The Dupuyer acantha. [volume] (Dupuyer, Mont.) 1894-1904, 1894-10-27
SOME PLAIN SEWING.

tug to her satchel, a glance at her lunch
basket, and a rub to her gloves.
"All ready, john" she answered.
She seemed to fit so delightfully."- into
her surroundings, that even a brief alb
n was to be regretted from the
point Of picturesqueness. Her home,
Grassnook, was far more charming than
is the ordinary farmhouse. 1t was a
low, rambling, gabled, with all kinds
of cunning windows and o~dd-shaped
rooms. And within it was the embodi-
ment of quaint comfort and shining
cleanliness. Its mistress was sixty,
round, rosy, old-fashioned, with the
kindest eyes, and the prettiest little
neat ways, and the most heartsome
smile a body ever beheld.
Seems like I was going away for a
year, instead Of two weeks" she re-
marked, as John drove her to the
depot in the phaeton he had purchased
for her particular benefit. But l feel
as if I ought to 60, after that letter
from Medora. 1t sounded really pitt
full"
John closed his handsome, stubborn
lips, and remained silent.
SIT said, if you remember, John, that
we, living here in plenty, couldn't real
ize the struggle she found it in the
city to support herself and the children
on the paltry income, which was all
they had from poor Peters estate.
Then she put it pretty plain, what she
wanted me to do. Send her a hand
some sum, or promise to leave her
Grassnook and my share of her proper
ty. Wasn't that it, john"
He smiled grimly.
"She stated her expectations definite
ly enough" he answered.
His mother sent him a snrewd, side
long look.
You never liked Medora, John"
Medora was the daughter of a dis
tant cousin of Mrs. Rycliffe. Seven
years previous she had come to live
at Grassnook. She had been practi-
cally adopted by Mrs. Rycliffe, and
treated with all affection. But, after
numerous vain attempts to capture the
heart of John Rycliffe, she had married
the l%oud-voiced, SLOWLY clad drummer
for a New York cigar house, and had
gone to the city to live. OF late Mrs.
Rycliffe had received many letters from
her, bewailing her husbands inability
to secure work, her own hard life. and
her conviction that "auntie" would do
toward her what was kind and right.
The latest letter had been Sc much
more importunate and imperative than
usual, Mrs. Rycliffe had decided to an.
swer it in person. Only by so doing
could she convince herself how press
ing were Medora's necessities, and how
eXacting her own duty.
81 never could think her sincere,
mother. She always appeared to be
scheming. selfish. and hypocritical."
But she thought u heap of you,
John"
Again he was obstinately silent.
His mother was toe wise to say that
which was i'll her mind-namely, that
John had been Indifferent to Medora,
and to all other women since the year
before Medora's advent at Grassnook,
when Elsie Cameron, the girl on whom
he had lavished the most passionate
love of a strong nature, had thrown hin
O. er for a man he knew to bl
in every sense of the word, his inferior
won't Medora be surprised to see
me, thought" chirped Mrs. Rycliffe, as
she and her son stood waiting for the
train. I've always said to her I'd
never so another journey ny rail, and
here I am doing it. Well, good-by
John. Be sure you water the house
plants and give Snowdrop her mill
regularly. and see that the shutters are
fixed so hat they don't slam and breal
the glass. Good-by. John"
And then she was whirling away tt
a great city.
BE you going to New York, Mrs
Rycliffe?' queried a voice behind her.
Yes" turning to face a neighbor
YOU'RE going to see Sarah James:
new baby, I suppose, Mrs. Ryan,
"Yes'm. You amt forgot Elsie Cam
eron, 1 dare say?'
No answered Mrs. Rycliffe, stirred
by the resentment the thought of Elsie
girl have married her fine son, and beer
Il daughter to her?
1T 'ud be a charity" declared Mrs
Ryan, IF you'd go to see her. l heer(
as how her husband was dead. and sh'
had n child to support. and WASH
overstrong. She'd be might glad tt
see YOU. Here" scribbling a line on (;
crumpled envelope she fiShed out of he,
pocket. lis where Sarah Jane said sh,
lived"
1.-THE poor thing" calculated Mrs
Rycliffe, her kindly spirit touched
Yes, III 60"
When she arrived in New York, sh,
gave a cabman both addresses, he
niece's and Elsie Payne's.
Drive me to the nearest first" sh,
ordered.
And the nearest happened to be
tall, dreary tenement-house, in a mar
row.. dingy street. She found Elsi'
in u bare. clean, little sky-high room
Pretty, gay, r~osy-cheeked Elsie Gamer
on! Not gay, nor rosy-cheeked now
but slender, pale and still very dain
tily fair to look upon. She wore a blacl
gown. A beautiful child chung to he
hand.
''Oh, Mrs. Rycliffc!" she cried.
The sight Of her dear old face wa
precious after her long exile anon!
strangers. She kissed her guest, drev
her in, took off her bonnet, and mad
her Il cup of tea, all he time full o
words of welcome, and of inquiry, bu
not once mentioning her own poverty
which everything in the Don pro
claimed.
How are you getting on, is VIVA
I want TO know" the old lady SAID
straightforwardly.
"Oh, l manage. l do plain SEWING
you know. Sometimes l find 1t har'
to get all l can do, but a week ago
lady called and left me an order tina
has kept me busy since. She aShe'
my prices for making plain garments
and / mentioned them, but the mater
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