Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1894-10-13

able notice of Astrea-"
"Yes. / remember that year." said
Mr.. Eldon. you were very kind 70
US. You refused to accept any com.
pensation, and Mra Black nursed lit
tie Barbe back to health very tender
ly."
"Betseys dead and gone now," said
the old man, swallowing lump in his
throat. "And We never expected to
charge our relations no othin' for breath
in Gods fresh air and eatin' the Der.
ries that growed on every bush Blu,
about Astrea. I've got TO go West to
live with my sisters husband-a poor
paralytic creetur. dunno's I've ex:
planned to you that things have sort O
run down in Kidd's Valley. We've had
to part with the farm, and now that
Hezekiah Hall needs care, it makes .
sort of home for me. But they hain't
no room for Astrea, SO I've brought
her here. I thought maybe your wife
could think UP some way for her to
earn living. She's tall. strong gal,
you see, and nice-lookin', too"-As.
tt ca hung down her head and blushed
-"and she might help your gals with
the housework, or nebbe get place
somewhere where she'd be treated we'll
and not put to too hard work"
Mr.. Eldoa screwed his mouth into a
whistling shape.
Help ks girls-Elaine and Barbara
with the housework!
As he thought of those radiant
young bellies at Bar Harbor, he had
difficulty in repressing laugh.
Then, with the recollection of tn .
nu nerous peculiarities of his lady
wife, look of perplexity overspread
his face as Cousin Jethro Black maun-
dered on.
$50 guess I'll leave Astrea with
you, Cousin Wallace, for my train
leaves at 2 o'clock.
A sudden burst of tears from Astrea
"a feeble wall of "Grandfather
grandfather "a whispered "Good-
byl"--and the old man was gone. leav-
Astrea looking piteously into Mr.. FL
| don's face.
."What will Mrs. Eldon say ?"thought
| The lawyer.
But there seemed to De no alterna-
tive but to obey the pointing finger of
fate, and the evening train bore AS
trea Black toward the haven of fashion
on the far Maine coast, with the dis'
tant relative by her side.
She was only seventeen, and she had
never been out of Kidd's Valley in her
life, SO that all the surrounding world
was Iull Of the indescribable flavor oi
freshness. M
She exclaimed aloud with delighelbt
sight of the scenery.
She was not at all seasick on the
boat, but bought peanuts and munched
apples, ate green peas with her knife
and questioned Mr.. Eldon in q very
audible whisper as to the use of the
finger bowls at the steamer dinner
table.
"What wild g1rl of the woods u
said the New York lawyer to himself /;
and again he thought of his wife'e
probable verdict, ''But she has got
eyes like young deer, and those
straying curls make me think of q
wild grapevine, and do not like to
hear her laugh
John Eldon was at the pier to meet
the Portland boat on which his father
was expected.
Astrea ran up the gang-piank like g
kitten and stood on tip-toe to kiss him
''It's Jack /" she cried, breathlessly
land Jack don't kLow me! Oh, Jack
don't you remember that awful day
when me and you threw eggs at tn
old minister's chase? Don't you re
member
And Jack, elegant young gentle
man in a white duck suit and eye
glasses, stood appalled,. But he i'm
mediatelv recovered himself
"Why it's little Astres"' said he
..Of course l remember you--onl.
you sc grown SO tall. :
Mother ~ill be surprised" sal
Mr.. Eldon, with a queer shrog OF th'
shoulders.
Yes" said Jack, hurriedly. q
think she will
Mrs. Eldon viewed the new arrivi
with CONSERVATION. Barbara, grace