The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-09-01
Vii. Elm.

Miss Eliza laid down her needle with a
Nttle sigh OF relief. TIE last piece OF
m,ndius was finished, and 1T Was dme'
indeed. for the gray twilight was fast
creeping into the 10 ON, and the weak,
CID ewes could scarcely stand the strain
much longer Ii had been am extra nard
week-tle pile rad been higher tnan
usual. Miss Eliza leaned back IN ncr
chair and thought. with "A sudden, shafp
lain, OF the fast coming future, wnen the
blur would never leave her eyes, ana
she would be helpless, indeed. For TINS
gentle little old woman was q hard WORK
en- despite the fact that she was nope
less cripple, and sat all day long ia her
big chair.
She lived in large second-rate board
ing-house, with its mistress who was
her niece. This niece had taken her aunt
VIXEN the old family nome rad been
broken UP forever. and quite prided her
self OF her maguanimity and generoai-
ty 10 her afflicted relative" Indeed sne
used this act of charity as a Kind OF
spiritual item, 10 be- entered in huge ig-
ures on the credit side OF her Heavenly
account.
As she was a stern and worldly wo-
man, engaged In an ungrateful buslncss,
she was often forced TO bring forward
this piece OF noble unsellshness, as an
offset to certain mean and misery per-
formances in her boarding house man
agement, which rather scandallzed the
neishDorhood. She occasionally waved II
as a banner Of defence before the rector
hin self, e his remarks became too per
sonal on his pastoral visits. and she nad
routed the less penetrating and more SYM
pathetic assistant" horse and foot. by
judiciOus portrayal OF the great sacrl-
fee size had made, and the care and at
tentiOn her old aunt required. The board
ers might have told a different tale, but
then they were all entirely too busy ana
Indifferent.
As for Miss Eliza herself she was more
emphatiCally a saint in nicne than
some sanity percentages whom history
wots Of Her niche was fourth story
back bedroom. so that the big chair
nearly occupied the whole room. Here
she sat, day by day, mending with skill
fui fingers the linen used IN her nieces
establishment. She was usually alone,
except for the visits al meal time. or al
night. OF the last rough Irish housemaid
Mrs. Royden. the landlady, had under her
sway.
But still Miss Eliza was not very miser-
able. for she had been born with sweet
temper and cherished In her tender ola
heart, certain promise that spoke or
rest and comfort, 10 all who travail and
are heavy laden" So, despite the wearl-
ness and loneliness. the pain and SAL
memories. she struggled on. looking Tor
ward with dim eyes 10 that Heavenly
city where no sorrow Is.
Miss Eliza knew little OF the boarders.
all wage-earners, in the house, whose
hard earned dollars flowed into Mrs. Roy
denis exchequer. But Of late she had FELT
an interest In her next neighbour a tail.
pale-looking youth, who also enjoyed her
fourth back" view or the alleys
and clothes lines and chimney pots.
She used TO watch him, through her
half-opened door. go down in the morn
ing and come up at night. She thought
he had an honest. manly step and pleas
ant face, although Of late he had looked
downcsst and heavy-hearted. His name