Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1894-02-12

man, as Well as very wealthy, DIS
her lawyer tells me; and it seems she
has taken fancy to you, Miss Tudor,
because you resemble a daughter she
once lost-or, at least, she thinks so,
which amounts to the same thing
and she wants to adopt YOU"
"To-adopt mel"
Ida opened her blue eyes as wide as
twin moons.
eyes, exactly" said Mr.. Ingersoll.
ssShe has behaved very handsomely
to me as regards these odd three
months of an unexpired contract"
("Unexpired contract, indeed"
thought Ida. The old hunks never
thinks of that when he discharges one
of us at minutes notice!") "And
am quite ready to abate any claims I
may still have on your services. Her
lawyer desires me to mention that her
carriage will be here at ten to- morrow
morning to take you to Kennedy
Place."
And SO he bowed himself out like
crab, walking backward, and Ida be-
gan to dance about the room.
cit has come at last!" she cried.
s'My emancipation from the iron grip
of poverty, and old Stingysoul is the
fairy godfather. Pinch me, mother,
to make sure Pm not dreaming Kiss
me, Nell, for Pm going to be rich!"
rs.Revere was certainly an eccen-
trio woman. Very eccentric indeed!
So eccentric that some of her best
friends tapped their foreheads and
whispered, doubtfully, that Greatly
one wouldn't know what to expect
next!o
But she was very rich, and she had
taken sudden and inexplicable fancy
to beautiful Ida Tudor. Her own dead
child had been called Ida, also, and to
judge by the oil paintings that hung
in the boudoir, must certainly have
resembled the pretty shop maiden.
And from the depths Of poverty Ida
found herself suddenly translated into
the lap of luxury. She wore silks and
satins, she sparkled with jewels, she
drove daily to leave fruit and flowers
with Ellen or to surprise her poor lit
tie hard working mother with a new
book or a choice engraving.
She had scarcely time to express a
wish before it was gratified, and yet
felt herself separated from all that
had hitherto made life dear to her.
"That carpenter young man, dear
est?" said Mrs. Revere. "Not-en-
gagged to you? But you see circum-
stances are altogether altered now.
Write to him all that sort of thing is
at an end. My adopted daughter can
not marry any one she pleases. 1t |
shall be my business to arrange sat-
isfactory alliance"
And Ida could not but feel that |
there was some good sense in these
remarks of her adopted mother. So
James Filing was tacitly given to I'M
derstand that his visits were no long
er acceptable, and being a young man
who could take a hint, the matter
came to an end then and there.
This was the first chapter of the ro-
nance. The second was the appear
ance on the scene Of Harold Frazer,
Mrs. Revere's nephew and heir, just
from Norway.
''He's very handsome, Thought Ida.
"Just like the hero of a novel.'
And while Mr.. Frazer's presence
was still novelty, 10 and behold!
Mrs. Revere died suddenly while sit
ting at her table, eating strawberry
ice.
cit is very strange said the law
yer. s:She has destroyed the will she
made in favor Of Miss Tudor, and ev-
erything goes to the next Of kin, Mr..
Frazer"
Ida jumped up and clapped her
hands
'sI never was SO thankful for any
thing in my life," said she.
''Thankful!" echoed Frazer, doubt
full whether he had heard Alright.
1T can go home to mother and Ellen
now," cried Revere's favorite. ''I
can get out of the shadow of this
strange, unnatural life. Oh, am SO
tired of being rich!"
Half an hour afterWard Mrs. Tudor
Ind Ellen were electrified by the sud-
len apparition of Ida flying into the
'oom and hugging both Of them until
hey were nearly stihed.
Its over at last" said she. "I'm
lome again. But I'm Independent
,nce more. Pm not the shadow of
else's opinions and fancies.
And oh, it is such a relief"
But Ida was not destined to have
lono no Ka,,rao1lxr Do lifo uot |