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

It was one of those raw, bitter
nights when the sleet drums on the
windows like so many frozen fingers
and the wind bowls fiercely down the
wide streets that extend from river
to river in our great city, and Mrs
Tudor had put thin shawl over FL
len, as she lay on the worn sofa, and
moved her own table nearer to the
fire, as she worked diligently at sew
ing jet beads on wide galloon for
dress trimmings.
Ellen, the siXteen-year old invalid,
could help her in daytime with this
tedious work, but after lamplight her
weak eyes refused their cooperation.
"Why, where is Ida?" asked Ellen,
and before the words were well out of
her mouth the door opened, and Ida
herself came ina tall, blooming girl
with velvety blue eyes, a rosy bloom
on her cheeks, and luxuriant, dark
brown hair, blown into wild disorder
by the wind. The sleet was frozen on
the shoulders of her wellworn ulster,
her cotton umbrella was we'll glazed
over.
You are later than usual, aren't
you, dear?" said Ellen, while Mrs.
Tudor's eyes beamed a silent well
come.
''An hour of extra Time" said Ida
Tudor. ''And what's worse no extra
pay. Old Stingysoul says it's to be
balanced against our last summer
Saturday afternoon holidays, and, of
course, old Stingysoul's word is law.
Oh, how dreadful, how degrading it is
to be poor!"
She flung down her umbrella, and
stood with one foot on the fender, bit
ing her rich, red lips as she stared at
the economically arranged bed of
Goals.
my dear!" demonstrated Mrs. Tu-
dor.
'!And, after ALL" softly spoke up
Ellen, whose voice was sweeter than
4 flute. "There's a doorway of es
cape open to you, dear Ida. You are
going to be married soon!"
eyes," flashed out Ida, ''to a poor
man. And then begins the same old
story over ogain. How am going to
better myself, 1 should like to know?
declare, when think Of it ALL
''But you love him, Ida.'
''Lovei" echoed the girl. "What is
love worth, after all? 1t won't boil the
kettle nor keep out the bitter chill of
these wintry winds"
"James has a good trade" mildly
uttered Mrs. Tudor.
$50 had Papa when you married
him, mother; but machinery came in
and undermined it, and then he got
rheumatic and died-and just see
what wretched, grinding, poverty
stricken life you've led ever since!
Love, indeed! It's very well to talk,
but give me money! Pm sick and
tired Of all this never ending drudgery
this mending and twisting and
patching and darning and starving
for that's whatit comes to-"
She had spoken SO loudly and excit-
at the door 1t opened, and in walked
q red nosed elderly man, his bald
head made conspicuous by the alb
sence Of the hat, which he carried in
front Of him as he bowed his way in.
''Old Stingysoul, as 1 live!'
Ida spoke not the words, but they |
rose involuntarily to her lips as she |
found herself face to face with Mr.. In
gerson, in whose store she was one of |
the overworked and underpaid at
tendants.
IT nope I don't intrude,'' said Old
bowling all around with
set smile Oh his monkey-i like visage.
81 hope there's nothing wrong?''
gasped Ida, her mind full of dreadful
possibilities.
s'Not at all, Miss Tudor-not in the
least. Pray don't disturb yourself. I |
am here at the request OF Mrs. Re-
we're, of Kennedy Place, the lady you
served with lace fichues this morning |
-ahem! you perhaps remember her?''
''She-she couldn't possibly have
my cause of complaint?" gasped
,oor Ida, vaguely remembering the
elegantly dressed lady who had turned
,ver half the stock in trade and final
J bought nothing.