The Monmouth inquirer., 1897-07-22
PAUL LAOY'S HELP.

The Sedges was to become bachel
cr's hall. Miss Emeralda Lacy declaT
ed that she could not and would nc
stay in such a bowling wilderness an
longer; if her brother Paul wanted tC
he could, but she was not going tc
Such a great castle of a house, and NO
a neighbor within three miles-it wa
intolerablel The lady was as good a
her word. One fine spring morninl
she deserted the Sedges, and went Eas
to her fathers house, leaving Paul ant
the little maid, Ellie Cary, its sole IN
mates.
But, Emeralda, if you go away OF
such short notice, how am / going t
live? he asked.
Ellie can cook, was the answer
Ellie Cary was but fifteen years old
a blue-eyed, smiling little girl-a borl
housewife. At ten years old she hat
been bound to an aunt of Paul Lacy
but the aunt dying, and Paul having
already gone West and built house
Ellie was taken thither by Miss Eme
ralda to help keep it. The lady stayed
just six months. She was lonely she
was homesick, she wanted to be away
and away she went
That evening Paul Lacy mused IN
rather downcast mood. In coming
West, clearing land, and making fol
himself a home, he had many draw
backs He had never accepted a log
cabin life. His first business was to
build a substantial and beautiful house
at the river side. Drawing room, IL
brary and con servat0ry were all elabo-
rately completed, but for the first two
years the library was to serve as afam-
lily sitting room, the furnishing of the
greater part of the house being post
poned until its master could give the
subject full attention could expand
and embelIish as he wished.
He had in his employ three men who
lived in a log hut but half a mile away
and whose labors he employed con-
stantly at improving the estate. Clumps
Of willows grew along the river, stately
oaks crowned the knolls, the prairie
land rose and fell in beautiful undula-
tions Garden, orchard, vineyard and
farm demanded Paul's attention and
rexertion. He needed the comforts of q
home. 1t was rather hard of a sister
to leave him, he thought. Ellie was a
mere child; he might as well be LEFT
alone, he said All his past trouble;
some experiences crowded over him
aud an oppressive WEAKNESS and dis
couragement fell upon him. All hope
fulness quite deserted him. The great
Tdastiff, Sultan, got up from the hearth
rug and laid his muzzle ON his master s
knee.
@0ld fellow, you are faithful said
Paul.
He stroked the great brute's clumsy
head, and fell again into reyerie.
1t was the evening Of his shirtieth
birthday. He had been in the West
three years. Though highly educated
andYbred in luxury. he had developed d
power to fight the world with marked
success. He was called noble fellow
yet no bankrupt could have felt more
generally defeated than Paul Lacy fell
that night Quite upset by womanss
whim, and all discouraged for the wan
of aswomans S help.
Ellie said he, the next morning
''you must get along the best you car
to-day. am glad now that / hav'
no dairy to be attended to. Tonight
will ride to Munroe and try to get /;
housekeeper
Ellie hooded silently and watched
him ride away from the door on his
black filly, Bird. Her white forehead
knit itself, and a little flash came int(
her blue eyes. But Ellie didn't waste
any time thinking of her troubles. She
had ironing and baking to do! she flew
away to the kitchen.
When Paul Lacy came home at noon
wearied with hard labor by his owl
hands in the vineyard, he found an ex
quisitely neat and comfortable dinner
prepared, and Ellie, pretty as pink
in her gingham dress to wait upon him
you have done nicely, child" he
said
Ellie turned away her head and pout-
ed.
~Child."
She did not like that. She would be
sixteen the next day
How stupid he isi' she exclaimed
going out into the kitchen, and stamp
ing her little foot Il won't work fol
a heusekeeper!"
That night Paul harnessed the bays
to the spring wagon and went off tC
Munroe. And when he had gone, Ell
lie sat down in the library and cried
But at ten o'clock Paul came homs
alone.
mo success, Ellie. I'll go to River
vile to morrow night and see what car
be done there.
The next night he was unusually
tired. Ellie had laid out his dressing
gown and slippers and his easy chair
and the newspapers, still in their mai
wrappers, looked unusually tempting
but he resisted these silent allurement.
and started for Riveryille, a distance
of five miles.
In about half an hour he returned
He had not gone to Riyerville bu
there was woman's figure in the wag
ona large, tall woman. Ellie watch
ed her get out of the wagon.
The new CORNER had on brown me
rina dress and plaid shawl She hat
cotton bandage tied about her face
Her hands were covered with cottol
gloves and she carried carpet bag
Paul Lacy brought her into the Ii
brary.
Il have found some help, Ellie Thi
woman was coming on fa0t tn offer ha