The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1894-12-08

SactlucS, I1Vluk luSSf(IOlS :" AoSSuOn
lace. clusters Of tiny tucks. and hem.
stitched rufties. Mrs. Ryclifc express
ed her admiration.
What do you ask for them"
when they are quite plain, twenty.
Ave cents each. but as these have so
much work, l thought fifty would not
be too much to ask"
"Well. | should think that pretty
cheap. Hank"
There was a step in the passage
without.
"'rhat is my customer, l suppose.
She said she would call to-day. Don't
stir"
But Mrs. Rycliffe vanished behind the
cretonne screen that partitiOned of
the oil stove and few cooking utensils
from the rest Of the room. There was
a tear in the c"etonne, however, and she
saw the person who entered, a large,
fiorid woman, attired in a furrel cloth
skirt, i: coat Of many capes, a faring
hat on which blackbirds bodied, and
yellow kid gloves.
"Ah! the work Is done. Yes, salts
factory-quite. Really, l shall recon
nerd You. A dollar, l believe. There
it is
She tossed n coin on the table, and
took up the parcel Elsie had tied.
Mrs. Pugh," demonstrated the seam
stress, Il said l would make those
with only ruffles at neck AMI sleeves
for the price named. These are worth
ut least fifty cents each. The sewing
on them has taken me a week."
Her patron turned from the door ia
freeze her with II stare.
All! IN impOstOr, l see-ike all OF
yOur class! You make one contract
and demand pay that was not stipulat
ed. l shall not again employ YOU
With which appalling threat she
swept away.
Little Mrs. Rycliffe came out from
behind the screen, white und trembling
what Il wicked woman, Elsie" she
cried.
Elsie smiled family.
"They are not all so unjust" she said,
trying to speak cheerily.
Dusk was closing in when Mrs. Ry'
cliffe reached the house of her niece
q snowy, imposing house. Her mis-
tress, the servant said, was at the
matinee. Would the visitor wait? Mrs
Rycliffe sat down in a chair in a cor
ner Of the parlor, waited, nodded, fel
fast asleep. She was awakened by
mans angry tones, demanding with
an oath, if he was ever to have any
supper. The next instant Medora's
voice admOnished him.
You must wait. I've just got iI
from the matinee. Don't scold.
didn't buy my ticket out Of the grocerI
money. A woman did 81 worth OF Wuri
for ne. l paid her n and had a GOO
time out Of the amount saved. Why
Aunt-is it Aunt Mary"
Mrs. Rycljfle rose with a stiff effort
She was crlnped and tired.
Il think it is" re replied, dryly.
For four days was Mrs. Isycliffe thu
guest of Mrs. Pugh. And she saw
more than the interview with Elsie
TO convince her she was under no obi
CATION to give money or its 'quivalen'
to Mcdora. She saw an extravagant
ill-rcgulated household. where prevailed
all manner OF schemes to make a show
of opulence, and all kinds Of petty sub
terfuges to evade responsibility anC
payment of just debts. She saw a self
ish man and woman, both devoid o:
any sense of rectitude or honor. Whel
she announced her intention Of goin,
home, Medora said:
LAS soon as the weather gets a littl'
warmer, we shall 60 down to Grass
nook, and spend several months will
you and dear john
Pm afraid l sha'n't have room,
the elder woman declared. "Elsi'
Payne j., coming home with me-"
"Elsie-Tuyne!" she repeated, blank
ly.
~"Yes-you've heard of her as Elsie
Cameron. She's been doing some plail
sewing for you. l believe. l was ther'
the day you called and paid for thos'
sacQues."
Medora was silent, understanding tn
futility of explanation or excuse.
John was at the train to meet hi
mother, Elsie, and the child. He kisse'
his mother and the baby, and helt
Elsie's hand Il long time.
I'm glad you have come,' he said
simply.
A wave of the old rose-bloom flick
cred in her pale cheek. She looked III
at him, thinking how handsome ant
manly he had grown,
Thank yOu," she said.
There are those who assert that Their
is to be Il wedding at Grassnook, whe
the May flowers blow. At all event
the quartet there is a very happy one
And if plaintive tales of woe nc lOnge
arrive from Medora, the reason Is uI
derstood.
IF you want to find out a thing,
Mrs. Rycliffe says, sagely, as she rock
the little one to sleep, find it out your
SELF"