Treble
ton, stonily, "but they are out Of town
There, there, don't cry. If there's an y
thing hate, it is 10 see a woman max