The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1897-06-22

maid, to be regarded by personal
friends with spasms of blame and com
miseration-a life irrevocably lost; n
SOIL who sat on the outside, so to speak,
of al comfortable existence-it was
quite another story with Esther Little
johu.
such coy home, and absolutely
nothing 10 disturb either it or herself.
Jane Evans remarked. Jane had mar
ried young, and had very bilious
husband, who was addicted to lavender
trousers, fiery temper, and melan-
choly pale green ideas on subjects
which looked fairly cheerful to ordi
nary mortals, to say nothing of an
inability to provide, which made life a
pretty hard workaday world for Jane.
whose previous occupation had been
entertaining her many admirers, and
furnishing laundry work for her dear
mamma.
u Ii James mouth took on bitter
curve, and little envious ideas came
into her head when she passed Esther's
house and regarded her snowy window
draperies, who could blame her?
For there was Phyllis! Surely. any
one who had such treasure as Esther's
Phyllis could afford three hundred and
sixty-tve Thanksgiving days in every
year. Such II little black bundle of
comfort as she was, neat as wax. pune
tual as the clock, and in the family for
thirty years. For Miss Esther had
inherited them all-the coy home in
its honey garden, the snug little mort
cages and black Phyllis, who felt her
self quite al much part of the estate
rs though she had never heard of Abra-
ham Lincoln.
Another schoolmate, who had been
blessed with three cross babies in four
years, said, Shed like to know what
need Esther had of man. -
To be sure Esther had had n lover
or two. There was foolish little
story that came to naught Then there
was Lester Irwin, schoolfellow, play
fellow, rising young lawyer, lifelong
friend, would-be lover. Her only com
ment on this affair was. ~ would as
soon have married my dictionary"
80 Miss Esther went her CHEEKY
comfortable way. She belonged TO a
club or two, was member of the
church, and, above all, was charitable.
The poor people blessed her. Her
dear Aunt Maria, who had gone
through life with an eye for the worst
side OF everything and everybody.
sweetly remarked that Esther Little.
john had a natural born desire 10 die
martyr, and it wasn't much matter
what new-fangled fad accomplished her
end.' ~ course, this came to Esther's
ears Undue time, but as she was quite
we'll acquainted with the dear old lady.
it did not quite annihilate her pto-.
One morning Phyllis rounu, glhhes..
ing Ethiopian countenance appeared
Mt the door Of her MISTRESS sanctum
PLEASE, missy, dat dar ole Daniel
Tubbs dun come agin: face longs de
Judgment day; dun say got see Missy
Jittleiohn. Anything tire dis chile. it's
poah white trash forever asservatinQ
quality folks"
why, Phyllisl' Esther looked up
from pile Of missionary papers with
anything but an aggravated expression.
'Show the poor mau in, that's dear. 8"
Phyllis retreated with a grunt OF
something besides satisfaction. and
coon opened tho door for the disdained
representative Of poor white trash 50
flo was an old man Of some seventy
winters, and from the poverty and mt
terry hopeless detection Of bis counte
nance, one could readily believe he
had been banisbed TO the frigid zone
every one Of those seventy summers.