The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1895-04-05

HE boIOuSu suIf6yOb oaiufy 40 nun
estly as if he depended on it for his
daily bread.
People call him miser, but little
cared he for that The widow, the ia
therless and he that was ready to perish
could tell different tale, and Hobart
Renshaw, quaint and eccentric though
he was, could read the book of human
ohaa Acter with an almost unerring eya
run. Betty, rums It's that nuisance
Of drainman again. 1t does seem to
me as if he came about a great deal Of
tener than is at all necessary.
The Lindleys were people who kept
up grand appearance upon compare.
lively disproportionate foundation.
nished; their hall upholstered in Persian
patterned Brussels, with rosewood rack
and Gothic hall chair, but the kitchen
was gloomy. subterranean apartment.
scantily furnished and uninvitipg in
aspect.
Moreover, the Lindleys vera strug-
Cling to keep up appearances on mod
crate income. and Betty, the little work
house girl, in her print frock and thick
shoes, was the only servant they kept
Dear me. what is the young man
sticking his nose in here forP' cried out
Esther Indignantly. docs he expect
to find drains in the fireplace or under
the washtubsa''
please, sir, the sink in the cellar.
sir. This way, sir!" said Betty. clamp
ing on ahead and turning open cellar
door, whence rushed out blast Of
sepulchrally damp air.
But the one glance into the kitchen
had been enough. Esther, in greasy
pink dress, and her hair in bristle of
curl papers, sat before tray, with a
bowl in her lap, eating 10 o'clock
breakfast, while her pretty feet, thrust
into pair Of badly worn slippers, dis
played sundry unmended holes, and a
soiled pocket handkerchief tied around
her neck did duty in place of the neat
collar or frill generally supposed to be
necessary.
Mrs. Lindley was bending over huge
kettle of bubbling and boiling preserves
upon the range, and at the washtub
stood a slight, trim figure, with an
apron tied around her waist and sleeves
above the elbow, Emily herself, scrub
bling away with the energy of laun-
dress, and her shining hair wound in
lustrous braids around and about her
small head.
Uncle Hobart, following closely at
the heels of his nephew, was just in
time to hear Esther's petulant voice
from the other room sounding shrilly on
their ears.
cts too bad, mamma! The toast is
scorched to cinder, and the coffee ism t
drinkable. J. must have some fresh
mado!''
"Oh, Elite, don'tp' coaxed Emily.
"Mamma is so tired, and she has SO
much to do! Won't glass of milk do?'
''No, it won't ] must have coffee,
and decent coffee, too!' asserted the
brunette, tapping her pretty foot on the
floor and knitting her jetty brows.
"Then I'll make it, - said Emily, "if
you'll wait until get these collars rub
bed out. ~
"I'd be ashamed to turn washerwom'
an" grumbled Miss Esther.
"I'm not ashamed of anything that is
useful" cried Emily, with spirit,
"when papa works so hard and the
washing bills are SO heavy. 1t won't
hurt either Of us to do little honest
work and spare mamma all we can. F"
''Do leave off moralizing and get my
l,n1
IDENTIFY risen in no amiable mood.
And the borough surveyor and his
bogus assistant having no excuse for
remaining longer, heard nothing more.
Paul Fontaine was silent as he walked
along tho street, but Uncle Hobart
chuckled softly to himself.
Nothing like an inside viewr' said
he. "The up stairs angel often turns into
down stairs demon, eh? Hal ha! ha!
Paul, my boy, beware of brunettes.
There's mischief behind the arch Of
those black brows. If you re determined
to have wife, take the one at the wash
tub, the little girl who wanted to help
her mother.
81 believe you are right, Uncle Ho.
BART" said Paul.
"But tell me, Paul, how you came
to choose me instead of Esther" ques-
toned tho blue eyed bride as they stood
together by tho sea at Brighton the week
after their wedding. Esther is so
much prettier, so much lovelier than
me. Every one likes Esther better than
they do me. And do you know, darling,
l half think that Esther was just lit
tie disappointed that you didn't prefer
her?'
''Do you think so?" said Paul care
lessly. 1--WE can scarcely account for
our preferences. Esther is very brilliant
and beautiful, and when first we be-
camo aoquainted'I was fairly bewitched
by her. But now l value the steady
shining star of your love above all tho
will-o'- the-wisps in creation!'
But he never told her of his amateur
sanitary inspection and Uncle Hobart's
test Of character. London Tit-Bits.